Learning Exchange Library
The LAIT: no, not caffè latte-making tool The LAIT is an Excel-based tool provided by the Department for Education. Reportedly, it provides 'user-friendly access to a system that brings together a consistent set of local authority (LA) performance and data items including: inspectorate judgements, contextual information about individual LAs, including number and type of schools, social deprivation factors, pupil attainment, health, looked-after children, post-1', and so on.
Don't be a data slave Headteacher Chris Luck points out hidden data traps, saying: 'Only a headteacher’s in-depth knowledge of a school coupled with intelligence, analysis and intuition can find a way forward that meets the unique setting for that particular establishment. We'd say it's worth keeping those words and his cautions in this article in mind when analysing data in order to target activities effectively. (The article was contributed to the National College for School Leadership.)
What's the difference between quantitative and qualitative data? Evaluation methods produce both qualitative and quantitative data. This site explains the difference between the two and offers some tips on the collection and analysis of both. (From Center for Civic Partnerships)
10 Tips for Data Collection These tips have been developed by Sun Associates based on work with school districts to implement teaching and technology surveys. However, the tips are worth bearing in mind by anyone who intends collecting data.
(Please note the copyright notice at the bottom of the Sun Associates page above, which says: Information on this site that has been produced by Sun Associates is Copyright 1997 - 2010 Sun Associates and is available for individual, one-time, use by educators. Duplication is prohibited without permission. All other material is the property of its authors and Sun Associates makes no warranty for its use or accuracy.)
The Big Book of Interesting Statistics This is a great free resource from Young Advisors, which offers a huge range of reliably sourced, clearly set out and up-to-date statistics. There are useful data in this publication for youth workers and extra-curricular activity practitioners who need facts and figures to back up funding applications or to help plan and target activities appropriately.
Hours of Opportunity This three-volume report from the Wallace Foundation presents lessons from five cities on building systems to improve outside-of-school-hours programmes, and how to use data and a systems approach to improve after-school programmes.
Guide to Using Data in School Improvement Efforts This is an American resource, but it offers some useful tips on taking a group approach to the collection and analysis of data that feed into school improvement processes (through participation in 'data retreats'.