Predicting Student Success

One of the goals of the learning, teaching and assessment programs in schools is to ensure every student is successful and reaches their potential. This requires the identification of personalised learning areas for growth and stretch, as well as identifying students who need help. The following outlines what Predictive Student Success is, why it’s important and how to get started.

WHAT DOES PREDICTING STUDENT SUCCESS MEAN?

Collect Data
Having an easy method to collect, store and organise data is critical to success. With multiple data sources that can be collected including NAPLAN, PAT, PISA, School based assessment and class based observations all need to be recorded for analysis.

Empower Stakeholders
Research confirms that teachers want better learning insights to help direct teaching, grow learning and measure progress. Students, teachers and parents need more assistive technology to deliver the insights they require in a timely fashion.

Identify Trends
Predictive analytics can be used to identify trends and highlight the performance outcomes that educators are looking to achieve and identify the contributing factors that are driving student success.

“If you can’t measure it, you cannot improve it” - Peter Drucker

There are a number of areas to consider when trying to predict outcomes and the following areas can give more insight into how these areas work together.

What problem are we trying to solve?

What factors make up success?

Types of techniques applied to data.

Be prepared to act on the findings.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Visible learning allows teachers to confirm suspicions, identify patterns and act earlier for the best possible student outcomes.

Make the learning
visible

When it is clear what teachers are teaching and what students are learning, student achievement increases. Teachers are not wedded to specific teaching strategies – rather, they regularly focus on evaluating the effects they have on students, and adjust teaching methods accordingly.

Early identification
better outcomes

Teachers confirm suspicions or identify patterns and act. Technology tools can assist by predicting outcomes based on learning data – and passing the results of the analysis back to teachers in a timely fashion.