Northwest Regional Comprehensive Center

A Training of Trainers Seminar

The Oregon Department of Education is working toward building the capacity of educational leaders to support schools and districts in using data to inform decision making. To support this goal, ODE, NWRCC, and TERC collaborated on a seminar designed to prepare data facilitators.

Seminar Flyer

Research Based Program

The Using Data Facilitator Seminar was developed by TERC with a grant from the National Science Foundation and evaluated by independent researchers. Using Data has been field-tested across the country in high-poverty, diverse urban and rural school districts. Over two and one-half years of implementation, the program has documented gains in mathematics and science achievement and narrowing of achievement gaps between economic and racial groups, as well as increased collaboration, data use, and instructional improvement.

Focus

The purpose of the Using Data Facilitator Seminar was to build the capacity of educational leaders, known as data facilitators, to lead a process of collaborative inquiry with school-based data teams and to influence the culture of schools to be one in which data are used continuously, collaboratively and effectively to improve teaching and learning. Through this process, data facilitators gained essential skills and knowledge in three areas:

• Data literacy - understand, accurately interpret, and respond appropriately to multiple data sources, including formative and summative student learning assessments, student work, and quantitative and qualitative data related to programs, practices, and policies.
• Facilitation - facilitate data-driven dialogue and lead data teams through short cycles of planning, implementing, and monitoring instructional improvement.
• Leadership for sustainability - communicate vision, build broad support, and establish systems to sustain a culture of continuous improvement.

Audience

The Seminar was recommended for experienced leaders who can learn the process, apply it in their own diverse contexts, and ultimately train others to use data to improve teaching and learning. Priority was given to participants who serve Title I schools and districts, schools and districts that are designated "In Need of Improvement" status, and who were able to attend in regional teams. Participants included:

• Educational Service District Staff
• District Level Staff
• School Building Leaders
• Experienced Professional Developers
• Instructional Coaches
• Teacher Leaders
• Data Specialists

Participant Responsibilities

It was expected that all participants would be able to fulfill the following responsibilities:

• Attend the two-day Seminar, August 3–4, 2006 in Eugene, Oregon
• Engage in the Using Data process with their regional data team during the 2006–2007 school year
• Attend the two-day fall seminar, November 2–3, 2006, in Salem, Oregon
• Attend the two-day winter seminar, February 1–2, 2007, in Portland, Oregon
• Attend the one-day spring planning to develop strategies to train others in the Using Data process, May 4, 2007, in Bend, Oregon
• Become a Using Data Facilitator that can guide others through the Using Data process

Participants will be expected to attend all four sessions: the summer seminar, the fall seminar, the winter seminar, and the spring planning.

Summer Seminar

Fall Seminar

Winter Seminar

Spring Planning