Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Avoiding Data Paralysis and Other Traps:Best Practices for Working with Data

Session Presenters:Thomas Acampora and G. Joyce Hamer

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Do Now:

As you take your seat, complete the anticipation guide on using data

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Objectives articulate the importance and impact of Early Warning Indicator

(Attendance, Behavior, Course Performance) data

identify how to analyze and interpret EWI data reports – both interim and summary

understand the role of data in creating and evaluating action plans

Interim ReportsWhat data and how to use it midyear

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Best Practices - Interim

Know what your research questions are

(what you want to know) before examining the

data

Ask clarifying questions about the

trends in the data

Identify the root causes of

data trends

Don’t make snap judgments

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Interim Report Case Study Analyze a Quarter 2 report with the following guiding questions:

What trends do you notice? What questions should you ask? What do you believe you need to do next?

Use your analysis to update the school action plan, as necessary.

Summary ReportsWhat data and how to use it at the end of the year

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Best Practices - Summary

Know what your research questions are (what you want to know) before examining the data

Ask clarifying questions about the trends in the data

Focus evaluation on one data area at a time

Look for links between different pieces of data

Go beyond the numbers – pair quantitative and qualitative data

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Summary Report Case Study Examine the Quarter 4 report with the following guiding questions:

What trends do you notice? What questions should you ask?

Using your updated action plan and your analysis of the Quarter 4 report:

SWOT the team’s action plan Start the process of developing next year’s action plan

Closing• Plus/delta exercise

• Complete anticipation guide

Thank you!

Comments, Questions and Contact Info:

Thomas Acampora at tacampora@jhu.edu G. Joyce Hamer at ghamer1@jhu.edu