Martin Griffin - How Data Analysis Can Benefit Educators

Martin Griffin is an educational consultant and the head of a school district. He has worked in the educational field for his entire career, and has years of experience leading educational organizations to positive change. Over the years, strategies for improving and developing new teaching methods have changed due to the resources available to educators. One of the most important resources available is numerical data and statistics. Many educators are unaware of the many benefits that this information can have for them.

For teachers, numerical statistics of their students’ performances is an easy way to track their progress over time. Correlating this with the implementation of new teaching strategies or the introduction of new concepts can also be a great way to test whether or not a concept is effective.

For administrators, statistics of the entire school’s performance can affect the kinds of educational initiatives that are put into place in the future. For example, if performance scores show that students are consistently under performing in a certain subject, extra time can be spent on that subject in the future. If attendance statistics show that students are skipping or arriving late to classes, initiatives can be put in place to motivate students to come to school.

In general, statistics relating to education can give educators, students, and parents a better idea of the effectiveness of education and where improvement still needs to be made. Numerical data is an easy way to show progress and can be used as a motivational tool. Martin Griffin encourages the use of data analysis in his schools.

Martin Griffin Boosts Standardized Test Scores Through Literacy

Former California principal, Martin Griffin, explains that there are numerous standardized tests that every high school student in the state is required to take before they may graduate. The two most prominent of these tests are the California Standards Tests (CSTs) through the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR) and the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). Standardized testing is an area where many students struggle, even those who otherwise have good grades. Schools across the nation are focused on the results of standardized tests, as it reflects on the individual school as much as the student's attained knowledge.

 During his years as a high school principal and education consultant in California, Griffin has learned that the promotion of literacy is one of the most effective ways to raise test scores. Literacy is more than the ability to read, it is also the power to comprehend and retain what is read. The better a student is at reading and understanding a text, the more likely they are to understand a test question and what is expected of them. This even rings true for the math portions of standardized tests, as the questions need to be read and understood before the work can commence.

Better literacy also gives grammar, language, and vocabulary tools to students, each of which are important for a good test score. Martin Griffin knows that reading is the most effective way to build vocabulary, learn the meaning of new words through context, and learn the proper ways to spell those words.
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Martin Griffin Works to Build Student Confidence

One of the goals of any educational administrator is to offer his or her students the chance to build confidence, according to former California principal Martin Griffin. To help these students, especially at the high school level, build a healthy level of confidence it is necessary to promote an education in social and emotional awareness. These skills, if developed properly, will aid the student in whichever career they choose.

Often, high school students are very wrapped up in their own worlds and daily concerns. This can appear selfish, but is actually a part of their own growth cycle. When teenagers are offered the opportunity to step away from their own issues and observe others, their perspectives are forever changes. Giving high school students the chance to step back and look at the world around them, even the microcosm that is high school, promotes social and emotional awareness. Many teachers offer assignments that require the student to simply observe the behavior of their class in a group setting, such as the cafeteria. Students witness which groups tend to gather and who gets left behind.

Building an understanding and awareness of social behavior and emotional intelligence is vital to the workforce. To be a great leader or manager, a person needs these skills. The ability to place one's self in another's shoes leads to a greater understanding and better long-term communication. Martin Griffin and his colleagues do all they can to give students the chance to develop this confidence and the associated traits.
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Martin Griffin Educates Teachers on Student Distractions

According to long-time principal and educational administrator, Martin Griffin, students face more distractions today than in any other historical time. Much of this distraction stems from the technologies that they carry on their person, such as cell phones and tablets. The computers that are offered at school and those owned at home are also proving to have a distracting quality. This is not to say that all technology is bad, or will have a negative impact on the student's ability to learn. When used properly, technology can be a great educational resource. 

                               

Educators and administrators struggle with how to use technology to improve education, without allowing it to become such a distraction. Students are drawn to things that are visually stimulating, thanks to the wiring within the brain. Ninety-nine out of one hundred high school students would rather watch a movie about World War I than listen to an hour long lecture on the topic. These same students would rather watch a demonstration on chemical changes than take notes from a book on the science of chemistry. Yet, too much watching can lead to poor learning. 

When the brain is overstimulated, it does not take in all of the necessary information. Martin Griffin explains that the most recent studies show that students who are told to read a story online are less likely to learn the meaning of the story. However, if they are given a book containing the story to read, they are more apt to learn and remember the topic.