The Art of Teaching: Educational Leadership
How Leaders Can Unite the Art of Teaching with the Science of Learning
“Every day, the people in this building put to use the most powerful tool in teaching: passion. It’s my job and my honor to give them the tools they need to turn that passion into impact.”
Teaching has always been, and always will be, an art form. But as education technology becomes more robust and more present in classrooms across the country, it’s also becoming increasingly important that we work to unite the art of teaching with the science of learning. Student data insights, and what we know about how the brain works, can make every precious moment spent in the classroom all the more impactful.
In order to effectively put the science of learning to use across classrooms, grade levels, and buildings, school district leadership is more crucial to a learning community’s culture than ever. Principals, administrators, and other leaders can work to create an environment where iterating instruction based on student data insights is encouraged and valued, but also with plenty of room for experimentation, failure and flexibility. In order to unite the art of teaching with the science of learning, teachers need continued empowerment, and a safe space to learn and grow in their profession.
We asked educational leaders from the Art of Teaching Project to tell us how they felt about using student data to drive instruction. Here’s what they had to say:
“W. Edwards Deming once said, ‘Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.’ This quote rings true in the classroom as well. Without considering appropriate data as we carve a path for instruction, we may not be making decisions in the best interest of all students. Personalized learning based on meaningful data can help target students with skill deficiencies and can help identify students who are ready to tackle greater tasks.” — Diana M. McGhee, Director of Technology and Information
“At Oakridge Private School, I view data as reinforcement to our systems. There are times, just like flipping instruction, you can flip your data, and let your instruction drive your data.” — Stefan Joly, Principal
To further explore how school leaders can empower their communities to effectively use student data and unite the art of teaching with the science of learning, watch:
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