Harvard Data Wise Australia

The Harvard Data Wise Australia program is designed to provide school leaders a step by step process for strategically using a range of data sources to improve instructional outcomes, and accelerate learning and wellbeing outcomes for all students in your school or system. 

Unlock the power of data driven excellence so that every student thrives.

Data Wise Australia will explore how you can drive collaboration whilst providing you with the practical tools you need to build an equitable school.  

Engage in learning the Harvard Data Wise Improvement Process—an 8-step model that guides you and your team to work collaboratively, leveraging evidence-based analysis.  

You will build your capacity to plan and launch the inquiry process in your setting.  

Leave feeling empowered to lead collaborative analysis of diverse data sources, such as periodic formative assessments, daily student work, classroom practice observations, and standardised tests.

Audience

Designed for school teams of 3-5 people including:

• a principal
• one or more other school leaders including Learning Specialists or Business Managers,  
• at least 1 teacher

Preference will be given to teams that include at least 1 curriculum and instruction specialist, such as a literacy or mathematics coach.  

Facilitators

Designed by Harvard Graduate School of Education and facilitated by:

• Kathryn Parker Boudett, Senior Lecturer on Education, Faculty Director, Learning And Teaching, Harvard
• Penny Jayne, Managing Director, Global Education Equity Alliance - Victoria, Australia

Structure of program

Data Wise Australia is delivered over 5 face-to-face days in Melbourne.  

During the program, your school team will interact with the Data Wise teaching team, and peers from diverse settings around Australia, who are all committed to learning how to lead collaborative inquiry.

In a hands-on, interactive format, you will learn and use tools to present, discuss, and act on data.  

Following the face to face workshop Intensive you and your team will enact the launch plan developed in the Data Wise Leadership Institute and work through the eight steps of the Data Wise Improvement Process.  

Job-embedded coaching and feedback will be provided to your and your team as you roll out the Data Wise Improvement Process in their school.

A dedicated Certified Data Wise Coach will meet with your team monthly, you will also connect with Harvard faculty and fellow alumni in three live online events that bring the Data Wise community together to share work, celebrate success, and address common challenges.

After completing this program, participants will have completed a full cycle of the Data Wise Improvement Process and will be ready to continue with future cycles independently. 

Attendance requirements

To successfully complete this program, you must attend all 5 face to face days.

Learning outcomes

You’ll learn how to:

• articulate how and why equity is central to your school improvement work
• take an equity lens at each step of the Data Wise Improvement Process
• demonstrate a relentless focus on evidence when collaboratively analysing a wide range of data sources, including annual standardised tests, periodic formative assessments, daily class work, and observations of classroom practice
• engage in intentional collaboration by using a Meeting Wise rolling agenda and practising wise meeting facilitation and participation
• create a plan for integrating the Data Wise Improvement Process and ACE Habits of Mind into the core work of a school. 

Fees and financial support

The course fees are significantly subsidised by the Department of Education and Training for Victorian government school teams.  

Co-contribution: $500 (incl. GST) for each Victorian government school participant.  

Schools that are more than 100km from Melbourne are eligible to claim the accommodation subsidy.  

See Fees and financial support for more information.

Application process

First step – register your interest through the Academy.

Please Register your interest before 20th September 2024. 

All applications will be passed onto the Harvard Graduate School of education for their approval processes.  

Successful EOI applicants will be advised by 12th October 2024. Succssessful participants will be required to attend a compulsory webinar in which the Harvard Graduate School of Education admissions processes will be gone through.