Data Lit

Data Lit

By Data, Research, and AccountabilityEducation
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Data Lit episodes

  • Season Three Review: Things that make you go hmmmm

    Serena, Spencer, and Mellisa share their favorite moments from this season and then discuss what they’re looking forward to in season four. 


    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 Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
    Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    24 min
  • Data Bytes: An Interview with Band Director Steve Kuni

    In our next installment of Data Bytes, we discuss how Steve Kuni collects, analyzes, and uses data in his band classroom at Alston Ridge Middle School. 

    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 Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
    Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    25 min
  • Beautiful Work: How student work can be a data source in classrooms

    Ron Berger, CEO of EL Education is often quoted as saying that as educators we are preparing our students for a world where they will be judged by the quality of their character and their work. In this episode, we discuss the benefits of student work and how teachers can use it as a data source to not only improve their teaching but to help students create beautiful quality representations of their learning. 

    Research & Resources from the episode:

    • Gathering Feedback from Student Work

    • PLC+ Better Decisions and Greater Impact by Design

    • How to Talk About Data Episode

    • Looking at Student Work Protocol (ATLAS)

      • 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 Moore Square Middle School’s Maya Smith

      Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

      23 min
    • Quantitative & Qualitative Data: Why they matter in the classroom

      Quantitative and qualitative data have their uses in the classroom, yet too often, we position one above the other. In this episode, we examine the purpose of each and how we can leverage both to drive instruction forward.

      Research & Resources from the episode:

      • Ho JE. What counts? The critical role of qualitative data in teachers' decision making. Eval Program Plann. 2022 Apr;91:102046. doi: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.102046. Epub 2022 Jan 4. PMID: 35066328.
      • Minichiello, V. (1990). In-Depth Interviewing: Researching People. Longman Cheshire.
      • Quantitative vs Qualitative Data: An Attempt to Clarify the Issue 
      • Using Data to Advance Racial Equity
      • Using Social and Emotional Data to Promote a Positive School Culture

        • 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 Enloe High School’s Maya Smith

        Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

        26 min
      • Grading with Rubrics: It’s more than just Math

        Throughout this series, we have explored the purpose of rubrics and how to create, interpret, and use them efficiently with students. In this final episode, we discuss grading with rubrics, using what we learned from our interviews with our guests.

        Research & Resources from the episode:

        • TeacherEase - “Mode” Supported for Standards-based Grade Calculation
        • Cult of Pedagogy - Introducing the Hyper-Rubric
        • Center for Assessment - Zero Tolerance for Zeroes

          • 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 Enloe High School’s Maya Smith

          Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

          24 min
        • Interactive rubrics: Not the period at the end of the sentence

          We are joined by Digital Learning Coordinators (DLCs) Barb Vinal, Sadie Hoover, and Wanda Hanley to discuss the value of interactive rubrics. Our DLCs review how to build and employ these types of rubrics to empower students to own their learning.

          Research & Resources from the episode:

          • WCPSS’ Digital Learning Coordinator Website
          • WCPSS’ Digital Product Resource Library (DRPL)
          • Feedback & Data with Canvas Course
          • Assessing with Canvas Course
          • Other Canvas learning opportunities
          • Cult of Pedagogy - Introducing the Hyper-Rubric  
          • Edutopia - Interactive Rubrics as Assessment for Learning
          • 2018-19 Student Survey Results (accessible via WCPSS internet)
          • Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81–112. https://doi.org/10.3102/003465430298487

            • WCPSS staff can demonstrate their competency in developing rubrics by earning micro-credentials.

            Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler

            Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith

            Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

            16 min
          • Data Bytes: Interview with Kendrick Scott (WCPSS Office of Security)

            Join us for our first ever Data Bytes episode with Mr. Kendrick Scott, Director in the Office of Security as he enlightens us about the data they use to keep our schools safe.

            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 Enloe High School’s Maya Smith

            Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

            21 min
          • Rubrics as a tool for students

            From a temperature checker to a picture of expectations, two WCPSS ELA teachers describe the many ways rubrics, as tools, can guide students in completing assignments. Join us as we learn more about how rubrics enhance teaching and learning.

            Research & Resources from the episode:

            • Wested: A Strengths-Based Approach to Assessment Rubrics
            • The Impact of Peer Assessment on Academic Performance: A Meta-analysis of Control Group Studies
            • 2018-19 Student Survey Results

              • WCPSS staff can demonstrate their competency in developing rubrics by earning micro-credentials.

              Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler

              Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith

              Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

              17 min
            • The Do’s and Don'ts of Developing Rubrics: Practical applications from WCPSS teachers

              In this episode, two WCPSS ELA teachers share their experiences developing and using rubrics with students. Join us as we continue to learn more about how rubrics are used as tools to solicit evidence of learning for teachers, as well as provide feedback for students to move their learning forward.

              Research & Resources from the episode:

              • Rubric Calibration Activity  
              • Wested: A Strengths-Based Approach to Assessment Rubrics
              • Susan Brookhart: How to Create and Use Rubrics for Formative Assessment and Grading
              • The Impact of Peer Assessment on Academic Performance: A Meta-analysis of Control Group Studies

                • WCPSS staff can demonstrate their competency in developing rubrics by earning micro-credentials.

                Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler

                Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith

                Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

                23 min
              • Using Rubrics to Find Evidence of Learning: A Chat with Susan Brookhart

                We kick off our series on rubrics by speaking to Sue Brookhart, renowned education researcher and author of the book How to Create and Use Rubrics. In our conversation, we touch on why it’s essential to tie rubrics to learning outcomes, what the common misconceptions of rubrics are, and how her perceptions of rubrics have evolved over her career.

                Research & resources from the episode:

                • Brookhart, S. M. (2013). How to Create and Use Rubrics for Formative Assessment and Grading. ASCD.
                • Wormeli, R. (2018). Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom. Stenhouse Publishers.

                  • WCPSS staff can demonstrate their competency in developing rubrics by earning micro-credentials.

                  Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler

                  Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith

                  Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

                  26 min

                About Data Lit

                From the publisher's feed

                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…