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| What Works? |
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| Raising Student Achievement By Increasing Classroom Productivity |
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DataWorks research shows that classroom productivity is often less than 5%.
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| By John Hollingsworth |
| Researcher, DataWORKS Educational Research |
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After observing more than 25,000 teachers in the classroom and calibrating 2 million pieces of
student work for alignment to state standards, DataWorks’ conclusion is that classroom
productivity is low. In fact, it is alarmingly low. The DataWorks Productivity Index (DPI) was developed
to measure classroom productivity. It is important because it tells administrators and teachers the
areas to focus on to improvement student achievement.
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| THE DPI HAS FOUR FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS |
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Time on Task |
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The first component of the DPI calculation is time on task. Time on task is the
percentage of classroom time when students are actively engaged in learning. If time on
task is at 70% due to frequent interruptions, distracting outside noises or poor classroom
management skills, then the students learning opportunities are significantly lower than a
classroom scoring 90 or 95%. Many schools have addressed this issue and made significant
improvement in the area of time on task. However, it is only one piece of the improvement process.
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| 2. |
Curriculum Alignment |
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The second element of the DPI is curriculum alignment. Curriculum alignment is the
percentage of student assignments that are aligned with the grade-level standards.
Repeatedly, DataWORKS’ Curriculum Calibrations(tm) reveal that a large percentage of
student work is unaligned to the content standards, especially at under-performing schools.
For example, DataWORKS’ research shows that in many fourth-grade classes only 25% of
mathematics assignments were actual fourth grade content as defined by the state standard.
The remaining 75% of assignments fell below fourth grade levels.
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| 3. |
Breadth of Curriculum |
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The third component of improved classroom productivity is breadth of curriculum.
Student achievements, as measured by state tests, will not reach higher levels if the
breadths of the content strands are not taught. For example, DataWORKS’ research
has found in mathematics that the majority of the material being taught is number sense.
In addition to number sense, state tests also include questions in Algebra, Functions,
Measurement, Geometry, Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability. The table below shows
the actual percentage of number sense questions typically given per grade level.
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| Second Grade |
50% |
| Third Grade |
48% |
| Fourth Grade |
40% |
| Fifth Grade |
38% |
| Sixth Grade |
28% |
| Seventh Grade |
26% |
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| 4. |
Instructional Effectiveness |
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The fourth element of the DataWorks Productivity Index is instructional effectiveness.
No matter how thorough the content standards are covered, if instructors are not using
effective teaching methods, student learning will not reach its maximum potential.
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Research shows that low-performing students benefit most from directed lessons where teachers
explicitly teach content to students. DataWORKS’ has observed that a prevalent teaching
method used in low-performing classrooms is Instruction By Interrogation.
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Example of Instruction by Interrogation: Students, today we are going to study photosynthesis.
Who knows what photosynthesis means?" A student replies,
"It’s when trees bend to get light." (This is phototropism.)
"Next class, We are going to study carnivores. Who can name a carnivore?"
Student: "It’s a dinosaur." (Carnivore means meat eater.)
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In Instruction By Interrogation, the teacher has the students teach the content by
asking questions until someone comes up with a correct answer. In Explicit Direction Instruction,
the teacher teaches the content to the students. Explicit Direct Instruction includes a
Lesson Objective, Preview / Review / Activate Prior Knowledge, Explaining, Modeling,
and Demonstrating, Guided Practice, Checking for Understanding and Closure.
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DataWORKS’ classroom observations have determined that the instructional
effectiveness is only 50% of what it could be if teachers were using effective
practices consistently.
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| How is the DPI Calculated? |
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The DPI is the calculation of multiplying the four important components of improved
classroom productivity. The DataWorks Productivity Index dramatically demonstrates the
importance of optimizing all the components, at the same time. If a single factor is low,
the overall classroom productivity is low.
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(DPI) = (Time on Task) x (Alignment) x (Breadth) x (Instructional Effectiveness)
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Raising Student Achievement is Possible and Affordable
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The following example demonstrates the importance of all four elements
working together to improve student achievement.
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| Fundamental DPI Elements |
Initially Observed |
Subsequently Observed |
| Time on Task |
95% |
95% |
| Alignment to Standards |
25% |
90% |
| Breadth of Curriculum |
40% |
90% |
| Instructional Effectiveness |
50% |
90% |
| Total DPI Calculation |
4.75% |
69.25% |
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DataWORKS’ first observation and DPI calculation revealed a very
low score of 4.75%. This was an eye-opening experience for this school.
They immediately began to focus on the four fundamental elements. When DataWorks returned
for a subsequent observation their DPI was 14 times greater at 69%.
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HIGHER DPI = IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY = HIGHER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
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The potential for higher student achievement is within your grasp.
The DataWorks Productivity Index simultaneously uncovers problems and reveals solutions.
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For more information regarding how the DPI can work for your school, contact
DataWORKS at marketing@dataworks-ed.com or
800.495.1550.
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