UDL and DDDM (data literacy) in Assessment Practices

Data Driven Instruction

Data driven instruction is a constant and ongoing process that teachers must face daily in their work with students.  According to Dr. Michael Bolz and Vidya Madhaven data driven instruction the research has shown that "data-driven instruction can have a positive impact on teachers’ instructional strategies and students’ academic performance." Their website argues that data driven instruction has three different phases. (Link to their website: https://www.hmhco.com/blog/what-is-data-driven-instruction.) 

Phase 1: the intentional assessment of the students. This is when the teacher gathers data from the students through assessments and assess how the students align with learning objectives.

Phase 2: data analysis and alignment. This is when the teachers analyzes the data and looks for patterns in the student learning.

Phase 3: Instructional Changes. This is when the teacher adapts and changes future instruction to fit the needs of the students. 

What are some important rules for data driven instruction?

• 1. ongoing data collection (i.e., baseline data)
• 2. deliver assessments on a consistent and regular basis
• 3. conducting, reviewing, and grading the assessments provided
• 4. recording and tracking the data
• 5. analyzing the data
• 6. action plan 

Data driven instruction is very much a systematic process where each of the phases are connected to each other. Continuous monitoring and changes must take place as the teacher collects data and adapts his curriculum. Furthermore, the students should be the focal point of all that is done in the interconnected process. 

UDL

This is why it is so important that the teacher KNOWS his students. I had an "Aha!" moment when I realized just how interconnected UDL and data driven instruction are. You cannot have one without the other! In order to make the proper changes to curriculum, you must know the needs of your students. Assessments that teachers make must be purposeful and have a goal. Therefore knowing your students and what they are capable of is so important! The data that we are CONSTANTLY collecting drives our instruction and in order to properly apply the data we MUST know the needs of our students and try to meet their needs in our instruction. 

We must be careful. Data can often be skewed and misinterpreted, therefore it is so important that we are careful in how we understand what the data is telling us. We must continue to educate ourselves in how to properly, safely, accurately, and carefully interpret the data that our instruction gives us. 

I have learned much about data driven instruction. Prior to this class, I had a very simplistic view of what data driven instruction means. My view of this concept was: teachers assess the students take the data and then instruct the students with little to know connection. This class, discussions, exploration, and further research has broadened my understanding of this concept!