Digging Into Data

As we work with our SMART Goals and collecting data, I must say it's a little more time consuming than just getting the data and analyzing it. Usually, we are fed the data and glean what we can from it. In this format, I'm creating the goal, the data collection, and the analysis. I will say that It's a lot of work, especially creating a visual to enhance my data collection (I'm not the best at charts, graphs, and spreadsheets), but it helps me as an educator to go through the entire process. I feel more invested and in tune with what the data is really saying. This, of course, helps me to better instruct and guide my students. 

My recent data analysis for this module contrasts with my past experiences I reflected on our Quick Write because I wasn't being told what data to look at and didn't have any restrictions from outside sources. It was what I wanted to collect for my own purposes and development. 

As with everything, the more you do something, the better you get at it. We have been forced to do more data collection over the past few years with recent changes in Educator Evaluations. This process will only help me grow as a teacher. I guess the saying, "Practice makes perfect," isn't exactly correct. I don't think I'll become perfect through this process, but I'll be better than I was before, and that's something!