What Are Schools of Education Doing to Improve Data Literacy Among Educators?

• In Event: Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Challenging Preservice Teachers’ Conceptions and Practices of Student Assessment and Evaluation

Abstract

Data-driven decision making has emerged as one of the possible means by which to stimulate continuous improvement. It is no longer acceptable to be armed with anecdotes or gut feelings. Educators must use data and evidence to inform practice. Department of Education officials have made clear that all educators must become data literate, but it is unclear what courses schools of education offer to improve data literacy among educators. This paper reports on a survey of schools of education to explore the kinds of courses being offered that provide training on how to use data. These courses include stand-alone data courses, integrated suites of courses, hybrids, or no courses. Implications for integrating data concepts into higher education are explored.

Authors

• Ellen B. Mandinach, WestEd

• Edith Gummer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

• Jeremy Friedman, WestEd