Data Literacy
Data Literacy
In terms of technology, the definition of data literacy according to Purdue University is stated as “data literacy involves understanding what data means, including how to read graphs and charts appropriately, draw correct conclusions from data, and recognize when data are being used in misleading or inappropriate ways” (Blake, 2017). Within this data literacy section are compiled resources that model the effective use of technology tools that assist with the organization, analysis, and presentation of student learning data for educators to add to their toolbox. Acknowledging and applying data literacy in the 21st century classroom is critical “for the benefit of students, employers, and society,” it has been suggested that “data literacy must be recognized as a necessary civic skill” (Ridsdale, Rothwell, Smit, Ali-Hassan, Bliemel, Irvine, Kelley, Matwin, & Wuetheric, 2015). The essential “skills and abilities that together comprise various levels of data literacy” are “organized by the five core aspects of” the “data literacy definition,” which includes “data, collection, management, evaluation, and application” (Ridsdale et al., 2015).
Technology-Based Assessment Tools Explanation
After analyzing the assessment tools that I provided in the section titled “Technology-Based Assessment,” each tool of Google Forms, Survey Monkey, Quizziz, and Kahoot organizes and analyzes student data very effectively and efficiently. Google Forms “extremely versatile application that is now being used by many educators to simplify and streamline class assessment” for our 21st century classrooms organize and analyzes student data by different methods that include Excel spreadsheets (Blessington, 2014). Google Forms collects, analyzes, and automatically grades student data for formative and summative assessments. Survey Monkey is a creative, useful, and results oriented free tool for technology-based assessment if you meet the minimum criteria and includes “trended data and 1 filter” for assessment data (SurveyMonkey.com, n.d.). The Survey Monkey results from my digital citizenship survey that I created gave me options to view the results from an Excel spreadsheet or PDF, a summary of the data, colored graphs or charts, and individual responses of all the questions detailed data itemized by each student, which gave to me quantitative and qualitative data feedback to review. Quizziz allows “students” to “complete the quiz as a homework assignment,” while gaining rigorous practice, “having fun in the process, and you receive the feedback that will guide your instruction” from instant, real-time provided detailed class and student-level assessment data on an Excel spreadsheet (Poth, 2016). Kahoot is “an instant hit” as a technology-based assessment that promotes individual or a “team mode” within the classroom, and displays all results from students as data that downloads onto an easily viewable Excel spreadsheet (Poth, 2016).
Data Literacy - Additional Assessment Tools:
Go Formative, otherwise known as Formative, allows teachers to “act on live student responses and track student growth over time to standards” (Formative, n.d.). A Math and Science Teacher has stated on their website that “finding a tool that will visually allow me to assess my students from their own device is irreplaceable” (Formative, n.d.). You can easily “create new assignments or simply upload & transform a pre-existing pdf or doc, then tag with any standards & assign to anyone,” while using Formative for any subject (Formative, n.d.). Teachers are also able to act on live responses to “provide the alerts needed to intervene,” and additionally “give feedback and easily score or auto-grade student work” (Formative, n.d.). You will be able to track student growth by being able to “easily visualize student performance across every assignment or assessment your students complete” (Formative, n.d.).
Go Formative Instructional Video Below
Classkick takes pride in their free tool for teachers that helps to “kickstart student learning” and “give quality, real-time feedback when students need it most” (Classkick, n.d.). Everyone can work together with Classkick and it will help “to eliminate barriers and make sure students can get the help they need, when they need it” (ClassKick, n.d.). You can give “individualized feedback while at home or on the go” and “formative assessments anywhere” with Classkick (Classkick, n.d.).
Classkick Instructional Video Below
“Socrative is your classroom app for fun, effective classroom engagement, and allows you to instantly connect with students when learning happens” (Socrative, n.d.). Socrative is known for being “your classroom app for fun” and “no matter where or how you teach” it is available for teachers (Socrative, n.d.). Socrative will work on any technology device and can “quickly assess students with prepared activities or on-the-fly questions to get immediate insight into student understanding” (Socrative, n.d.). Teachers can also “use auto-populated results to determine the best instructional approach to most effectively drive learning” for your 21st century learners (Socrative, n.d.).
Socrative Instructional Video Below
Flubaroo helps teachers to “grade assignments and assessments in under a minute” (Flubaroo, n.d.). You can “quickly get reporting and analysis on student performance” and instantly “send scores to students” (Flubaroo, n.d.). This is a “free solution to help” teachers and you will have “useful measurements on student performance” (Flubaroo, n.d.). Teachers can “assess student understanding in real-time” with this amazing tool and resource for assessment (Flubaroo, n.d.).
Flubaroo Instructional Video Below
Upon reflection after completing the section on data literacy I think that the best tool for assessment and the organization and analysis of student data is truly all the listed resource tools provided for teachers’ toolboxes. However, Survey Monkey is my personal favorite. I believe that Survey Monkey is the best tool because it allows one to choose from different options for analyzing data results from technology-based assessment through viewing options of an Excel spreadsheet or multiple PDF’s to gain data literacy through colored graphs or charts, a summary of the data, and individual responses of all the questions detailed data itemized by each student, while easily being able to click on, navigate, and locate individual questions or target student results instantaneously on the PDF’s instead of scrolling through other detailed data.
The benefits of using technology-based data literacy in our 21st century classrooms are that the ability for teachers, students, and parents to easily identify areas of concern and to apply methods of improvement are helpful solutions to improve academic performance as 21st century learners. Regarding data literacy and assessment “when used appropriately, standardized tests can provide helpful information for instructional planning” that will benefit students in this digital age (McMillan, 2014, p. 383). The pivotal point for all stakeholders involved with data literacy is that “the key is being able to understand the scores that are reported as well as the limitations on how scores should be interpreted” (McMillan, 2014, p. 383). It is important to take into consideration that “as long as results from these tests are not used as the sole criterion, scores can be used to form conclusions about the ability or prior achievement of students and what has worked instructionally” (McMillan, 2014, p. 383).
Assessment “data” is “a powerful tool for effective teaching” and data literacy (Data Quality Campaign, 2014). Many “state leaders have clearly prioritized data use as a central piece of improving education” and a benefit for 21st century learners who are gaining this valuable, instant feedback for academic achievement (Data Quality Campaign, 2014). I will use these findings in my future professional practice by understanding and applying this data literacy tool regarding “classroom assessment” to include “determining purpose and learning targets related to standards, systematically obtaining information from students, interpreting the information collected, and using the information” that I receive from my assessment data (McMillan, 2014, p. 58). Regarding analyzing technology-based assessment data to improve instruction with students is to understand that “the key to analysis is to move from what is wrong, to why it is wrong, and how to teach anew” by implementing a “concrete action plan” for student achievement, targeted success, and future academic growth and progress (Uncommon Schools, 2012).
Summary
International Society for Technology in Education Standards Being Met:
Empowered Learner - ISTE-S Standard 1.c: “Use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways” (ISTE, 2016).
Teaching, Learning and Assessments - ISTE-C 2.h: “Coach teachers in and model effective use of technology tools and resources to systematically collect and analyze student achievement data, interpret results, and communicate findings to improve instructional practice and maximize student learning” (ISTE, 2011).