How do you share data-driven decisions with stakeholders?

I think that is imperative to know your audience and purpose for sharing data. If presenting data to a parent, research suggests written content should be at a 3rd grade level. It’s also important to make sure that you refrain from using acronyms that the parents may not be familiar and explain the tools used and their purpose. An example is providing results about MAP assessments. Explain what MAP is, what information is obtained from the results, what the lexile score represents, how their student’s scores indicate where that places them academically. More importantly how the educator uses the information to drive their instruction.

In my opinion, the target audience should be taken on board right at the beginning that is before the start of data collection. Share the purpose of data collection and explain all the tools thoroughly. For example if you have to gather some data from teachers or parents through a survey form so it is important that they have a clear understanding of the survey form. At times, data gathering process can be intimidating for some stakeholders like teachers hence defining the purpose beforhand is imperative and contributes to the authenticity of data.

As mentioned before, understanding of data gathering tools is a must. The tools should be user-friendly as well as less time consuming. Online survey, interviews, questionnaires, checklists, etc should be self-explanatory to the users. Another very important aspect to be considered while choosing the tools is that it should be a mix of quantitative and qualitative tools. Because while sharing the data driven decisions, just the numbers or statements do not provide a realistic outcome. If the decisions are supported by both quantitave as well as qualitative data, that is more autgentic, realistic and acceptable.

Accuracy and confidentiality of data should be the foremost aspects. Present the data only to the right audience. How to present it, depends on the nature of data driven decisions and the target audience. For example if it is about teahers' performance, in that case it can be shared in a one-on-one meeting; if it's rgarding organizational improvement plan, the it can be presented through a powerpoint presentation to the stakeholders.

Feedback and dialogue on data driven decisions enhance effectiveness and authenticity of the decisions. I gather data of teachers' instructional practices and their pedagogical expertise which I share in one on one meetings and provide them full opportunity to have a dialogue if they disagree with any point. However, my data is always supported with evidence which help me explain my decisions. But giving this opportunity of dialogue my teachers are more satisfied and accept my decisions easily. Sharing data driven decisions through powerpoint presentations in the presence of all stakeholders provides an opportunity for discussion and debate hence making shared decisions.