Data Lit

By Data, Research, and Accountability

Teachers are inundated with data, but none of those numbers will help if they're not paired with some accessible and informative data literacy training. This podcast seeks to empower teachers with the... more

· Education

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FAQs about Data Lit:

How many episodes does Data Lit have?

The podcast currently has 90 episodes available.

Data Lit episodes:

April 15, 2024History of Standardized Testing in America
In this episode, we explore the fascinating evolution of standardized testing in the United States. From its humble beginnings in the 1800s to its central role in modern education, we delve into the origins and impacts of these assessments to discover how standardized tests have shaped educational policies and influenced students’ lives.

Research & Resources from the episode:
NEA - History of Standardized Testing in the US

JSTOR - A Short History of Standardized Tests
The Atlantic’s piece on testing

UNC - Making the Grade

NC ABCs Accountability Model from 1997 to 2012

U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Testing in American Schools: Asking the Right Questions, OTA-SET-519 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, February 1992).
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
36min
April 01, 2024Live from NCTIES: What does data literacy mean to you?
Data literacy means many things to many people, so in an attempt to unpack this topic, we asked a room full of educators from across the Carolinas at NCTIES how they define this term and how they hope to enhance their data literacy.

Research & Resources from the episode:
WCPSS Student Survey
Quantitative & Qualitative Data episode

Street Data Series
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
15min
March 18, 2024Data Bytes: Understanding the world of bus routing with WCPSS Transportation’s Bonnie Sluder
When you see that familiar yellow bus on the road, do you ever wonder about the data it takes to get students to and from school? In this episode of Data Bytes, our guest Bonnie Sluder from the WCPSS Transportation Departments shares what data she and her staff have to consider when managing the bus routing system in a district of our size. The fun facts she shares will make for great conversation starters at your next gathering.

Research & Resources from the episode:
Data Bytes: Geospatial Analytics

Exploring Multiple Measures in Your Data Story
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
23min
March 04, 2024Six Rules for a Pedagogy of Voice
At the core of the Street Data framework is hearing from our students, especially those whose voices are seldom represented. Join us as we discuss what it means to embrace a Pedagogy of Voice in our classrooms by sharing the six rules that can help us shift from a mind set where students are just passive participants to one where students are actively owning their learning.

Research & Resources from the episode:
Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation

Cognitive Coaching Course from the Office of Professional Learning (WCPSS only)

Retrieval Practice post (WCPSS only)

Authentic Audiences through Celebrations of Learning Video

Data Lit Feedback Series

Data Lit Grading Series
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
33min
February 19, 2024Getting Streetwise in the Classroom
In this episode of Data Lit, we invite Wake County’s Sarah Stephens, Senior Administrator to the Northern Area Superintendent, to help us deepen our conversation around the book Street Data. Because of her proximity to the work of schools, Sarah shares with listeners ways in which educators can apply strategies in their classrooms to get to the core of how our students are experiencing instruction in their learning journey.
Research & Resources from the episode:
Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation

WCPSS’ Equity Framework

Critical Reflection Prompts

For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y'all Too

Digital Portfolios 101 Learning Central course for WCPSS

Cult of Pedagogy: A Pathway Toward Equitable, Anti-Racist Schools
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
29min
February 06, 2024AI Prompts for Teachers: A Conversation with Rolesville Middle School’s Paul Cancellieri
Join Data Lit as we sit down with Paul Cancellieri, a science teacher at Rolesville Middle School, to discover how AI has impacted his instruction and assessment. In this episode, Paul shares his experience with AI and then his three favorite prompts to engage his students.

Research & Resources for the episode:
New Canvas Course for WCPSS: "Integrating ChatGPT Professionally" and NCDPI AI Guidance

Learning Central Course for WCPSS: Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom
EdSurge: Why Educators Should Lean in to AI to Better Support Students
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
24min
February 05, 2024Street Data: A new lens for seeing our learners
Have you heard about Street Data? Prior to a year and a half ago, neither had we. However, as our district was engaging in conversations around our post-pandemic “new normal”, we came across a book by Shane Safir and Dr. Jamila Dugan called “Street Data” that called to us because of its promises of addressing data considerations with equity in mind. In this episode of Data Lit, our listeners will get a taste of what this book is about as we summarize this new model for school transformation.
Research & Resources from the episode:
Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation

Best Practices for Conducting Focus Groups

Best Practices for Developing Collaborative Surveys

Quantitative & Qualitative Data: Why they matter in the classroom
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
25min
January 17, 2024Demystifying the NCPAT: An interview with Maxey Moore, Section Chief in NCDPI’s Office of Accountability & Testing
This school-year, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has adopted the North Carolina Personalized Assessment Tool, or NCPAT. In this episode of Data Lit, Maxey Moore, the Section Chief in NCDPI’s Office of Accountability and Testing helps us to unpack what educators and students can expect as we transition to this new assessment system.
Resources for the NCPAT:
NCDPI’s NCPAT Website

NCDPI Frequently Asked Questions

WCPSS’ NCPAT Overview video
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
12min
December 18, 2023Data Lit Holiday Extravaganza!
We're ringing in the new year with a holiday-themed episode of Data Lit! We give out a gift of data and then quiz each other on surprising statistics. Play along at home to see if you can beat our hosts (note: that's a fairly low bar).
Research & Resources from the episode:
EdSurge - How AI Could Bring Big Changes to Education

Scientific American - 9 Bizarre and Surprising Insights from Data Science
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Eva & Indy Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
25min
December 04, 2023Data Bytes: A conversation with Cindy DeFoor from WCPSS’ Grants Office
In our latest Data Bytes podcast episode, Senior Director Cindy DeFoor shares how she and her team in the Grants Office use their grant development and management skills to bring funding opportunities to our district, as well as what data is considered in their day-to-day operations. Tune in to learn more about the inner workings of this fascinating department. Resources are provided for both district and non-district staff.
Research & Resources from the episode:
WCPSS District Facts

Office of Grants’ WakeConnect Page [WCPSS only]

Office of Grants’ Learning Central Course [WCPSS only]

Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
...more
17min

FAQs about Data Lit:

How many episodes does Data Lit have?

The podcast currently has 90 episodes available.