Data for direction

The Dolphins’ 31-27 win adds another digit in the W column making the Week 5 benchmark at 2-3. As a coach, where do you from here? Data driven decisions are important, yet which data actually can lead to an improvement plan? Especially when coming off a win, it is important to escape the feeling of “it’s not broke, so why fix?” While numbers are everywhere, 2-3 or 31-27 hardly provides the direction we need for improvement.

To give you an idea of the range of data, below is a smidgen published by the Sun-Sentinel; these indicators provide the surface view. Just how much depth can you go? For the football coach each indicator is just the start of the conversation, hopefully leading to an action for improvement.

As a teacher looking at student work, completing the assignment might just give you the Win-Loss assessment, but where do you for depth? What data actually aids in changing instruction? Take a closer look.

Total first downs by rushing
Total first downs by passing
Total first downs by penalty
Third down efficiency
Fourth down efficiency
Total net yards
Total offensive plays
Average gain per offensive play
Net yards rushing
Total rushing plays
Average gain per rushing play
Net yards passing
Times thrown - yards lost attempting to pass
Gross yards passing
Pass attempts-completions-had intercepted
Average gain per pass play (inc. # thrown passing)
Punts number and average
Net punting average
Total return yardage (not including kickoffs)
Yards punt returns
Yards kickoff returns
Yards interception returns
Penalties number and yards
Fumbles number and lost
Touchdowns rushing/passing
Extra points made-attempts
Field goals made-attempts
Safeties
Time of possession

Measuring Performance

Tonight’s episode of Chef Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen provided an example of assessment and evaluation based on multiple sources of performance data. While two teams competed to complete a dinner service, the Red Team celebrated the win prematurely believing that serving their last ticket first guaranteed victory. All through service the language coming from both kitchens focused on speed and completion while omitting anything related to quality. Well, Ramsay was the only Chef who addressed high expectations. The Blue Team deflated when they heard that the Red Team sent up their last table, yet frowns turned into possibilities as soon as Ramsay mentioned two words…Comment Cards.

The Blue Team while finishing second in the delivery of service had an 83% positive review rate compared to the Red Team’s 81%. Chef Ramsay declared the Blue Team the victor leaving many Chefs realizing that finishing first is not always the best. The competition blinded why these Chefs were even in the kitchen; their purpose is to provide the customer with an excellent dining experience not to beat the other team. They never realized that by focusing on the customer’s needs the victory will always be in reach. I can imagine that during the next competition aspirations will now include quality and thinking about the clients experience then just on beating the other team.

This reminds me of the difference between teaching and learning, one focuses on the teacher while the other on the student. I wonder how many wait to realize that both are important for winning.

Does Data Judge or Inform?

Last weekend the Miami Dolphins lost to the New York Jets starting off the season 0-1. As a coach, it would be difficult to establish an improvement plan with just this information. To improve performance a football coach and the players should analyzing player stats, play selections, practice time, and situations trying to find an edge to get better and to eventually win a game. Reaching the Super Bowl does not happen by focusing on the Win/Loss record or the trophy, but on the players.

If there is a need to improve and evaluate, Action Research (AR) provides a structure to analyze performance data and would be able to explain beyond the Win/Loss record of a student. As a classroom teacher AR provides background information to distinguish between mastery and adequate performance (Sagor, 2000). Taking the same attitude of the football coach into the classroom means to constantly analyze data to look for edges in students, working to try to help them improve, no matter what the objective.