Data Reflections

Another NY Times article

2011-08-17T12:59:00.003-04:00

In case you didn't see this one come across a listserv, check out this article looking into some of the latest happenings at the New York State Education Department. Thoughts?

NY Times article about NYS tests

2011-08-16T09:40:00.002-04:00

A recent article discusses that old test items were "tricky" even though it states that they were "too predictable, leading proficiency rates to rise..."

The article goes on to say that "The state made the tests harder to pass in 2010, and scores plunged." The results had NOTHING to do with the wording of the questions - the cut points were raised based on the state's CUNY "research" AFTER the test administration!

Other article highlights include changes to future assessments such as the reduction of "not" in item prompts, limited italics/bold, a clear font type, and the requirement for positive material in passages.

To me, the bottom line is, if students cannot read, does font type matter? Does font type matter? Does font type matter? Does font type matter? Does font type matter?

And so it begins...

2011-06-28T11:45:00.000-04:00

Aspirational Measures Reported

2011-06-22T12:10:00.003-04:00

So the press included the source of data this time; however, they avoided using the term "extrapolation."

The excerpt says:
"The formula for college readiness comes from an analysis of data from city community colleges, which found that scoring a 75 on the English Regents exam and an 80 on the math Regents roughly predicted that students would get at least a C in college-level courses in the same subjects. Scores below that meant students often had to take remedial classes before they could do college-level work."

They failed to mention that the students were from one cohort year of students graduating from NYC high schools.

I am still waiting for the comparable data from the rest of the state that replicates the NYC findings. Or maybe replicating with another cohort. Or maybe replicating with Integrated Algebra data. Or connecting Regents exams to college placement exam data that are often used to determine which courses students are ready for. I know based our datasets, we were not able to replicate these cutpoints. How about you?

MD teacher evaluation plan

2011-06-22T12:05:00.001-04:00

50-50 split in Maryland

Article regarding Data "Truths"

2011-06-22T12:02:00.002-04:00

What do you think? Are these truths self-evident? Have we made progress in our use of data over the past 10 years?

New Round of i3 Grants!

2011-06-06T14:27:00.001-04:00

Focus on rural schools! Let's get some innovation going in upstate NY!

Vendor Email Comment(ary)

2011-06-01T13:22:00.002-04:00

I just got (again), an email from a vendor. The title of the sales pitch is:
"Prep for the Test: How to Prepare Your Students." I will share some FREE information - how do you prepare students for the test? TEACH THEM! Quality curriculum, instruction, and assessment (that involves student feedback!) will prepare students for more than just the test.

For more information about keys to quality assessment, check out Stiggins' work at www.assessmentinst.com or contact our office!

How to Motivate Students

2011-06-01T12:59:00.001-04:00

Another article about the importance of feedback!

Voki Nicole - The Future of Data Training?

2011-05-31T12:43:00.000-04:00

You scratch my back?

2011-05-24T12:42:00.003-04:00

Thoughts on this type of incentive? If it is the right thing to do for students, why was it not implemented in the past before tying tests to teacher/administrator/superintendent evaluation? Interesting approach that I would imagine is being explored in other areas.

BTW - The Regents exams are NOT used for teacher/administrator evaluation (as of 5/23/11 at 12:00 PM); the purpose is very different from the connection the article is trying to make.

Regents scores are not percents

2011-05-23T09:21:00.003-04:00

It is that time of year again. Final grades are being estimated. Regents exams are scheduled. Graduation parties are being planned. But what about those students who don't get to graduate or who are scheduled for summer school because the scores on their Regents exams are inappropriately included in their final average for a course. (And the average is probably a mean instead of a median - another way to ensure higher summer school registration and lower graduation rates. More to be said in another blog post)

But aren't Regents exams measures of student achievement like finals are? And aren't the Regents on a 0-100 scale like many classroom grading systems? On the surface, one might answer yes to both, but upon further investigation, 1) we know that the Regents are not end of course exams as they are not all given at the end of the corresponding course, and they are not all completely aligned with NYS Learning Standards (the Regents English exam is a good example of both scheduling and content). And 2) as per the NYSED link attached, Regents scores are scale scores, not percent correct, in order to account for the varying levels of item difficulty (thanks to good 'ole item response theory).

