School Improvement/Teacher Improvement: Data and Research

These are my favorite "go-to" sources. Enjoy!

Resources for School Improvement and Teacher Improvement

Institute of Education Sciences (ERIC)

Institute of Education Sciences (ERIC), eric.ed.gov/. 

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is an online digital library of education research and information. Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, ERIC provides access to a comprehensive database of journal articles, research reports, curriculum and teaching guides, conference papers, and books. The platform is designed to support educators, researchers, and policymakers in finding and using educational resources to improve educational outcomes. Users can search for peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed sources by topic, author, or publication date.

Institute of Education Sciences (IES)

Institute of Education Sciences (IES), ies.ed.gov/. 

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the statistics, research, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Education. Established to provide rigorous and relevant evidence on which to ground education practice and policy, IES comprises four centers: the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the National Center for Education Research (NCER), the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE), and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER). The institute focuses on improving educational outcomes for all students, particularly those at risk of failure, through research, evaluation, and statistics.

National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES)

National Center for Education Statistics NCES, nces.ed.gov/. 

The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. As part of the Institute of Education Sciences, NCES provides objective, reliable, and comprehensive data on the condition of education, educational progress, and the comparative performance of American students. The center publishes reports, conducts longitudinal studies, and offers data tools and resources to help researchers, policymakers, and educators make data-informed decisions. NCES's data collections cover early childhood, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education, as well as adult education and educational assessments.

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC)

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/. 

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is an initiative of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) within the U.S. Department of Education. The WWC aims to provide educators, policymakers, researchers, and the public with credible and reliable information about "what works" in education. It reviews and reports on existing research to identify effective educational practices, programs, and interventions. The WWC employs rigorous standards to assess the quality and results of research studies, offering summaries and reports that help stakeholders make evidence-based decisions to improve student outcomes. The website includes user-friendly tools and resources, such as practice guides, intervention reports, and topic-specific reviews, all designed to support the application of high-quality research in educational settings.

Vanderbilt University

One of the best online resources for teachers, that I know of, is from Vanderbilt University.

Main Page

• Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/

Sections

• Pedagogies & Strategies. Center for Teaching: Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/pedagogies-and-strategies/

• Principles & Frameworks. Center for Teaching: Vanderbilt, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/principles-and-frameworks/

• Reflecting & Assessing. Center for Teaching: Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/reflecting-and-assessing/

Articles on Specific Topics

• “Academic Integrity: Grappling with Cheating and Plagiarism.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/cheating-plagiarism/

• Bandy, Joe. “Best Practices in Community Engagement.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/best-practices-in-community-engaged-teaching/

• --- . “Community Engaged Teaching Step by Step” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2011, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/community-engaged-teaching-step-by-step/

• --- . “Peer Review of Teaching.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2015, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/peer-review-of-teaching/

• --- . “What is Service Learning or Community Engagement?” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2011, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-through-community-engagement/

• Bowen, Ryan S. “Understanding by Design.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2017, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/understanding-by-design/

• Brame, Cynthia J. “Active Learning.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2016, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/active-learning/

• Brame, Cynthia J. and Rachel Biel. “Group work: Using cooperative learning groups effectively.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2015, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/setting-up-and-facilitating-group-work-using-cooperative-learning-groups-effectively/

• --- . “Test-enhancement learning: Using retrieval practice to help students learn.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2015, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/test-enhanced-learning-using-retrieval-practice-to-help-students-learn/

• Bruff, Derek. “Active Learning Classrooms.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/learning-spaces/

• --- . “Lecturing.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/lecturing/

• “Case Studies.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/case-studies/

• CFT staff and Nancy Chick. “Teaching in Times of Crisis.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2013, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/crisis/

• Chick, Nancy. “Beyond the Essay, II.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2013, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/beyond-the-essay/beyond-the-essay-formative/

• --- . “Beyond the Essay, III.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2013, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/beyond-the-essay/beyond-the-essay-summative/

• --- . “Beyond the Essay: Making Student Thinking Visible in the Humanities.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2013, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/beyond-the-essay/

• --- . “Mindfulness in the Classroom.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2010, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/contemplative-pedagogy/

• Claggett, Shalyn. “Accommodating Student Athletes In the Classroom.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 20104, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/student-athletes/

• --- . “Accommodating Student Athletes In the Classroom.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2010. cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/student-athletes/

• Claiborne, Lily et al. “Teaching Outside the Class.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2020, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-outside-the-classroom/

• “Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs).” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/cats/

• Coley, Michael et al. “Teaching in the Age of AI.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2023, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-in-the-age-of-ai/

• “Difficult Dialogues.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/difficult-dialogues/

• “Discussions.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/discussions/

• “First Day of Class.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2020, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/first-day-of-class/

• “Grading Student Work.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/grading-student-work/

• “How People Learn.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/how-people-learn/

• Johnson, Stacey M. “Dealing with the Unexpected: Teaching When Your or Your Students Can’t Make it to Class.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2021, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/dealing-with-the-unexpected/

• “Making Better PowerPoint Presentations.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/making-better-powerpoint-presentations/

• “Office Hours and E-mail.”  Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/office-hours/

• Oxner, Alex and Joe Brandy. “Teaching International Student.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-international-students/

• Park, Jenny. “Personal Devices in the Classroom.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2021, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/personal-devices-in-the-classroom/

• “Teaching Laboratory Classes.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/lab-classes/

• “Teaching Portfolios.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-portfolios/

• “Teaching Problem Solving.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/problem-solving/

• “Teaching Statements.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-statements/

• “Teaching Students with Disabilities.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2024, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/disabilities/

• Wilsman, Adam. “Teaching Large Classes.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2013, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-large-classes/

• Yarborough, Chelsea and Heather Fedesco. “Motivating Students.” Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt University, 2020, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/motivating-students/