The Meeting
Steven, LaShawn, Katelynn, and I (Group 4) held our third data meeting this past Thursday evening. To be honest this particular data meeting was probably the most frustrating one so far. Venables explains that the purpose of this data meeting is to “determine gaps and goals.” Our group is still using Steven’s 4th grade reading data with an exploratory question that reads, “Why do you think some students’ Lexile scores decreased from the fall to the winter tests? What factors, if any, do you think contributed to this?”
All group members read the text, pages 45-55, and determined the main objective for this data meeting was to establish “SMART goals” that can eliminate instructional and learning gaps. We began using the tables our professor provided us to collaboratively record notes about potential SMART goals. The first table, shown below, proved to be a challenge for us. Venables’ chapter did not seem to include any information on how to complete this particular table nor did the table really seem to fit our conversation about goals for eliminating various gaps.
Frustrations with Data
Due to this, we decided to establish multiple SMART goals so we were not making claims that were “too granular or too general” (page 52). Although we are waiting to hear back from out professor and plan to meet again later this week, our group decided to make goals for informational, literature, and, vocabulary. These goals are tentatively described in Data Table #2 shown below:
Technical Difficulties
Our group is continuing to use Google Hangouts to host our meetings. Overall, this program has served us pretty well. The main issue we have had is the ability for ALL members of the group to screen share. Occasionally we have found that only certain members on the hangout can use the screen sharing feature. We have easily overcome this obstacle by simply putting EVERYTHING we need for the meeting in a Google Drive folder we are now all sharing. Then a different member of the group can share that particular artifact or resource on his/her screen.