Yesterday, I had the pleasure of “listening” in on a Twitter chat focused on the use and sharing of data to improve educational outcomes for kids. My interest in the conversation was two-fold. For one, it offered me the opportunity to learn more about educational effectiveness and measurement, topics about which I am increasingly curious. Additionally, and more relevant to this post, it occurred to me that the ideas and lessons shared might be of value not only to those involved with education, but also to those interested in the application of technology and data in the broader nonprofit and social services communities.
The chat was hosted by The After School Corporation (TASC), a New York City-based organization dedicated to giving all kids opportunities to grow through after-school and summer activities that support, educate and inspire them.
The discussion featured the expertise and research of Bill Tucker, Managing Director of Education Sector, a Washington-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to achieving measurable impact in education policy. Mr. Tucker and Education Sector recently published Putting Data Into Practice: Lessons from New York City. The report, funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, examines New York City’s efforts to “create an evidence-based and collaborative teaching culture”. In addition to clear and compelling documentation of the City’s experience, the report recommends five valuable “design principles for smarter data systems”:
- Systems must change from being institution-centered to being learner-centered
- Information must flow across institutions
- Usefulness and usability must drive adoption
- Systems must be common but open
- The data must fit the goal
The Twitter chat did not disappoint. Mr. Tucker demonstrated his knowledge of the topic and provided insight in response to the many questions he fielded. He also shared over a dozen resources for further exploration. I left the chat not only feeling much better informed, but also with a strengthened belief in the broader value and applicability of the lessons and recommendations, particularly with regard to the use of data and technology in improving and evaluating program effectiveness.
One of Twitter’s downsides is the often temporal nature of the exchanges. To document the chat and provide lasting access to the information, I’ve prepared the following transcript, slightly edited for clarity:
Share your thoughts and reactions in the comments. How can data and technology be further exploited to improve the education of our children? How can the lessons learned in this area be applied in the broader nonprofit and social services communities?
photo credit: dave_mcmt
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