Data Camp seminar promotes
academic achievement
at Berrien RESA

Nationally recognized speakers
offer resources for area educators  

Area Educators participate in Data Camp, a workshop
offered by Berrien RESA aimed to help schools with
student achievement.

Berrien Springs -In June, Berrien Regional Education Service Agency (Berrien RESA), in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education (Title I Grant funds), offered a dynamic learning opportunity for area educators called Data Camp. The seminar was an opportunity for teachers to learn how to use student data to target and improve overall student achievement.

For two weeks, members of the prestigious Leadership and Learning Center of Colorado worked with educators in the areas of decision making for results, tracking the effectiveness of intervention programs, connecting leadership to achievement and understanding how to connect classroom learning with performance standards. Participants also had an opportunity to connect seminar topics to the recently employed DataDirector software program. DataDirector was purchased by Berrien RESA in the spring to assist local school districts with their student achievement goals by specifically connecting student progress statistics with achievement expectations.

“Data Director is an innovative online data management solution (data warehouse) that allows users to make data driven decisions based on actual data, not assumptions,” said Kevin Bullard, Berrien RESA’s Data Warehouse System Consultant. “Data Director allows districts to store multiple sources of data including student assessment statistics (such as MEAP scores), student demographic data, program attendance statistics, academic marks and teacher information.”

Nearly 300 teachers and school personnel participated in the workshop that was hosted at two locations, Mars Community Center in Berrien Springs and at the Berrien RESA Conference Center . Participants received support materials, textbooks and individualized school data to use during the sessions in “eco-friendly” bags, contributed by Walgreens and Wal-Mart.

“By attending this workshop series, educators have had a hands-on opportunity to learn what data analysis and data assessment can deliver as far as working toward student achievement, targeting improvement areas and setting goals for individual children, ”said Becky Meier, Director of Curriculum and Instructional Services. “Berrien RESA’s DataDirector software combined with the training offered by the Leadership and Learning Center will also give Berrien County districts the tools they need to work toward identifying areas of needed improvement, make appropriate changes and see their students succeed.”

The event was so successful that an additional Data Camp session will be held (in two parts) on August 24 and 25 and on November 9 and 10. These sessions will be based on the book “Data-Driven Dialogue: A Facilitator’s Guide to Collaborative Inquiry.” Sub-topics include: Using data to focus a group’s attention and energy, Applying the Collaborative Learning Cycle, and Extending a repertoire of facilitative tools. To register for the event, please contact Jo Urias, Curriculum & Instructional Services Secretary, at (269) 471-7725 ext. 1149 or online at www.berrienresa.org. Registration fees are $200 for Title 1 schools and $300 for non-Title I schools.