So let's see an example of a similar type of inappropriate averaging with other data...

I ask the local weather person what the average temperature is for the coming week. For me, I will do yard work if the average is over 70; indoor work if under 70. Here are the readings:

Monday - 70
Tuesday - 80
Wednesday - 76
Thursday - 81
Friday - 72
Saturday - 24
Sunday - 75

So the average temperature is 69 (using the mean), right? I will work inside. Well, the math is correct, but the data are not on the same scale! Saturday's temp is in Celsius! The converted temp for Saturday is 75 degrees so the mean is actually 76! I should be gassing up the mower!

Working outdoors or indoors is not a big issue, but graduation or not, summer school or not, credit recovery or not - those are BIG issues. And the wrong calculation could make the difference for students in high school and beyond.

Cuomo letter

2011-05-17T08:49:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't seen the original letter to the Board of Regents, see link above.

Times are a-Changin

2011-05-17T08:37:00.000-04:00

New evaluations, new Commissioner, and school budget voting today. What are your thoughts?

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Regents-move-bar-on-teacher-ratings-1382073.php

Helping to Make a Smarter Planet!

2011-05-06T11:23:00.001-04:00

Check out our customer profile - we are very excited!

http://www-01.ibm.com/software/success/cssdb.nsf/CS/GHAT-87U2VJ

What about that grade?

2011-05-04T14:34:00.000-04:00

As we enter the homestretch of the school year, let's keep focused on effective grading practices. What does that grade really say about a child's knowledge, skills, and abilities? How confident are you in the decisions you make about a child based on the grades they receive?

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Kids-and-Failure/

For SPSSers (or future SPSSers)...

2011-05-02T11:18:00.000-04:00

Just received an email regarding an upcoming webinar that might be of interest!

"There's still time to register for the live webinar, Tips and tricks for getting more done with IBM SPSS Statistics on Thursday, May 5 at 11 a.m. CT (12 p.m. ET, 9 a.m. PT). Learn the many tips and tricks for IBM® SPSS® Statistics so you can get things done – fast."

http://app.information.cognos.com/e/es.aspx?s=319&e=1126423&elq=167925bbb0ef4216aeee73fd430ebe58

It's back! And we're talking feedback...

2011-04-29T13:29:00.000-04:00

We have started our Data Blog back up again and wanted to share an article about feedback that highlights the great work of Susan Brookhart. So many reform initiatives fall short because we do not include students in their own learning. Quality feedback is essential for facilitating student achievement. Enjoy this link and if you have strategies or feedback stories, please feel free to share!

http://www.veanea.org/home/1185.htm

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 17

2008-10-09T11:10:00.001-04:00

Datagirl takes on Grading

In this episode, Datagirl discusses grading practices with several teachers to determine if their grades are reflective of student achievement. Can student success be hindered by improper grading practices? How should grades be communicated? Tune in to find out...

Download now!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 16

2008-09-22T12:59:00.000-04:00

Datagirl and the Accountability Alphabet

In this episode, Datagirl works with a building principal to understand accountability terms found in the school report card. Will a musical approach make learning the terms child's play? Tune in to find out!

Download now!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 14

2008-02-04T09:24:00.000-05:00

Datagirl Visits Gobbler's Knob

In this episode, Datagirl engages in a discussion about prediction with Punxsutawney Phil and one of his handlers. What are some factors that should be considered prior to conducting a regression analysis? Tune in to find out!

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The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 13

2008-01-09T13:17:00.000-05:00

Datagirl and the Equating Inquisition

In this episode, Datagirl examines the differences between pre-equating and post-equating. Is one approach better than another? Tune in to see what the Council concludes.

