Performance and Opportunities
A curriculum that is objective-based can be tracked, recorded, and evaluated if data is accurately gathered. By properly recording data on each objective, we are able to determine if the curriculum is inadequate, if teachers need more training, and/or if students need a different approach.
Everything we do should be measurable. A well-maintained database is essential to the evaluation and growth of our programs. Teachers need to be able to use analyzed data to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, help parents understand where their children are successful, and pinpoint specific areas where they need more focused assistance.
When it comes to measuring and collecting data, whatever is considered subjective should be made as objective as possible. This may not always be possible, but the effort needs to be made.
Finally, it should be understood that data is collected, analyzed, and discussed. Record-keeping will never be an exercise in futility. Improvement starts with identification. Identification starts with data.
Two main areas in which we can use data are to identify opportunity gaps and performance gaps. An opportunity gap is the difference between the level of performance that is defined by a school’s current objectives and a level of performance that is above or beyond those objectives and also consistent with its vision.
A performance gap is the difference between a school’s current performance and the level of performance that is defined by its vision and objectives. If the data that is collected and analyzed identifies a performance gap, we can look more closely at the core activities of the school and focus on improving methods of teaching and learning. For example, this may involve providing professional development for teachers so they are more skilled at all aspects of teaching and learning or it might involve adding targeted time to teach or re-teach in areas where students are not yet meeting standards. Unless we gather an analyze data, we cannot skillfully make changes that students need.
