We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper from our empirical work in the journal Research Papers in Education, titled “‘Just playing around with Excel and pivot tables’ – the realities of data-driven schooling“. The paper explores the local technology-based data-driven practices in our three case study schools, with a particular focus on the work of the schools’ data-specialist teachers. As the abstract puts it:
“In contrast to the idea of ‘Big Data’, schools were most often found to be engaging in small-scale, improvised forms of spreadsheet work. The paper considers the social, cultural and political reasons underpinning schools’ reliance on such forms of ‘small data’ – particularly in contrast to the more sophisticated, automated and continuous forms of data analysis that are now available”.