June 2004 — Advertorial
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Connecting People and Information to Improve Student Achievement
Having a fully connected set of tools allows the monitoring of student progress throughout the extended learning community:
- The superintendent focuses on analyzing and interpreting data from the assessments (student learning), as well as additional information about how the school operates garnered from, among other sources, the student information system. The analysis and interpretation includes disaggregation of the data at least in the same way the state's accountability system requires, as well as by schools.
- The principal monitors progress against the school improvement plan, and uses assessment results to look at both student and teacher performance continuously, not just once a year. By analyzing performance at various times throughout the year, the principal can assess strengths and weaknesses for modification in future school improvement plans. These modifications will affect everything from instruction, curriculum plans and professional development plans to budgets.
- The teacher uses assessment results both to monitor student performance and, where needed, modify instructional practices. This process begins before the school year starts when the teacher looks at each student's prior assessment data.
- The parent can be provided accurate, current and easy-to-understand information. Some districts may choose to provide this information and additional communication via the Internet, while others may choose more traditional approaches. The key is that the information is accurate because it comes from an integrated system, and it will be available in a variety of levels of detail and a variety of displays. By having accurate and current information, teachers are able to communicate effectively with parents and address individual performance issues. Making accurate, current and easy-to-understand information available to parents fosters an environment where they gain confidence in the school and their child's education.
Monitoring performance means parents and community members are informed of school progress and able to become active participants in their child's education. Parents are aware in a timely manner of test schedules, special events, assigned homework and much more. Parents have a single place, populated with current, accurate information, to find everything about their child, including instructional resources that they can use with their child.
The suite of Concert solutions delivers on the promise of technology today to each of the stakeholders. Parents are able to see a comprehensive, day-by-day view of their child's instruction and progress. Administrators are able to recognize and correct school and district instructional needs and focus on school improvement. Teachers are able to do what they do best - teach - with the latest and best information. All this ensures that the purpose of education is to make sure that the Emmas of the world are successful in their education.
Burke's Connections establishes idiosyncratic relationships between science, technology and social change. Concert connects the critical relationships of student information, instructional management, assessment and data management/data analysis. It shows how everything works together to achieve the vision of increasing student achievement: People, ideas and information coming together for learning.
