"The free play of art is the result of mastery. " --Ernst Fischer, The Necessity of Art

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them." --Ladybird Johnson

"...a well-trained ear, a well-trained intelligence, a well-trained heart, and a well-trained hand...." --Zoltan Kodaly

12/28/10

Learning Link, 106

"Data-driven".....a phrase we hear often while shaping curriculum and 'best practices'  in education.

There's no doubt about the efficacy of applying detailed feedback to improve our teaching.  It helps to shape our  direction and to fine-tune interactions.

Sometimes, that's true.

Sometimes, relying heavily upon test results to inform decisions can result in an educational environment which stunts creativity, growth, and learning.   

Walking that line is a challenge---one which Seth Godin writes about, in a business context.    Godin supports the use of data to drive growth, when appropriate.  He also says, "Data is not information, and confusing numbers with truth can help you make some bad decisions."

Interested?  Read more of Godin's work, here.

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