VIDEO: How Do I Collect Data on My Child’s Distance Learning Progress?

Dr. Sarah Pelangka, a special education advocate and owner of Know IEPs, shared with us her five top tips when it comes to data collection during distance learning. Dr. Pelangka has found that many districts are taking parents’ feedback and data on their children into consideration and using that for baselines and present levels on IEPs, so it’s really important to take notes on your child’s progress or lack thereof. Here are her five tips for data collection, which isn’t as scary as it sounds:

• Make sure that the behavior you’re measuring and what you’re tracking is “observable and measurable,” such as IEP goals, which should be SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based), and new behaviors or skills. Check out this awesome goal tracker here!

• Use the correct type of data to match the skill or behavior you’re measuring, such as rate or frequency, percent accuracy, or percent-correct. Make sure you know what type of data is important for that skill.

• Know different prompt levels, and recognize when you’re prompting your child. Familiarize yourself with the prompt hierarchies so you can recognize the level needed (such as physical, verbal, or modeling prompts).

• Look for new behaviors in your child or any changes in their behaviors, performance, or social/emotional development. If you notice new behaviors or they’re getting better or worse, document it in narrative form or take video.

• And remember, your data collection doesn’t have to be perfect!

  Watch this short video to learn more from Dr. Pelangka about how to make data collection more manageable while helping your child through distance learning.