Using Data to Improve Student Outcomes (FutureLearn)

Each week will focus on a different aspect of data. You will identify sources and interpret them, determine their implications and establish actions for improvement.

Week 1 – Improvement Science
We will consider: different sources and types of data; ways to improve student outcomes; improvement processes in your own context and professional experience; and real-world examples of improving student outcomes.

Week 2 – Findings
We will discuss: how to present and evaluate data effectively; the difference between data and findings; the role of ethics in data handling and sharing; and the relationship required between data, findings and actions, to achieve continuous improvement.

Week 3 – Actions
We will explore: different indicators for measuring improvement; how to collect sample data and select the appropriate indicator; and how to present indicators and actions to your students.

Learn with expert educators from AACTE
The course has been developed by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) – the premier voice on educator preparation in the United States.
You will learn with Linda McKee – an experienced teacher trainer and Senior Director of Quality Support Initiatives at AACTE.

What topics will you cover?

Week 1 – Improvement Science
Identifying different sources and types of data
Ways to improve student outcomes
Improvement processes in your own context and professional experience
Real-world examples of improving student outcomes

Week 2 – Findings
How to present and evaluate data effectively
The difference between data and findings
The role of ethics in data handling and sharing
The relationship required between data, findings and actions, to achieve continuous improvement

Week 3 – Actions
Different indicators for measuring improvement
How to collect sample data and select the appropriate indicator
How to present indicators and actions to students

What will you achieve?

• Identify data sources and recognise different types of data.
• Recognise and discuss different methods for improvement initiatives.
• Interpret case studies and discuss improvement processes within your own context and professional experience.
• Explain the relationship between data, findings and actions required in order to achieve continuous improvement.
• Describe the difference between data and findings.
• Produce findings from a sample set of data.
• Evaluate and discuss the different approaches taken in example data dashboards.
• Identify and select the most appropriate indicators for measuring improvement.