Download now!

Datapalooza registration has begun!

2008-01-08T12:46:00.000-05:00

Registration for our 3rd annual spring data conference - Datapalooza - has begun!

Early bird deadline is January 31.
Please note our new option for sending teams from one location.
The pre-conference session and vendor forum options do not require registration for the entire conference.

If you have any questions, please contact daspd@wswheboces.org.

We look forward to another exciting event!

Happy Anniversary, Datagirl!

2008-01-04T15:32:00.000-05:00

The Adventures of Datagirl podcast series turns 1 on January 5, 2008. Thanks to all of you who have listened in, loaned your voices, and supported our fun experiment in professional development delivery.

Stay tuned this year for new and exciting episodes and some surprises too...

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 12

2008-01-03T15:46:00.001-05:00

Datagirl and the week before testing

The latest episode of our podcast series is now available. Tune in and enjoy this very special broadcast...

Download now!

Happy Holidays 2007!

2007-12-21T14:49:00.000-05:00

Hi there - We are having difficulties with our podcast publishing so please be patient as we prepare episodes 12 and 13. In the meantime, enjoy your holidays and happy new year!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 11

2007-11-15T11:06:00.000-05:00

In our 11th episode, Datagirl Returns to the Island of Unmet Standards, Datagirl visits King Minus to get an update on the status of their improvement plan. Did the Island make Adequate Kingdom Progress?

Download now!

Another Reason to CONVERGE

2007-11-01T10:29:00.000-04:00

In a recent ABC News article, 1 in 10 schools were considered to be dropout factories. What would have helped these students? The findings in the article (in parentheses) support the other research the CONVERGE team references...engagement (low student expectations led to dull classes), connections (one dropout would have liked someone to tell him "we're going to help you"), and literacy (students are entering HS with poor literacy skills).

The article also discusses legislative proposals to focus on the dropout issue. No matter how dropouts are counted, the aforementioned areas are of utmost concern. How can we focus our attention on the causes of dropping out, not just symptoms, like low test scores?

New nySTART/VITAL links

2007-10-24T14:03:00.000-04:00

There are some new links related to nySTART that might be helpful.

http://vital.thirteen.org/search.php

This link brings you to VITAL: Video in Teaching and Learning that was developed with Channel 13 for grades 3-6 in ELA and Math. You will need to login with a separate account.

http://vital.thirteen.org/Nystart_1024_768.swf

This link brings you to an overview of the nySTART system with voiceover. It is about 10 minutes long and shows the subgroup page, the content strand page, and the links to VITAL. There is no overview of the items page or student level page including parent reports, there is little discussion of the interpretation of the data, and there is no mention of the famous spinning cube. This module is for basic navigation and might be a good starting point for new nySTART users.

Your Questions about Measurement

2007-10-12T11:08:00.000-04:00

In preparation for the Assessment Awakenings session on 10/22 entitled What Teachers/Administrators should know (or ask) about Measurement, we invite you to submit any measurement related questions to our office at daspd@wswheboces.org or post your question to the blog. We will share the answers on the blog after the session!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 10

2007-10-09T08:26:00.001-04:00

In our 10th episode, Datagirl and the Library of Wonder, Datagirl explores several concepts to investigate what skills students need to be successful. Journey with her and several students through stacks of knowledge to learn what different skills students need to be successful in careers compared to what might be assumed.

Download now!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 9

2007-09-19T15:21:00.000-04:00

The Adventures of Datagirl and the Summer of Progress.

Download Now!

DATAPALOOZA - Call for Proposals

2007-09-12T08:57:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year - time to submit a proposal for the 3rd annual Spring Data Conference! Just visit our conference webpage to download the proposal submission form and instructions.

We know this event will be bigger and better than last year with your involvement. If you have any questions, please email daspd@wswheboces.org.

