It鈥檚 been five years since COVID-19 hit, and students continue to struggle to gain back the ground they lost academically due to pandemic disruptions to learning. Recent research highlighted that the average student will need the equivalent of 4.8 additional months of schooling to catch up in reading and 4.4 months in math.
One of the most precious commodities in education is time. Every minute counts in a school day to engage students, make those connections, and curate deep understanding and knowledge. Teachers consistently strategize on how to effectively make use of every moment they have with students.
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Right now, the norm for most teachers is a fragmented mix of data points and disjointed tech systems that burdens them with redundant logins, information gaps and broken workflows, preventing a holistic view of their students鈥 progress and reducing outcomes.
For some, their students鈥 assessment data is in multiple places, requiring different reports and systems to get a complete view of how their classroom is doing. For many, that data is not integrated with the curriculum systems they use, meaning much of the planning, understanding and allocating of resources is done manually.
This wastes time. Even the simple act of navigating from one assessment report to the next wastes minutes that, over time, can add up to instructional hours lost.
What if all those elements were together, integrated, connected and working seamlessly to provide our teachers with a holistic view of their classrooms and where their students are? But getting a variety of assessment data, sometimes from various sources, to work together in a unified experience that truly supports teachers is no easy task.
How to identify integrated assessment data
Education leaders, considering a more integrated approach where student assessment data and progress are working with and connected to curriculum and supportive resources, must look to options that prioritize these four factors:
- Interoperability鈥攅nsuring that different tools and solutions can communicate and work together effectively, often through a standardized interface or protocols. Look for tools that follow specific standards, such as developed by the IMS Global Learning Consortium, or those developed by .
- Data integration鈥攅nabling the sharing and synchronization of data across integrated tools and solutions, ensuring consistency and accuracy of information. This is most impactful when student information systems are integrated with education platforms, reducing the need for manual entry and minimizing errors while ensuring that teachers and staff are working with the most up-to-date and consistent student data.
- Efficiency and productivity鈥攕treamlining processes by reducing redundancy and simplifying workflows, which can lead to increased efficiency and productivity. One example of this is not having to enter a student鈥檚 grade in multiple places. The grade entered in one central location, then populates in the appropriate places across the platform and reports. Another example of these kinds of efficiency and productivity capabilities includes using data from an assessment, like MAP Growth, or targeted intervention.
- User experience鈥攃reating a seamless, intuitive experience where transitions between integrated tools feel natural. Teachers shouldn鈥檛 feel like they are entering completely different systems each time they switch tools. Navigation should be consistent and intuitive, with key features and resources easy to find. Design decisions focus on minimizing confusion and maximizing ease of use. This also includes enhancing functionality by adding features that are only possible because the tools work together and delivering a better experience than if each tool were used on its own.
Ultimately, education technology will continue to evolve, offering new opportunities to enhance teaching and learning. Amid this drive for innovation, it鈥檚 essential to stay focused on the core mission: simplifying and supporting the work of educators.
Ensuring teachers have tools that work for them in their effort to help every student succeed is non-negotiable because every minute of the school day matters.
