Data Talks: A Podcast from Data in Schools

Paul Swanson and Matthew Savage

Join hosts Matthew Savage and Paul Swanson as they sit down with educators, innovators, and thought leaders from around the world to explore one big question: how do we measure what really matters in schools? From spreadsheets to gut instincts, accountability to sense-making, fear to curiosity — Data Talks digs into the messy, complex, and deeply human side of educational data. Whether you're a data analyst, a classroom teacher, or a school leader trying to make better decisions, this is your invitation to rethink what data can be. Welcome to the podcast where data talks, and we listen.

Episodes

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Ep 6: A Conversation about Data, Learning and Teaching with Lissie Doyle and Rowena Bracken

    What if the most important things happening in your classroom can't be captured in a spreadsheet? In this episode of Data Talks, we sit down with Lissie Doyle, a Health & Physical Education teacher, and Rowena Bracken, an Arts educator, to explore the messy, beautiful, and often invisible data that shapes learning in their classrooms. From the energy you feel when students are engaged, to the laughter, the frustrations, and the breakthroughs that never make it onto a transcript—Lissie and Rowena challenge us to rethink what counts as evidence of learning. They dive into the ancient tension between "head knowledge" and "gut knowledge," share practical strategies like using mini whiteboards and video self-reflection, and ask a question every educator should sit with: When we put a number or a grade on something, do we risk making it meaningless? Whether you teach PE, drama, calculus, or kindergarten, this conversation will make you reconsider what data really is—and what we might be missing when we only look at the numbers.

    42 min

  2. 12 FEB

    Ep 5: A Conversation about Data and Analytics with Dr. Damian Bebell and Hywel Benbow

    Schools today aren't starving for data—they're drowning in it. So how do you cut through the noise to focus on what actually matters? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Damian Bebell, an educational researcher from Boston College who has partnered with schools around the world on data analysis, and Hywel Benbow, who leads data strategy for GEMS Education. Together, they challenge the "data-driven" mindset, make the case for being data informed instead, and share hard-won lessons on building the foundations that turn raw numbers into real insights. From a school that traced declining science scores back to a decision to shrink their labs, to fourth graders whose simple breakfast surveys sparked a citywide nutrition program—Damian and Howell reveal what happens when schools get data right. They also get refreshingly honest about the messy reality: inconsistent student IDs, spreadsheets hidden on laptops, and why 60% of the work is just cleaning up the basics. Whether you're a solo data lead juggling multiple hats or part of a larger team looking to level up, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for making data part of your school's culture—not a burden on top of it.

    1h 1m

  3. 5 FEB

    Ep 4: A Conversation about Data and Inclusion with Dr. Joan Schumann and Kelvin Wangara

    What if the data meant to help students is actually harming them? In schools around the world, data has become a double-edged sword. Used well, it illuminates paths to growth and ensures every learner gets the support they need. Used poorly, it labels, excludes, and—as one guest puts it—"kills students slowly" by shifting the trajectory of their lives in ways that don't serve them. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Joan Schumann and Kelvin Wangara, two educators with deep experience in international and U.S. school systems, to explore what makes data inclusive versus exclusive. They unpack the critical pivot from data-for-accountability to data-for-growth, examine how leadership sets the tone for ethical data use, and reveal how empowering students to engage with their own data can transform classrooms. Whether you're a school leader, teacher, or simply interested in educational equity, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how data shapes the experiences of every student.

    52 min

  4. 29 JAN

    Ep 3: A Conversation about Data in the Early Years with Fiona Carter and May Xue

    What can a moment of silence tell us about a child's learning? In this episode, early years educators Fiona Carter and May Xue challenge us to rethink what "data" really means. Moving beyond numbers and checklists, they explore how observations, drawings, conversations—and even what children don't say—can reveal the deeper story of a child's development. The conversation dives into the Leuven scales of wellbeing and involvement, the art of balancing standardization with individual context, and why "accurate" assessment requires knowing the whole child. Along the way, Fiona and Mae share practical insights on moderation, documentation, and the tension between scanning a moment and screening the bigger picture. Whether you teach three-year-olds or teenagers, this episode asks a compelling question: what might the rest of education learn from Early Years data practice?

    55 min

  5. 22 JAN

    Ep 2: A Conversation about Data Leadership with Bethany and Saleem Blevins

    What happens when a second grader looks up at her teacher and says, "I don't want to do this anymore. I want to read"—even though her data says she's not ready? In this episode, educator duo Bethany and Saleem Blevins share hard-won wisdom from decades of school leadership about what data can tell us—and what it can't. From a pivotal moment with a struggling reader to the uncomfortable truth of putting teachers' test scores on a wall, they reveal how the numbers we chase can either illuminate the path forward or blind us to what matters most. You'll hear why your sixth graders might be your most valuable consultants, how "leading indicators" can save your team from a year of stress, and what it really takes to build a data culture where curiosity wins over fear. Whether you're a classroom teacher, school leader, or anyone who's ever wondered if the spreadsheet is telling the whole story—this one's for you.

    55 min

  6. 15 JAN

    Pilot: A Conversation about Data in Schools with Chris Smith

    In our pilot episode, we’re talking to Chris Smith. Chris is currently a K-12 Learning & Innovation Coach at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi. He is also the founder of Smith Visualizations and Data in Schools, and specializes in transforming complex academic data into actionable information, enabling school leaders and educators to make effective, data-driven decisions.

    40 min

  7. 15 JAN

    Ep 1: A Conversation about Data Culture with Loretta Fernando-Smith and David Walton

    What happens when we stop talking about the data — and start asking what we truly value enough to notice? In this episode, we sit down with Dave Walton from Bangkok Patana School and Loretta Fernando Smith from Frankfurt International School Wiesbaden to explore one of the messiest questions in education: how do we build a data culture that sees the whole child?

    1h 2m
  • 7 Episodes

About

Join hosts Matthew Savage and Paul Swanson as they sit down with educators, innovators, and thought leaders from around the world to explore one big question: how do we measure what really matters in schools? From spreadsheets to gut instincts, accountability to sense-making, fear to curiosity — Data Talks digs into the messy, complex, and deeply human side of educational data. Whether you're a data analyst, a classroom teacher, or a school leader trying to make better decisions, this is your invitation to rethink what data can be. Welcome to the podcast where data talks, and we listen.

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