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 8 PART 2

2007-06-27T13:00:00.001-04:00

The moment you have been waiting for...Part Two of Datagirl and the Evil Lord Anti-Valid is finally here. Tune in to hear whether or not Datagirl survives the journey to Dark Mountain to confront Lord Anti-Valid...will the citizens ever get tools they need to get accurate results?

Download now!

Video Games vs. Music

2007-06-27T10:14:00.000-04:00

Here is some interesting research that I first found on Dan Pink's blog...

If video game spending is going to surpass music spending, and if there is some educational value in gaming (see Wired and msnbc articles), then there might be some value to exploring how new approaches might assist students at-risk as well as students needing enrichment. We have many years of data to explore, we have information about the skills students need to improve, and now we need to evaluate the interventions that we provide to improve skills. If anyone has data on gaming interventions related to K-12, please post a comment. If anyone needs to collect some data on gaming use and its affect on student skills in their district, let's do some of our own research (Datapalooza is next April...)!

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.05/view.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4685909/

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 8

2007-06-05T13:33:00.000-04:00

In this new episode, Datagirl and the Evil Lord Anti-Valid, Datagirl discovers a lost civilization that is suffering because their tools are not accurate. Can Datagirl help the citizens and overthrow Evil Lord Anti-Valid? Tune in for the first part of the story and find out!

Download now!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 7

2007-05-01T11:28:00.000-04:00

In Episode 7, Datagirl Answers Your Questions, Datagirl answers your questions! Hear what folks are asking and what insights and suggestions Datagirl has to offer.

Download Now!

Updates!

2007-04-24T15:13:00.000-04:00

There are some updates to the WSWHE BOCES Data Analysis webpage including photos from the Spring Conference 2007 and the Virtual Vendor Showcase. Also, don't forget to submit your questions for Datagirl (see post below)!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 6

2007-04-17T10:33:00.000-04:00

In Episode 6, Datagirl and the Testing Twins, Datagirl intervenes in a heated discussion about the role of different types of assessments. Can Datagirl help the Testing Twins settle their differences and clarify how they can both operate in an instructional setting? Tune in to find out!

Download now!

DATAPALOOZA!

2007-04-17T10:26:00.000-04:00

Save the dates for our 3rd Annual Spring Data Conference - April 2-4, 2008! More details to follow. Call for proposals this fall...

Ask Datagirl!

2007-04-05T11:18:00.000-04:00

For the May 4th (Episode 7) podcast, Datagirl will be answering YOUR questions! If you have data analysis, assessment, statistics, or related questions, please email daspd@wswheboces.org with your question and contact information. We may include your question - or even your voice - in the next episode!

Data Conference Reflections

2007-04-03T09:27:00.000-04:00

Well, the 2nd Annual Spring Data Conference - Data Analysis in a Flat World - came to a close last Friday and we are happy to say that we have already started planning for next year (stay tuned for details). The Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark in Queensbury, NY, provided many meeting spaces and meals to help our conference be a success.

Day 1 - Pre-conference
Participants experienced a variety of hands-on workshops from Blackboard, formative assessment development, and Podcasting in the AM to more Blackboard, pivot tables, and reading assessment analysis in the PM. I heard many comments from folks who are looking forward to implementing these practices and tools in their schools!

There also was a vendor forum with ETS. Despite a last minute location change, the crowd received an overview of several products and enjoyed a lovely lunch.

Day 2 - Conference and Vendor Showcase
After having a hearty Adirondack breakfast and hearing a few words from Dr. Stoothoff about how we need to respond to the dropout rates in NYS and prepare students for the 21st Century global economy, participants attended sessions addressing a variety of assessment/instruction topics. Throughout the morning, attendees also experienced a busy vendor showcase where representatives from Discovery/ThinkLink, Scantron, Corwin Press, Performance Pathways, Pearson Digital Learning, Dell, CTB/McGraw-Hill, Ray Supply, Compass Learning, Apple, ETS, and Media-X displayed their products and services and engaged in conversations about how they could support school improvement efforts (and there were some neat little goodies at each booth as well)!

