Congratulations to Melanie Lofaro who on Monday, April 14, 2025, successfully defended her dissertation. The title of Melanie’s dissertation is: "INVESTIGATING THE CONDITIONS FOR DATA PRACTICES IN SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF SCHOOL DATA TEAMS."
This qualitative case study investigated how school data teams utilize a data protocol, specifically the Harvard Data Wise protocol, to inform their analysis of student data and subsequent actions. Drawing upon Schildkamp’s (2019) model of data-based decision-making (DBDM) and Weick’s (2005) sensemaking theory, the study explored how educators make meaning of student data within a structured protocol and translate these interpretations into actionable plans. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with members of three school data teams within one suburban/rural school district in New York, which had implemented the Data Wise protocol. Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed several key themes, including the importance of learning by doing the data protocol, the role of reflective practice, the logistical challenges faced by teams ("We Don’t Have a Data Wizard"), a shift in educators' thinking towards becoming "data believers," the development of "data-informed practice," and the process of sensemaking leading to "data-informed instructional interventions.” The findings suggest that data protocols like Data Wise can provide a structure and common language that supports educators in analyzing data and developing action plans. The study highlighted how engaging in the steps of a data protocol, with facilitation, fosters learning and shifts perceptions about data use. Furthermore, the process of sensemaking, characterized by noticing patterns, labeling, and questioning, is integral to interpreting data and informing the development of targeted instructional interventions. This research contributes to the understanding of how structured data analysis processes, grounded in DBDM and sensemaking, can support educators in moving from data to actionable knowledge in schools.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR(S):
Dr. Susan Iverson
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBER(S):
Dr. Martin Fitzgerald
Dr. Kris DeFilippis
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