Multi-dimensional education : a common sense approach to data-driven thinking

"In an evidence-driven era, gathering comprehensive data will enable schools to meet their academic goals and to engage in a holistic approach to education."--Avis Glaze, PresidentEdu-Quest International Inc., Valhalla, NY

"The challenges facing educators today are immense and the pressure to ′perform′ is clearly evident. This book provides a fresh and compelling argument to look far beyond test score performance when measuring success in our schools." --Kurt Suhr, PrincipalNewport Heights Elementary School, Newport Beach, CA

A comprehensive guide to data-driven school improvement

Schools aren′t one dimensional. Your decision making shouldn′t be either. If you want to look beyond student test scores to identify the specific areas that need improvement in your school, you will find practical tools for assessing multiple areas with confidence here. The authors detail a step-by-step framework for identifying, collecting, analyzing, and using data as a basis for driving school improvement in the right direction. Based on more than 40 years of research, this seven-dimensional model will help enhance your school′s curriculum, community, climate, and character by applying data to these key processes:

Assessing student achievement Modifying instruction based on data findings Improving school performance Retaining effective teachers

The result is a holistic and accurate instrument for making the changes needed to improve student learning. Included are assessment tools, process charts, graphic organizers, rubrics, tables, numerous examples, and background research.

Michael W. Corrigan

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
About the Authors	p. xix
Introduction: A New Lens	p. 1
Part I Assessment	p. 9
1 The Paradoxes, Oxymorons, and Myths of Education	p. 11
Derealization	p. 16
Finding Comfort in Numbers	p. 21
Investing in Education	p. 22
The Courtship of Eddie and Eva	p. 24
Expanding the View	p. 26
So What Is Multi-Dimensional Education?	p. 29
Innovators Wanted	p. 38
Debunking the Myths of Education Assessment	p. 40
First Steps	p. 47
2 The seven Dimensions to Guiding Systemic Data-Driven Thinking	p. 49
Doing or Being?	p. 51
Effective Schools and Corn-fusing Research	p. 54
Meaningful Dimensions of Education	p. 58
The Multi-Dimensional Education Systemic Model	p. 67
Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe	p. 75
The Paralysis of Analysis	p. 77
Next Steps	p. 79
3 Connecting the Data Dots to Achievement	p. 81
Planning for a Better Cruise	p. 84
The Potential Pitfalls of the Journey	p. 88
The Power of Data to Perpetuate Change in the Journey	p. 90
The Process, the Pain, and the Pleasure	p. 91
Triangulation Versus Strangulation	p. 93
Building Your "Bucket List"	p. 97
Crossing Items off the Bucket List	p. 104
Discovering the Hidden Picture	p. 113
Next Steps	p. 115
Part II Improvement	p. 117
4 The 4Cs Framework for Shared Leadership and Planning	p. 119
4Cs for Applying Your Data-Driven Thinking	p. 122
Connecting the Seven Dimensions to the 4Cs	p. 125
Mental Notes	p. 128
No Running, Just Walking	p. 129
Lessening the Aggravation of Aggregation	p. 134
Courageous Conversation Challenge	p. 135
Next Steps	p. 138
5 The C of Curriculum	p. 139
Addressing Curriculum	p. 140
Finding the PERKA and Research Support	p. 141
Dimensional Connection to Curriculum	p. 147
Seven Steps to Systemic Improvement in Curriculum	p. 149
Additional Strategies and Measures for Addressing the C of Curriculum	p. 155
Next Steps	p. 158
6 The C of Community	p. 159
The Community Conundrum: Connecting Pedagogy, Parents, and the Public	p. 160
Research on Community	p. 164
The Dimensional Connection to Community	p. 165
Seven Steps to Systemic Improvement in Community	p. 168
Additional Strategies for Addressing the C of Community	p. 176
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda	p. 179
Next Steps	p. 180
7 The C of Climate	p. 181
Why North Middle Is What We All Deserve	p. 183
Research Support for the Development of a Positive Climate	p. 184
Dimensional Connection to the C of Climate	p. 188
Seven Steps to Systemic Improvement in Climate	p. 190
Additional Strategies and Measures to Address the C of Climate	p. 196
Climate Change	p. 198
Next Steps	p. 199
8 The C of Character	p. 201
Exploring the Common Sense of Character	p. 202
Research on Character and Other Prosocial Education Initiatives	p. 205
Dimensional Connection to the C of Character	p. 208
Seven Steps to Systemic Improvement in Character	p. 210
Additional Strategies to Enhance the C of Character	p. 216
Character Change	p. 218
Next Steps	p. 219
Part III Achievement	p. 221
9 Gearing Up for Systemic Success	p. 223
Change Revisited	p. 228
A Principal With Principles	p. 231
From Systems to Success	p. 234
A Path, a Trip, a Journey	p. 236
I Want to Ride My Bicycle	p. 238
Data-Driven Dimensional Thinking	p. 239
Turning Dimensional Thinking and the 4Cs Into a Systems Approach	p. 240
Vision, Voice, and Shared Leadership: From the School to the Classroom	p. 242
We Change Only Enough So We Do Not Have to Change	p. 243
Next Steps	p. 246
10 Rising Above the Standards	p. 247
Adopting the Rhetoric or Accepting the Reality	p. 250
A Final Reality Check	p. 253
Appendix	p. 255
References	p. 275
Index	p. 285

Available:*

On Order

Summary

Summary

Table of Contents