What are some professional development opportunities or resources for data-driven instruction?

1 Online courses

Enrolling in online courses is one way to learn more about data-driven instruction. Such courses can offer flexibility, convenience, and affordability, as well as the opportunity to interact with other learners and instructors. Examples of online courses that focus on data-driven instruction include Data-Driven Instruction: A Framework for Enhancing Teacher Practice by Relay Graduate School of Education, Data Literacy for Educators by EdX, and Data Wise: A Collaborative Process to Improve Learning and Teaching by Harvard Graduate School of Education.

2 Webinars and podcasts

Gaining insights and tips on data-driven instruction can be done by watching webinars or listening to podcasts that feature experts, practitioners, or researchers in the field. These webinars and podcasts provide up-to-date and practical information and allow you to ask questions and join in discussions. Examples of webinars and podcasts that discuss data-driven instruction are Data-Driven Instruction: How to Use Data to Improve Student Learning by ASCD, Data-Driven Decision Making for Continuous School Improvement by Education Week, and The Data Coach's Guide to Improving Learning for All Students by Corwin.

3 Books and articles

Deepening your knowledge and understanding of data-driven instruction can be achieved by reading books or articles that offer guidance, examples, or evidence on how to use data effectively in the classroom. Books and articles can provide comprehensive, in-depth, and research-based perspectives, as well as the opportunity to reflect and apply what you learn. Examples of such texts include Driven by Data: A Practical Guide to Improve Instruction by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo, Data Literacy for Teachers: Making It Count in Teacher Preparation and Practice by Ellen B. Mandinach and Edith S. Gummer, and Using Data to Focus Instructional Improvement by Cheryl James-Ward, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Diane Lapp. Reading such materials can help you gain a better understanding of how to use data to inform your teaching practice.

4 Communities of practice

A fourth way to enhance your skills and confidence in data-driven instruction is to join or create communities of practice that involve other teachers, leaders, or coaches who share your goals and challenges. Communities of practice can provide support, feedback, collaboration, and accountability, as well as a chance to learn from the experiences and best practices of others. Examples of these kinds of communities include the Data-Driven Instruction Network by Teach for America, the Data Literacy PLC by Solution Tree, and the Data Wise Leadership Institute by Harvard Graduate School of Education.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?