Data is Not Innovation

Data mining of students is an unimaginative process which is embraced by far too many power-hungry educators and school boards who are looking for a quick hit of data dopamine. In fact, the process is IMHO destructive to the educational process. Like a wheel out of balance on a car, the car becomes undriveable and unmanageable when it is overemphasized.

In fact, I propose that collecting, studying, and presenting student data without context has become a form of idol worship. If you don’t bow down to it, you get tossed in the furnace.

Data driven systems are rarely age appropriate in their processes and are often not developmentally appropriate. It is just lazy educational pedagogy. We are raising a generation of kids where many will be unable to survive at the university level without a lot of remediation. I like to call the educator data disciples…..the zombie culture. The group which embraces data to the Nth degree, they aren’t bad people. They just don’t know any better, or they lack the will power to improve their skills.

This process is a disservice to our students. Our best and brightest students will be working on cures for cancer, developing settlements on Mars, designing responsible AI, and holding political office. Embracing data driven culture is simply dumbing down education in a way which ruins the educational process for those who will lead us into the future.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

ProTip: In Kingsport, I believe we have lost our edge in innovation in an unhealthy way. We are obsessed with test scores and test prep. We can be better. We have been better in the past. We are whitewashed tombs. Our social media makes us look like we are embracing innovation, but for those of us who see the inside, it is anything but that.