Building Educator Capacity for Data Visualization and Use Across Nebraska

In Spring 2023, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) kicked off its third cohort within its Data Visualization and Use Education Innovation Network. Educators selected to join the network participate in webinars to increase their capacity to design data visualizations to communicate student learning and engage in continuous improvement. The webinars give teachers experience with topics including: 

• Why Use Data? 
• Data Analysis Basics & Common Tools 
• Data Visualization: Charts, Maps that Make Sense 
• Storytelling with Data, Diving Deeper into Data 
• Diving Deeper into Data 
• Data for Improving Outcomes: Turn Data into Action 

Sponsored by the NDE Data Management and Navigation Team, the data visualization is one of a handful of networks created by NDE to support its “Commitment to Equity of ‘ensuring equity of access by supporting quality instructional materials.’” The cohort model ensures a standard level of competency for participating educators and connects participants from across Nebraska’s 19 educational services units and 247 school districts. Members meet monthly for discussion and knowledge sharing.