Beagle can bridge gap in student achievement

Beagle can bridge gap in student achievement

New Zealand has one of the largest gaps in student achievement compared to other OECD countries, according to Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). And recent findings paint a bleak picture of our government’s intervention, which have failed to turn schools around or adequately assess student achievement.

Recognising the gap that has long existed in literacy achievement is teacher and literacy consultant, Deborah Grover. Diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 50, Grover is on a mission to reduce New Zealand’s inequality in student achievement. Working with teachers and schools over many years, Grover found out what was needed and worked on a system to deliver a solution. The result is Beagle, a student-centric, cloud-based software platform, which she developed alongside technologist Eugene Tsang.

Grover said, “Beagle uses assessment data to drive instruction; assessment for learning as well as assessment of learning. It’s not just aboutwho is failing but why. To do this, schools need a suite of assessment tools that really drill down to the essential skills and knowledge, to identify gaps in student learning. Beagle is agnostic and can add any assessment tool; there are currently over 100. Without this data, schools are unable to identify who is at risk adequately and early enough, and where the explicit gaps in learning are, so that they can respond with the most appropriate and effective instruction.”

Beagle bridges the gap in student achievement and supports schools in three key areas:
• Raising student achievement
• Closing the gap in student achievement
• Increasing teachers’ knowledge.

Beagle achieves this by automating and delivering meaningful data to track student assessment over time; analyse results; prioritise instructional planning needs; implement strategic planning; and set targets for student learning. The data is securely stored in the cloud and immediately accessible to teachers and school management. Progress can be seen at a glance, with strong visual components that immediately highlight gaps in learning. The application generates insights from the student data to take the guesswork out of the analysis and to make sure no student slips through the cracks.

Beagle has already been piloted in a number of primary and secondary schools throughout New Zealand with stand-out results. Based on esteemed educator John Hattie’s effect size shift to measure value added, Beagle achieved three times the normal rate of learning in schools that used this approach, over three consecutive years. Beagle is poised to roll out their software solution to schools nationwide and there is strong interest from educational stakeholders overseas.

Michael Harrison, Principal, Motueka South School, whose school took part in the pilot progamme said, “Beagle is an effective cloud-based teaching and learning tool, enabling schools to ‘dig down’ into data to set targeted goals around raising student achievement and closing the gap.”

Beagle has been selected by the Shine Literacy Project for phase two of their literacy programme in schools, in Porirua City. Beagle will support schools to use their assessment data to drive instruction and to raise achievement for all students. Shine is a community funded project hosted by a group of education stakeholders working together to help Porirua youth to shine. For more, go to: http://shineporirua.org.nz/.

Grover said, “Beagle has the functionality to measure student achievement, the gap in achievement and teacher knowledge at the class, year group, school, Communities of Schools, regional and national levels. Data can be aggregated and anonymised for targeting resourcing at all levels.”

Beagle’s unique intuitive features place it at the leading edge of assessment data to drive instruction, and for its data-sharing functionality. It is cost-effective, easy to use and requires little or no training. Beagle is the automation of an evidence-based pedagogy and a proven approach to raising student achievement. For more, go to: http://www.beagleinnovations.com/.

Deborah Grover has more than 30 years’ experience in both primary and secondary schools as a teacher, school leader, educational trainer, literacy consultant and is the published author of a school resource. Over the past nine years, Grover has been delivering literacy consultancy and professional learning development in many educational environments at a national level. Grover understands how the school system works and knows what school management teams and teachers need to make a real difference to their students.

Eugene Tsang is a technologist who acts as a bridge between IT and business. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Auckland, majoring in Economics and Finance. He has worked building financial models for raising venture capital; in retail operations productivity and analytics; and strategy consulting as Chairman for a non-profit sporting organisation. After teaching himself how to code, he moved on to work in software development in Australasia’s media industry. He now works as a consultant.

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