Adding the Grit Scale to School Data

I came across this great article on Edutopia by Nathan Barber on Adding the Grit Scale to School Data. This piece is showing how one school is investigating the possibility of measuring and teaching its students grit by adding Angela Duckworth's 12-item grit scale to the standard assessments.

Schools already use a lot of data - from ERB scores and PSAT, ACT, and SAT information to AP exam results - to help shape and focus instruction each year. However, this data provides a glimpse into a few facets of students who are complex young men and women.

Nathan is telling their story of how along with the leadership team, he began a search for a way to collect a different kind of data on their students, both current and incoming, that would help to understand them a little better, and would better equip them to put their students in a position to be successful. They decided to explore ways that Duckworth's research on grit, including her grit measurement scale, might help better serve their students. Upon agreeing that this metric could be a valuable tool, they began data collection immediately. Starting with middle school's eighth graders, they administered Duckworth's 12-item grit scale in the spring semester prior to their freshman year. This takes less than ten minutes of the students' time, so the process is quite efficient. He then shares how to put in place plans of action as well as making sure to nurture this in the long term. “Ideally, a year from now, then in two years, and so on, we will find that we have made a difference in our students' lives. Our goal, of course, centres on nurturing grit to help them become more successful, particularly over the long haul” he emphasizes. For the full article please follow this link.

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