Data Literacy Credential

Online • Live • 105 PD Hrs

Educate managers and directors in data literacy; the ability to communicate about the use of data; and basic storytelling with data skills.

Overview Required Courses

Overview

Data-driven quality improvement stands to bring unrivaled levels of performance to the Head Start field, and is defined and mandated by the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Leaders and managers who complete this credential signal to their staff and the Office of Head Start that their program is committed to this level of performance.

To earn this credential, candidates must complete the following three sequential five-week classes, demonstrating their knowledge and skills in data literacy and their ability to apply that information back in their programs.

Course 1: The Wonderful World of Data
Course 2: Using Head Start Data
Course 3: Foundations of Storytelling with Data

Each course will require candidates to attend two “live” 60-minute class sessions each week via Zoom. Classes will be completely virtual—allowing candidates to take classes while maintaining their traditional work schedule. In addition to class time, they will spend approximately 4 hours per week on assignments and learning activities outside of class.

In addition, candidates will be required to complete a final portfolio assignment, the purpose of which is to tangibly demonstrate comfort with the course material and an ability to apply new knowledge and skills. This credential is developed in partnership with Acorn Evaluation, Inc. Grading for each course will be a combination of attendance/participation in class and mastery of the content as demonstrated by the various assignments.

Required Courses

Course 1: The Wonderful World of Data

This course introduces the key concepts related to the use of data in organizations. This includes concepts such as data literacy, data capacity, the data-generating-process, the role of data in quality improvement, and how data is incorporated in key aspects of Head Start. The focus of the course is on a practical understanding of the universe of data and the ability to communicate it to coworkers and other stakeholders within the Head Start community. The central activity in the course is a portfolio assignment in which the student develops a short training to show the importance of data in a specific project in their area of responsibility.

Course 2: Using Head Start Data

This course introduces the way that data is used in Head Start programs under the new 2016 HSPPS. This will include how data is used for monitoring and tracking as well as how data collection, storage, and reporting impact the data capacity of organizations. The course will focus on how the data workflow influences the quality, usability, and ultimately the value of the data that is collected. This course will also introduce ways that data can be incorporated into grant applications, self-assessments, community needs assessments, and other required projects in Head Start. The central activity in the course is a portfolio assignment in which the participant develops a plan for how a data workflow can be improved and develops a narrative around the project that can be used in multiple contexts (the grant application, board reports, communication to stakeholders, etc.)

Course 3: Foundations of Storytelling with Data

This course introduces key concepts related to storytelling with data. This course focuses on the foundational skills needed to communicate data to an audience in an appropriate way. This is not a technical course about using tools to make fancy charts or graphs. This is a course about knowing the audience and selecting the appropriate data to tell the desired story. It is about how to decide what goes into the data visualization so that the audience can use the data. The central activity is a portfolio project that develops a storytelling plan around a single big question or improvement project in the participant’s home program.

Testimonials

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Course Facilitator

Dr. Greg Dixon

Dr. Greg Dixon is the Chief Analytics Officer at Acorn Evaluation. Dr. Greg is the leading designer of professional development programs to build data literacy in Head Start. He brings two decades of award-winning experience as a professor and curriculum designer to the development of programs that make data fun and accessible to all.

Registration Rates

Regular Rate: $4,497

NHSA Member Rate: $3,897

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Includes

Online, Self Paced Coursework
30 Hours of Live Instruction
Access to National Cohort of Peers
Discussion Forum
Digital Badge
Certificate of Completion
24/7 Access to Transcript

Partner

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