As a strong proponent of using data, but more importantly, the right data
for our educational planning and decision-making, I was glad to see NAIS
publish recently a short article on "Student Outcomes that Measure the
School's Value Added.<http://www.nais.org/sustainable/article.cfm?ItemNumber=151607>
"
Three of the tools featured in the NAIS piece are the CWRA
<http://www.cae.org/content/pro_collegework.htm>(College and Work Readiness
Assessment), the HSSSE <http://ceep.indiana.edu/hssse/index.htm>(High School
Survey of Student Engagement), and the MAP
<http://www.nwea.org/products-services/computer-based-adaptive-assessments/map>(Measurement
of Academic Progress).
As it happens, we have begun or are beginning use of all three in the past
year at St. Gregory. As we do, though, I realize how much I wish I had a
group of colleagues from among my independent schools associates with and
from whom I can share ideas and learn. It is not enough just to collect
the data. The key is to think carefully how we use the results we get how
do we interpret, how do we communicate and broadcast them, and how do we see
that they influence pedagogical development at our schools.
So, for these very purposes, I have established a new group within the
isenet ning, with the straightforward name Schools using CWRA-HSSSE-MAP
Outcomes Measurements. It is available here:
http://isenet.ning.com/group/OutcomesMeasurement
<http://isenet.ning.com/group/OutcomesMeasurement>It is an open group for
anyone to join; although primarily intended for schools already using any or
all of these three tools, it certainly could be of value to those schools
considering their use in the future.
I have already loaded up four discussion groups: why schools are using CWRA
(a CWRA advocacy section, effectively); how schools are using CWRA results
to improve learning; how schools are both sharing HSSSE results and how they
are using the results for school improvement; and how schools are
administering MAP and using it for learning improvement. Of course, group
members may begin their own discussion topics inside the group.
Here's hoping the group membership will grow in the coming months and years:
I think these are really powerful tools, which can be much more powerful via
our collaboration.
Thanks for your time!
Jonathan
--
Jonathan E. Martin
Head of School
St. Gregory College Preparatory School
Tucson, Arizona
www.stgregoryschool.org
www.21k12blog.net
Twitter:@JonathanEMartin
520-327-6395
St. Gregory: Creating Leaders and Innovators for the 21st century
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