EDM 558 Data-Driven Decision-Making                    – 3 CREDITS

Purpose:

This course will empower educational leaders to become data-informed decision-makers, enabling them to make evidence-based decisions that improve student learning, enhance school effectiveness, and drive positive change within the education system. It will equip educational leaders with the knowledge and skills to effectively utilize data to inform and improve educational practice. Through a blend of theoretical frameworks, practical applications, and real-world case studies, students will learn to collect, analyze, and interpret data to make evidence-based decisions that enhance student learning and organizational effectiveness.

Expected Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, the students are expected to:

1. Understand the fundamentals of data-driven decision-making.
2. Know how to collect, organize, and analyze various types of educational data, such as student achievement data, attendance data, and survey data.
3. Utilize data to inform educational practice and evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs and initiatives.
4. Develop and implement data-driven improvement plans including curriculum development, instruction, and resource allocation.
5. Communicate data effectively to stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and the community.
6. Utilize data to advocate for student needs and improve educational outcomes.
7. Foster a culture of data use and continuous improvement.

Course Content:

Students will gain skills in collecting and analyzing data to inform decision-making in educational management. The course covers quantitative and qualitative research methods, data interpretation, and the ethical considerations of using data in education.

The course will include:

1. Foundations of Data-Driven Decision Making: Data Literacy, Statistical Concepts.
2. Data Analysis and Interpretation: Data Collection and Management, Data Analysis Techniques e.g. data mining, and predictive modelling.
3. Applying Data to Educational Practice: Using Data to Inform Instruction, School Improvement Planning
4. Building a Data-Driven Culture: Data-Driven Decision Making in Action, Building a Data-Informed Community.

Mode of delivery

Lecture, group discussions, class presentation, reflection exercises and library research.

Instructional Materials

Online tools such as Zoom, Google class and voice recording.

Course Assessment

Continuous Assessment Tests     – 30%

End of Semester Examination     – 70%

Total                                         – 100%

Core Reading:

1. Data-Based Decision Making in Education: Challenges and Opportunities by Kim Schildkamp, Mei Kuin Lai, and Lorna EarlData-Driven Decision Making for School Leadership: A Critical Analysis of Supporting Systems by Stylianos Sergis and Demetrios G. SampsonData-Driven Decision-Making Tools for School Leaders: Developing Tools that Enculturate Distributive Leadership and Shared Decision-Making by Alfred Parham, Angela C. Adair, and Ellen H. Reames

Journal Articles:

1. The Role of Data-Driven Decision-Making in Effective Educational Leadership by Jenni Fernandes (2023). https://www.abacademies.org/articles/The-role-of-data-driven-decision-making-in-effective-educational-leadership1528-2643-27-S2-002.pdfData-Driven Decision-Making in Educational Leadership: A Systematic Literature Review (2019-2023) by Goh Kok Ming, Mahaliza Mansor, and Dayang Rafidah Syariff M. Fuad. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1327513.pdf.
2. Data-Driven Decision-Making in Schools Scale: A Study of Validity and Reliability by Emine Doğan and Ayşe OttekinDemirbolat. (2021). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1285547.pdf.