At lunch, the particpants entered the ballroom for a delicious lunch (topped off at the end with amazing lava cakes) and had a surprise visit from Daffy Duck who is a regular at the Great Escape Lodge! As we finished lunch, we were ready for our keynote speaker, national bestselling author of A Whole New Mind, Dan Pink. His presentation helped attendees focus on the critical skills that will be needed for students to be successful in the changing job market, and based on the questions asked by participants during the talk and the discussions I heard after, folks are ready to incorporate Dan Pink's ideas into classroom practice and school support systems.

I think Dan Pink enjoyed his visit as well - see the post on his website - www.danpink.com.

Thanks to all of the folks who helped make the conference bigger and better than last year!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 5

2007-03-22T12:10:00.000-04:00

In Episode 5, Datagirl heads to Queensbury, a data analyst struggles with a request from the Superintendent regarding the collection of data connected to 21st century skills. To assist, Datagirl brings the data analyst to meet some of the presenters of the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES 2nd annual Spring Data Conference. Tune in to find out what data districts should be looking at to prepare students for the future!

Download Now!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 4

2007-02-09T08:54:00.001-05:00

In Episode 4, Datagirl and the 21st Century, Datagirl assists school districts on how to think about data differently. Can administrators and teachers help students develop a whole new mind? Tune in to find out!

Download now!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 3

2007-02-09T08:54:00.000-05:00

In Episode 3, Datagirl and the Comparison Shoppers, Datagirl provides parents with assistance on averages. Is one classroom really outperforming another? Tune in to find out how means and medians can change the way we view test results.

Download now!

Flat World Related Articles

2007-02-08T12:52:00.000-05:00

In preparation for our February 27 Assessment Awakenings, we found two articles that were of interest - one by Daniel H. Pink (A Whole New Mind) and one by Richard M. Felder that connects A Whole New Mind and Flat World concepts. If the links do not work directly, cut and paste or retype in your browser. Both articles were accessible as of 2/8/07.

Based on these articles, what do you think are the biggest threats to our schools? What are the biggest opportunities? Please submit your comments to the blog or email your thoughts to us at daspd@wswheboces.org

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.05/friedman_pr.html

http://eee.uci.edu/news/articles/_html/0607flatworld_print.html

Early Bird Deadline Approaching!

2007-01-24T12:42:00.000-05:00

The early bird deadline for the 2nd Annual Spring Data Conference - Data Analysis in a Flat World - is approaching! To take advantage of the reduced rates, please fax your registration form to (518) 581-3725 by Friday, 1/26/07. Hope to see you there!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 2

2007-01-22T13:05:00.000-05:00

Datagirl visits King Minus on the Island of Unmet Standards to help the new king collect data about why the natives continue to build structures that are not up to par. Tune in to Episode 2 to find out what Datagirl discovers and how King Minus plans to improve the situation!

Download Now!

The Adventures of Datagirl - Episode 1

2007-01-05T12:57:00.000-05:00

Listen to our new audio professional development series, The Adventures of Datagirl, on your mp3 player or computer to hear about various data analysis questions and concerns and how our heroine, Datagirl, helps solve the problem! Each episode will be accessible via this webpage. If you need any assistance accessing these files, please call (518) 581-3741 or email daspd@wswheboces.org.

Download Now

Enjoy!

2007-01-03T11:39:00.000-05:00

What Parents Should Know (or Ask) about Assessments

As a data analyst and a parent, I have been approached with many questions regarding state tests or assessments in general. I also find myself asking targeted questions when I attend parent-teacher conferences. The following series is from a recent "Assessment Awakenings" that address what parents should know or ask and what schools should be prepared to respond to at any time.

First, let's start with "WHAT" questions. Visit soon for the next installment - "WHEN" questions.

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-11T11:15:00.000-05:00

May your holidays be significant!

What's New?

2006-12-05T11:06:00.000-05:00

Podcasts are coming! Podcasts are coming!

