Activity Directions: Preparing for Analyzing and Responding to Data

Description of the Activity

Leadership teams develop a deeper understanding of decision making processes to apply technical and adaptive solutions in a Decision Support Data System.  

Objective

Build shared understanding of applications of technical and adaptive decision processes within a standards-based education system in order to apply the process for the desired outcome. 

Time

Part 1: 60 minutes or more 

Part 2: 90 minutes or more

Preparation

1. Schedule the leadership team to participate in this activity. 

2. Review and prepare to facilitate Activity 3.4 (pages 137-144) in the Washington District and School Data Team Toolkit. Ensure participants have access to handouts for the activity.

3. Review the information on the Adaptive and Technical Challenges Activity that was discussed in the Leadership Team section as this activity builds upon that work. 

4. All participants will need a computer with Wi-Fi access and activity materials.

5. Provide the Technical Problems and Adaptive Challenges document which has additional information for technical and adaptive applications.

Part 1: Observation vs. Inferences

Facilitate Activity 3.4 (pages 137 - 144) in the Washington District and School Data Team Toolkit.1

Part 2: Adaptive verses Technical

1. Consider the short video on Adaptive Leadership as a possible refresher for the ideas of adaptive and technical solutions.

The facilitator may want to point out that implementing a Decision Support Data System for a standards based education system often poses a number of challenges for leadership teams. This activity helps the team to discuss and identify some of those challenges of applying technical and adaptive solutions that they may want to bring forward to the action planning process. 

2. Individually or as partners, use the linked chart to brainstorm Technical and Adaptive Leadership Solutions used in the organization. Use the Technical Problems and Adaptive Challenges resource to support this conversation.

3. Have participants share what they have learned from past experiences when technical solutions and adaptive solutions have been applied correctly or incorrectly in different circumstances, particularly as it applies to fidelity data and student outcome data. Collect responses on chart paper or in an electronic document. 

Sources:

 Geier, R., Smith, S., (2012). District and School Data Team Toolkit. Everett, WA: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington School Information Processing Cooperative, and Public Consulting Group.