The development of the role of a data coach: a needs assessment of different stakeholders in Flanders

Abstract

Despite the availability of a lot of data in education, school teams struggle to use data in an effective way to adjust classroom- and school practices. Human support in the form of a data coach can support school teams with data-based decision-making (DBDM). Data coaches collaborate closely with school teams to support and guide them in DBDM. Although school teams and data coaches work closely together it is unclear what teachers, school leaders and data coaches themselves find necessary tasks, knowledge or skills for a data coach to guide and support professional learning on DBDM. Therefore, in this study a needs assessment will be conducted by means of multiple interviews with teachers, school leaders and data coaches in primary and secondary schools in Flanders (Belgium). Following research questions are included: What are the needs of school teams regarding the appointment, tasks, knowledge and skills of a data coach who support DBDM? How do school leaders perceive their collaboration with a data coach? What are the needs of data coaches working in school regarding professional development? Based on the results of these interviews different data coach profiles will be set out. The preliminary results will be presented at JURE 2022.