~:[CH8 - Day 324]:~ A Numbers Game

~:[CH8 - Day 324]:~ A Numbers Game

Numbers are stats can be good. They can give us guidance and help us figure out where we need to go. However, do these numbers do all that we need. Can you truly figure out how someone is performing or what needs to be changed off this information? Can data tell you what needs to be retaught? In some cases yes and in others no. It could be something as simple as if the student was feeling well or not, maybe they forgot there was a test or maybe the wording of the questions threw people off. It seems like more and more, our world is becoming data driven. While it provides us a lot of measurable information, there are too many things that are not measurable. When we teach or do our jobs according to the data, we may lost our ability to inspire or help them learn, rather we make them into standardize testing machines or make them become another number by taking an AP class or test. We do need to work harder and figure out what we need to change, but we should focus on our motivation to do so, rather than simply at the numbers. Although I have very few Ds and Fs on my list, I already know there is more work I can do to improve, but this listing did not provide me with anything. Instead of looking at the numbers, let's look at the students and say, what more do I need to do to reach them and how can I inspire them. I need to do a better job of that daily and not just focus on those with missing assignments as the numbers might tell me, but also focus on those who are breezing through the class, but may need more of a challenge or simply attention since they get less of it because they are already where they need them on the data chart. All of our students need attention, but the data isn't always going to point us in the right direction. My goal as I move from now and into 2020, look at each of my students and figure out what guidance is needed by whom, whether the data shows it or not. I'm not against data, but am against education focused solely on the numbers, as our students are not simply a number.