Stay tuned...

2006-08-28T09:45:00.000-04:00

Spring Data Conference Keynote Speaker Announced

WSWHE BOCES is pleased to announce Daniel Pink as the keynote speaker for our 2nd Annual Spring Data Conference on March 30, 2007! Dan Pink is a best-selling author and an expert on innovation, competition, and the changing world of work. His latest book, A Whole New Mind, charts the rise of right-brain thinking in modern economies and explains the six abilities individuals and organizations must master in an outsourced and automated world. Reviewers have described the book as "an audacious and powerful work," "a profound read," "right on the money," and "a miracle." Several publications - including strategy+business, The Miami Herald, and Fast Company - named it one of the best business books of 2005. A Whole New Mind is being translated into 12 languages - and will be published across Europe and Asia in 2006. For more details about the conference, please visit www.wswheboces.org/data. We look forward to another exciting event!

2006-08-10T11:19:00.000-04:00

Information Rich, Knowledge Poor

We've all heard the phrase "data rich, information poor," but now we are facing a new challenge: we're becoming information rich, knowledge poor. In the past, we've needed to make sense of all kinds of data and now it seems that every day we have a new system or tool that is purporting to turn our data into information. But what does the information really tell us?

Here's an example: once upon a time we talked about percent of students at levels 1-4. Now we can see what percent of students are at levels 1-4 over time and compared to different populations. If we see we are making progress, great - but why? Our information is helping us see what is happening in our classes and in our schools, but why do we see these results? As more "what" inputs are being presented, we might find ourselves becoming led further away from our focus on "why."

So what can we do about this issue? We need to start (or continue) to approach the data from a multivariate angle - multiple inputs leading to multiple outputs. Simple descriptive statistics don't cut it when we are looking at complex data systems. And assessment data do not show the whole story so we need to include perception data and more! Thus, I challenge all of us who have the charge of turning a mountain of information into useful gems of knowledge to consider new ways of analyzing educational data. We don't need to reinvent the wheel, we just have to sharpen our tools and tackle that mountain!

2006-08-09T10:16:00.000-04:00

Using A Whole New Mind to Address the Dropout Crisis

A recent ASCD InfoBrief (Summer 2006) focused on "Closing the Gap: Keeping Students in School." Looking at some of the responses from dropouts interviewed for one of the studies cited fired my synapses and I thought of Dan Pink's bestseller A Whole New Mind.

Students in the study (Bridgeland, DiJulio, & Morison, 2006) talked about not being engaged and having no incentive to go to school. Factors that students discussed included: making school more relevant and enhancing the connection between school and work. Looking at Pink's book, one will see how, in this age of abundance, "things" aren't keeping students engaged. Sure, the technology enhancements in the class are nice (and can even be helpful for instruction when used properly) - but they are expected since they are part of daily life. What students are looking for is SYMPHONY and MEANING. Students need schools to show how what they are learning fits in with their life now and their future. Students also need to feel like they derive some meaning from being in school - and if the school doesn't set up these structures, students look to their friends (in person or in cyberspace) to determine how they matter.

I don't think this comes as a surprise - these are issues that the workforce deals with every day. Plenty of research documents that intrinsic motivators win out over extrinsic motivators if you want to reduce turnover and increase productivity. So as educators, employers, and parents, let's start using A Whole New Mind to reframe the way we address the dropout rate and focus on the needs of students as they prepare for a global future.

2006-08-04T15:41:00.000-04:00

How NOT to Complete a Survey

Based on our office's work in analyzing perception data from surveys, we notice a lot of things that people do when filling out a survey that make the analysis difficult, or worse, make responses void. Here is our short list of reminders of how to complete a survey if you want your responses to be included in the analysis.

1) When the question asks you to circle or check one response only - check or circle only one response.

Often times, an organization wants to know your top choice or the best _____, so you are asked to choose one only. When you check more than one because you think there are 2 best or 3 favorites, then the item is unusable because the researchers cannot pick which one was the "best" of those selected.

