Data rooms at schools have a long history of displaying results from student assessments in a chart that is displayed in a private area for staff. Typically, they display levels of proficiency (below basic or basic, but above proficient or advanced) in a subject like math or reading. The aim is to help teachers target the students that are most behind their peers and require more intensive interventions.

But in the midst of all the discussions about student privacy these days, an open display of student data can do more harm than good. If the display displays names of students, this could cause embarrassment or shame among students who struggle. It is essential to think about the way your school uses these displays and think about more data room for dealmakers secure alternatives.

Online platforms that save learning data in a secure manner are a great alternative to the traditional school wall of data. These platforms can take data from LMS assignments, formative and summary assessments, demographic information, and even integrate your SIS for reports. Teachers can access these data sets at any time on a secure dashboard. They can use a wide array of filters that focus on specific trends or student groups or cohorts. They can also monitor live progress towards goals and drill down to specific students and individual learning trends.

In order to make a school’s data room meaningful, it’s essential to have regular meetings to discuss the data. This helps teachers focus their attention and leave with actionable steps to move students forward. If a team observes for instance that many students struggle in math, they might decide to design a particular intervention and track the progress of students until they are proficient.