Productivity Tips for Evidence Empowered Educators

Video Transcript

As I travel to speak to educators about the importance of evidence-based decision-making, the number one concern I hear over and over is that they lack the time to do this important work. I get it, it can be a heavy lift. In this video, I’m going to share some of the best productivity tips for building evidence-use into your processes. 

Hi friends, I’m Matthew Courtney, and here we talk all about education research and data, so if you’re into that, make sure you like and subscribe and come be a part of our community. 

Let’s dive right in with Tip Number One: Embrace the principles of Tidy Data. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by messy spreadsheets or confusing datasets, the concept of tidy data can be a game-changer. Tidy data refers to organizing data in a structured, standardized way that makes analysis simpler and more efficient. Each variable should have its own column, each observation its own row, and each type of observational unit its own table. This structure allows you to quickly understand and manipulate your data, saving valuable time when analyzing student performance or other important metrics.

When you apply tidy data principles, you can eliminate much of the confusion and frustration that comes from inconsistent formatting or unclear data labels. For educators, this means faster and more accurate insights into student progress, classroom trends, or intervention effectiveness. Whether you're using Excel, Google Sheets, or more advanced tools like R or Python, tidying your data ensures that you're spending less time wrestling with spreadsheets and more time interpreting meaningful patterns. The key is to be consistent with how you enter and manage your data, which will make the analysis process much smoother.

Embracing tidy data isn’t just about making your own life easier—it’s also about collaboration. When your data is tidy, it becomes much easier to share with colleagues, administrators, or even external researchers. Everyone can understand and use the data without needing extensive explanations or cleanup. This makes team-based data analysis more efficient and ensures that the insights you derive are based on a shared understanding. In short, tidy data transforms how you handle and interpret information, allowing you to focus on the decisions that truly drive school improvement.

Tip Number Two: Organize Research Using Reference Management Tools. As an educator, you’re likely balancing multiple research articles, reports, and studies, and keeping track of them can feel overwhelming. That’s where reference management tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote come in handy. These tools allow you to easily store, organize, and cite your research sources all in one place. No more hunting through folders or bookmarks to find that one article—you can quickly search for and retrieve any study you need, right when you need it.

Using reference management tools saves time and keeps your research process organized. These tools let you tag and categorize articles, making it easier to sort by topics, date, or relevance. Most of them also integrate with word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, allowing you to insert citations and create bibliographies automatically. This feature is a huge time-saver when writing reports, papers, or presentations, freeing you from the tedious task of formatting references manually. In short, reference management tools help you stay on top of your research while avoiding the clutter that comes from juggling multiple sources.

Beyond just storing references, these tools also make it easy to collaborate. Many reference managers allow you to share your research libraries with colleagues or students, promoting a collaborative approach to evidence-based practices. For example, if your school is working on a research project, everyone involved can access the same set of articles and studies, streamlining the research process and ensuring consistency. Organizing your research this way not only enhances your productivity but also supports a more connected and efficient team effort.

Tip Number Three: Curtate a Personal Research Library. As an evidence-empowered educator, having quick access to relevant research is key to making informed decisions and staying updated with the latest findings. By curating a personal research library, you create a go-to resource filled with high-quality studies, reports, and articles that align with your specific interests and needs. This collection serves as your personal knowledge base, allowing you to easily pull relevant research when addressing school improvement challenges or instructional strategies.

To build your library effectively, focus on selecting research that is both credible and directly applicable to your practice. Start by categorizing articles based on topics such as assessment strategies, instructional interventions, or student well-being. By organizing it this way, you’ll be able to quickly locate research when you need it for decision-making or when discussing evidence-based practices with colleagues. You can store your collection digitally using cloud-based platforms or apps that allow for easy access and cross-device syncing, so you have your research at your fingertips whether you're at your desk or on the go.

A personal research library isn’t just for reference—it’s also an ongoing project. Regularly updating your library with new studies and insights ensures that your teaching and leadership remain fresh and informed by the latest evidence. Subscribing to relevant journals, attending webinars, or joining research networks can help you discover new resources to add. Ultimately, this curated library saves you time, enhances your research literacy, and equips you with the evidence you need to drive continuous improvement in your classroom or school.

