Data collection is considered by many teachers to be a necessary evil. Some pretend to vomit when they hear the word "data." Few educators say, "I love data!"
Teachers collect every day and through a variety of methods. Scores and percentages on papers and assignments including all the gradebook notations are data. Attendance and lunch count are data! Recording a student's progress over time such as tracking the number of words read or the number of math facts recalled in a minute are types of data. Automaticity data (reading words and math facts per minute) are important indicators of growth and predictors of future success in the subject.
Behavior data are also collected in a variety of ways. These data are as important to a student's "story" as their grades. Below is a summary of the most typical types of observational data collected on behavior.
Frequency Recording is a type of counting in which the teacher uses a tally sheet, clicker, paper clips (move from one pocket to the other as you count). A behavior is counted each time it occurs.
Examples: Blurting out, name calling, dropping items, getting up to go sharpen a pencil.
Event Recording is a type of frequency counting. In the case of event recording, record the start time, mark every occurrence of the behavior, then record the time the behavior ends.
Examples: Out of seat, talking to a neighbor or another student.
