Data-Driven Decision-Making Courses

 

** EDPA 5310 is now full for Summer 2007. It will be offered again in Spring 2008. 

** EDPA 5311 is being offered the second half of Summer 2007 (July 9 - August 3). 

 

The Department of Educational Policy and Administration offers three data-driven decision-making (DDDM) courses for preservice and practicing educators. Each course is worth 1 credit; all three courses are online to facilitate access by educators across the country.

The first two DDDM courses are components of our nationally-acclaimed 15-credit School Technology Leadership graduate certificate program, the first academic program in the country based on the National Educational Technology Standards for Administrators (NETS-A). The DDDM courses also can be integrated into other doctoral, Master's, or certificate programs in Educational Policy and Administration or Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota.

EDPA 5310, DDDM I (Spring/Summer; 1 credit; online)

This course introduces educators to the basic teaching and leadership concepts associated with data-driven education. Students are provided with a mental framework in which to place their organization's data-related practices - one that's been used with great success with educators from Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and over 20 other school organizations across the country. Students interact with peers through thoughtful online discussions about key themes and concepts. Students also begin learning a variety of technological skills that will help them organize, manipulate, and analyze raw student data and reduce dependency on preformatted paper reports. High-speed Internet access and a newer computer are highly recommended for this course.

EDPA 5311, DDDM II (Summer; 1 credit; online; prerequisite = EDPA 5310)

This course builds upon the skills and knowledge gained in EDPA 5310. Students are introduced to more advanced data-driven decision-making concepts and learn about technology systems used to manage data at the district, building, and classroom levels. Students continue to interact with peers through online discussion forums and complete their acquisition of some of the technological skills that are helpful when working with raw student and school data. Students also learn how to create spreadsheet-based data templates to facilitate progress monitoring of teacher-created periodic assessments. High speed Internet access and a newer computer are highly recommended for this course.

EDPA 5325, DDDM III (Fall; 1 credit; online; prerequisite = EDPA 5311)

This course is an independent study and is designed for students who want a chance to apply in their own school setting the skills and knowledge that they have learned in EDPA 5310 and EDPA 5311. With assistance and guidance from the instructor, students will work with leaders in their school organization to design and implement a self-directed project related to data management and analysis in their school(s). Projects will vary by student and organization. High-speed Internet access and a newer computer are highly recommended for this course.

About the Instructor

Dr. Scott McLeod is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Policy and Administration and Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). Much of Dr. McLeod’s work focuses on helping school districts and state departments effectively and creatively use technology to assist with data-driven accountability initiatives. Dr. McLeod is currently working with the Minnesota Department of Education to conduct a statewide needs assessment of K-12 educators’ ability to implement effective, data-driven educational practices. Other data-related projects include 

  • creating a professional development framework for data-driven educational practice for the Chicago (IL) Public Schools;
  • working with the Osseo (MN) Area Schools to create dynamic data templates to assist teachers and principals with formative assessment;
  • writing two widely-disseminated white papers for Microsoft on data-driven education and technology tools;
  • assisting IBM with the data-driven decision-making component of its online Change Toolkit;
  • helping the Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools with ongoing data-driven decision-making training for teachers, administrators, counselors, and site councils; and
  • developing www.schooldatatutorials.org, a comprehensive set of online Macromedia Flash tutorials designed to help K-12 educators work with raw student and school data.

A recipient of the College of Education and Human Development’s Distinguished Teaching Award, Dr. McLeod teaches the College’s data-driven decision-making courses. He also recently served as coordinator of the Greater Minnesota Data Institutes, a university initiative aimed at addressing the data needs of rural school districts in Minnesota. Dr. McLeod can be reached at www.scottmcleod.net/contact. More information about CASTLE courses and activities is available at www.schooltechleadership.org.

Register for These Courses

You can register for the DDDM courses at

If you are registering for courses at the university for the first time as a non-degree-seeking student, you have to complete and submit the CEHD Application for Non-Degree-Seeking Students and the CEHD Credit Enrollment Request Form. Note that non-degree-seeking students are required to pay all tuition and fees by the first billing date of the semester. You ae strongly encouraged to carefully read the information on the CEHD Registration web page. Please contact the CEHD Student and Professional Services Office if you have questions about course registration.