Our first data meeting was conducted Saturday evening. It was helpful to have this meeting to see how others in my group are working on their data. I have not had a lot of experience working with data and charts over my many years of teaching, so to learn how to work with it and to learn how to create charts in order to analyze the data has been helpful.
Before attending the first data meeting, I had spent time working on creating charts in order to analyze the scores of my students and how they related to the objectives. I wanted to create a few more charts of the data but I was unable to figure out how to do what I wanted to do. At times I have my limits with how much I can do with Excel even after I do many tutorial searches to help me out. I did find the creation of the data charts very helpful in that I was able to notice some patterns as to how my students did with the work that they completed. I was also able to learn to wonder about the results related to certain students.
During the data meeting it was interesting to see how we each approached the assignment quite differently. I also learned quite a bit from the team member who works with mathematics and how much he was able to do with the data chart. This was quite helpful to learn how to create a few different kinds of charts for the future. It was also helpful to learn a bit more as to how to analyze the data in ways that I had not thought of previously.
Since I am not a math teacher but a Spanish teacher, I have realized that I look at the data quite differently than someone who is used to looking at numbers on a regular basis. I think in the future this will help me in my teaching practice in many ways. First, I think it will help with the creation of assessments and/or assignments for my students. Second, I believe it will help me to work more with the students who struggle and recognize the pattern of their possible struggles. Lastly, I believe that it will help me to learn how to understand students and their scores a bit better.
Since this was only the first data meeting and the beginning of learning how to look at and analyze data I believe that I still have a lot to learn. However, I do believe that by the end of working with data in this course I will have some new tools to add to my teaching practice in order to continue to grow and learn as a teacher.
Marcie's EDTC 615 Blog 
Marcie, I love how open you are to learning this process. You will take away from this course the best ‘pieces’ that work for you! Nice start, but please link your DM#1 presentation to this blog. ~ DKK
LikeLike
Thank you. I will do so soon.
LikeLike
Hello Dr. Khalsa – the data meeting presentation has now been linked. Thanks Marcie
LikeLike
Very nice reflection! I found it interesting to see how everyone approached the data differently too. I like how everyone is able to bring their own thoughts and opinions to the table to really get us all thinking about the students and what might be happening.
LikeLike
Thanks so much.
LikeLike
Hi Marcie,
I agree that creating the graphs on excel was helpful in noticing trends, but I did find it challenging and a little frustrating at first because I did not have any prior experience with excel. It is great to hear that collaboration with your group not only gave you a new perspective but also helped you learn how to create new charts and look at the data with a “math mind”.
LikeLike
Yes, I also found using the graphs in Excel a bit challenging. I am not new to using Excel but I have never used it for more than what I have needed therefore I find it frustrating at times as well.
Marcie
LikeLike
Marcie,
Great Post! I believe that as you continue to work Excel that you will find several features that may be helpful to you when analyzing your data. As much as I use Excel, I am still learning how to use many of their features, to include auto calculations and charts.
LikeLike