The effective use of data in schools

16 Jul 2019

In a data-rich world, the integration of data-rich schools is inevitable.

From cognitive courseware to virtual counsellors, the use of technology has seeped into various corners of the classroom, mixing education with data-centric tools.

Acknowledging the transition from traditional to technological, Tech Wire Asia (TWA) highlights the use of AI-enabled course development and grading systems.

“Course development for the institutions will soon be done by AI, based on the real-time data and up-to-date information. This will enable students to get only the most relevant and impactful lesson that will prepare them for the ever-changing job market as well as reducing the world load of course developers and administrators,” notes TWA.

Widening students’ expertise with desirable data skills and the adoption of innovative technology, the use of data in school is proving to be both effective and efficient.

Disrupting the education sector with fast-paced learning methods and multifaceted solutions, the timing of teaching tasks is split into two. Long gone are the days of hand-ticked registers, pushed out by the click of an automated attendance system.

But how effective are data-rich schools and what role does data play in their daily operations?

How is data driving school development? Source: Shutterstock

Tracking pupil progress

From dining-hall swipe data to academic growth data, spreadsheets and automated data systems are handy in tracking a pupil’s progress and weekly activity.

By utilising data-driven tools, teachers can hone in on a specific student’s data and tally up a progress report to hand over at parents’ evenings or for annual assessments.

Once the educator sees where a pupil is progressing or failing, they can do everything in their professional power to improve these results and encourage the pupil to try different methods to facilitate their learning.

Rather than manually keeping an eye on every student within a class of 30+, data simplifies the tracking process.

Setting individual curricular targets

After analysing a learner’s academic progress, the teacher can tailor targets to suit different individuals.

For instance, if one pupil is faltering in mathematics, they will then be given a realistic target to work towards.

With measurable data, students may be increasingly motivated to improve their results and teachers may be searching for new ways to engage specific learners that aren’t doing as well as others.

Ready for some middle school science fun? The new @Arduino Science Kit Physics Lab is built for young scientists to experiment to their ❤’s content. Plus, they can log data directly into the Google Science Journal app. All sySTEMs go for learning: https://t.co/uQbtOObq1b pic.twitter.com/eu2YKmZuQl

— Google for Education (@GoogleForEdu) March 27, 2019

Identifying weaknesses in topics for the class as a whole

On the other hand, data systems may also measure the progress of the whole class.

If the data shows that all students aren’t doing well in science, it may be time to switch up the curriculum and introduce interactive systems to the mix.

For example, the online universe of learning BrainPOP provides an array of fun, interactive games and quizzes to get primary school students engaged with the lesson.

With so many free learning tools online, the World Wide Web is every teacher’s oyster!

Integrating omni-choice learning pathways

According to TWA, “In the future, online courses would have advanced from omni-channel- where students get the option to get the lesson anytime, anywhere and from any medium of choice- to omni-choice- whereby students would have the options to customise and configure the education journey based on their individual needs and interest.”

From this angle, data drives exponential change in classroom designs. Students may soon have the choice to participate in lessons in a personalised time bracket and select which topic suits them best!

Student-centered learning helps students develop future-ready skills. So, how do we scale to reach a whole district? Join us as representatives from the St. Lucie school district and @bnholzapfel share how data analytics provides the model for success. https://t.co/1sgWK9R32I pic.twitter.com/dzfPhw1VEO

— Microsoft Education (@MicrosoftEDU) June 25, 2019