Tip Number Four: Create a Data Calendar. Managing data effectively requires consistency, and one of the best ways to stay organized and ensure you’re regularly engaging with your data is to set up a data calendar. A data calendar maps out specific times throughout the school year for collecting, analyzing, and acting on key data points. This could include scheduled dates for gathering student assessment results, conducting surveys, reviewing attendance data, or even planning for parent feedback. By scheduling these tasks, you avoid the last-minute scramble and ensure you’re always working with up-to-date information.

Having a data calendar also helps you prioritize which data to focus on at different times of the year. For example, at the start of the school year, you might focus on baseline assessments to understand where your students are, whereas mid-year, you might emphasize progress tracking or intervention adjustments. This structured approach ensures that you’re reviewing data when it’s most relevant and can plan interventions or changes well in advance. It also helps keep data collection efforts manageable by breaking them into smaller, scheduled tasks rather than trying to address everything at once.

In addition, a data calendar fosters collaboration among colleagues. When everyone is working from the same schedule, it’s easier to coordinate data reviews and align efforts toward school improvement goals. It also makes it easier to share findings during team meetings or professional learning communities (PLCs), where group discussions can lead to insights you might not have seen alone. Ultimately, a well-maintained data calendar keeps your data management process organized, ensures that you’re using data consistently, and helps drive more informed, timely decisions for school and student success.

Tip Five: Build a Research Review Habit. One of the most effective ways to stay informed and continuously improve as an educator is to regularly engage with new research. By building a research review habit, you ensure that staying up-to-date on the latest studies, trends, and best practices becomes a natural part of your routine. This doesn’t mean spending hours reading dense reports every day, but rather dedicating a set amount of time—perhaps 15-30 minutes a week—to reviewing articles, reports, or summaries from reliable sources.

Developing this habit allows you to keep your teaching strategies and school improvement efforts aligned with the most current evidence. Whether it’s reading a new study on assessment practices, reviewing data-driven instructional methods, or simply catching up on recent educational trends, regularly consuming research helps you sharpen your skills and make more informed decisions. Start by subscribing to newsletters or research digests in your areas of interest. You can also set aside a specific day of the week to focus on reading and note-taking to keep the process structured and manageable.

Beyond personal growth, building a research review habit enhances your role as a leader and collaborator. By consistently bringing fresh insights and evidence to the table during team meetings or professional learning communities, you position yourself as a thought leader who contributes to collective problem-solving. Additionally, this habit encourages a culture of research-based practice in your school or classroom, inspiring others to engage with the research process. The more you make research review part of your routine, the more naturally it will integrate into your decision-making, ultimately empowering you to stay ahead of educational challenges and opportunities.

Let’s finish with bonus tip number six: Incorporate some AI tools. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can drastically improve how you manage data and research, streamlining tasks and boosting your productivity. Tools like ChatGPT, for example, can assist with quickly summarizing complex research articles, generating lesson ideas, or even helping to analyze qualitative data. Other AI-powered platforms can help you identify patterns in student data or predict student outcomes based on current trends, allowing you to be more proactive in addressing learning gaps or adjusting instruction.

AI can also simplify literature reviews by scanning and synthesizing large volumes of research, pulling out key insights and trends. Platforms like Iris.ai or Research Rabbit can help educators and researchers navigate the overwhelming amount of academic material available by suggesting relevant articles and summarizing findings quickly. This saves valuable time and allows you to focus on applying the research rather than spending hours sifting through it. By integrating these tools into your workflow, you can more efficiently identify which studies or data points will be most useful for your decision-making.

However, incorporating AI doesn’t mean replacing your professional expertise—it’s about enhancing it. AI tools can help with the heavy lifting, freeing you up to focus on interpreting the findings and implementing strategies that are best suited to your students and school. By leveraging AI, you can supercharge your research and data analysis efforts, ensuring that you’re always making informed, evidence-based decisions with maximum efficiency.

If you found value in this video today, make sure you like and subscribe and be sure to check out some of the other video on my channel. I’ll see you next time!