In items than have a scale (e.g., a 6-pt agreement - strongly agree to strongly disagree), we tend to see responses where folks circle more than one (a big circle around 2 and 3). Sometimes we even see an "X" in between two numbers. These are no-nos, because there is no option of 2.5 (we'll cover ordinal vs. interval scales in a later blog), and we don't know if the respondent was really more a 2 or more a 3. So please choose one, otherwise your response is unusable.

2) If the questions asks you to rank the top 3 choices, they need to be ranked - and only up to 3.

Items that ask you to rank are different from items asking you to check all that apply. If you are asked to rank the top three (1, 2, and 3), and you just check off three options, then there is no way to know which was first, second, or third choice, rendering the response void. In one recent survey, we had to exclude 25% of responses to a ranked item because folks just checked three instead of ranking them as the question prompt asked.

The same rule applies if you rank items: 1, 2, 2 (suggesting the second and third are tied). We can use the 1, but we don't know which one of the others is really second.

3) When there is an ID code asked, please fill it in completely.

To ensure confidentiality and to attempt to allow for anonymity, we often ask for ID code (a combo of name/phone number). These codes are important for pre-post studies so that responses can be matched. If the codes are not filled out completely as per the instructions in the pre- or post- setting, the surveys cannot be matched and both the pre- and post- survey may have to be excluded from the analysis.

4) If you have comments, place them in the additional comments section or at the end of the survey.

When there are tiny comments crunched into a scale survey item line or squeezed between two categories, 1) it is difficult to read and 2) there isn't a location in the database for these comments so they may not be considered. To make sure your comment is clear and counted, it is best to place them at the end of the survey.

5) Please print!

Chances are that if a respondent took the time to respond to open ended (fill in) items, the comments are important for the analyst to include and for the organization to hear. For this reason, we ask that folks type or print their comments. There have been many comments that were illegible due to the cursive or shorthand that respondents used. This is even more critical if you are scanning or faxing a document.

*****

We hope that if you see yourself in any of these comments that you are not offended and now realize why survey responses are asked for in particular ways. If you have a question about how to complete the survey, there always should be a contact person listed on the survey or on the survey cover letter (if applicable). I know our office would prefer phone calls to ensure valid responses instead of having to code responses as "missing data."

2006-08-04T11:08:00.000-04:00

So what have you been doing all summer?!

Long time, no see. What do data analysts do all summer when there is no new state assessment data? The answer is - a lot! Most of the summer has been spent preparing for the rollout of NYSED's Grow Net (aka nySTART) reports. We will be distributing a DVD for all participating districts that includes training on how to interpret the new parent reports, we are providing "Account Provisioning Boot Camp" to assist districts in the setup of nySTART accounts, and in October/November, we'll host FALL DATA DAYS to help staff interpret the information in the online reports. Check back on the WSWHE BOCES data website for all the details. Oh - and CIO meetings are right around the corner...

We've also been busy with various administrator trainings and workshops. The WSWHE BOCES administrators worked for several days on determing how to help address 21st needs and close the achievement gap as we craft "A Whole New Mind" - see DanPink.com. We worked with Granville on moving from "Good to Great" - see JimCollins.com. And I even learned a few things at the Model Schools "Administrators' Technology Summer Camp" (although I am still looking for the s'mores)!

In addition, we've welcomed our new Director of School Support Services, Tony Muller, and we are preparing to welcome Dr. Janie Cornell to WSWHE BOCES as the new Asst. Superintendent for Instruction/SSS. Katie Jones, WSWHE BOCES Data Analyst, also welcomed a beautiful daughter, Finley Cole, to the world on July 7. We've missed Katie all summer and look forward to being back to full strength in September.

In the meantime, Rose and I are holding down the fort. We're working hard to prepare for next March's data conference - "Data Analysis in the Flat World." The call for proposals will be out in September and the planning committee is looking forward to seeing a lot of great sessions offered.

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