Early Language & Literacy KnowledgeBase

This KnowledgeBase archive includes content and external links that were accurate and relevant as of September 30, 2019.

The Early Language and Literacy KnowledgeBase is an online resource supporting language and literacy development in early learners from birth through age eight. Its focus is to support parents and caregivers in helping early learners with their language and literacy development, and teachers in enhancing their instruction for early learners from pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3.

Task 1: Prepare for Data Collection

Guideline: Data collection involves intentional gathering of previously specified useful information, which is the basis for data-based decision making. Such a gathering needs to be in an established and systematic manner that will enable the answering of research or other priority questions, evaluation of outcomes, etc. Compiling such information requires preparation and planning to determine the data needed, identify data sources, determine the data will be both accurate and appropriate to answer questions and determine the process needed to collect the data how the data will be collected.

resources

TOOLS

Data Use for Improving Learning

This link to the Assessment and Accountability Comprehensive Center's website for data use provides resources on using data to improve learning.

PRACTICAL TIPS

Data Collection/Organization

This National Education Association website on school improvement offers information on collecting and organizing data. While focusing on school improvement, the content may be useful with any data collection effort.

Statistics Every Writer Should Know

This resource describes in "plain English, some basic concepts in statistics that every writer should know."

REFERENCES

Early Childhood Data Collaborative

This link is to the website of the Early Childhood Data Collaborative. As noted at its website, "The Early Childhood Data Collaborative (ECDC) supports state policymakers' development and use of coordinated state early care and education (ECE) data systems to improve the quality of ECE programs and the workforce, increase access to high-quality ECE programs and ultimately improve child outcomes."

Guide to Datasets for Research and Policymaking in Child Care and Early Education

This Nation Center for Children in Poverty prepared guide is an annotated bibliography of existing large scale data sets that provide useful information to policymakers, researchers, state administrators and others in the field of child care and early education. As noted in the introduction, "The update of this Guide describes data sets that are publicly available, do not require the payment of fees, have a fairly comprehensive content and are of value for policymakers and researchers."

Guide to Using Data in School Improvement Efforts

As noted at this Learning Point Associates website, "This guide is designed for educators who are beginning to learn how to use data for school improvement. It offers foundational information on types of data, strategies for analyzing and understanding data and methods for determining how these efforts can influence goals and planning."

PRESENTATIONS

Responsible Conduct in Data Management

This link to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Research Integrity website provides a learning module in data management. As noted at the website, "The purpose of this online module is to give a brief introduction to integrity issues related to data management and increase researchers' awareness of such issues." Educators may find its content useful in learning about data management issues that can be encountered when dealing with research data. The complete module may take three to five hours to complete.