Improvement Science Basics
What does PDSA stand for?
Plan, Do, Study, Act
What’s “conversational capacity”?
The ability of a team to stay candid and curious under pressure, balancing openness with discipline
What is the purpose of a Data Equity Walk?
To examine data with an equity lens, notice patterns and gaps, and generate equity-focused questions
What is the IEN aim related to reading outcomes?
Increase TK–3rd grade students from socioeconomically disadvantaged homes making at least one year’s growth in reading
What object was used as the hands-on launch activity?
Mr. Potato Head
What’s the purpose of making a prediction in the Plan stage?
To clarify what you expect will happen so you can compare actual results to predictions
Name one team norm that supports psychological safety.
Assume positive intent, invite diverse perspectives, ground statements in evidence
What question should teams ask to spot blind spots in data?
What’s missing from this data set, and whose voices are not represented?
Name one desired network outcome besides reading proficiency.
Foster students’ love of reading
Name one SDCOE team member supporting the IEN.
Brittany Mabe, Casey Lange, Bernadette Nguyen, Gail Paradeza, Ross Godfrey, Erin Dare
What are the three key Model for Improvement questions?
1) What are we trying to accomplish? 2) What changes can we make that will result in improvement? 3) How will we know a change is an improvement?
What is the purpose of a team huddle?
To maintain momentum, share learning, troubleshoot, and plan next steps for improvement
How do empathy interviews help us “see the system”?
They bring forward student and family lived experiences that reveal barriers, assets, and inequities
What reading assessments do teams use?
SDUSD uses DIBELS/i-Ready, Hawking uses Fundations
What is one community norm we revisit at every convening?
Be here and focus on the task at hand; assume positive intent; invite diverse perspectives
Why do we test on a small scale before scaling up?
To learn quickly, reduce risk, and refine ideas before spreading widely
Describe one challenge teams face when building improvement routines.
Systems naturally resist change; people bring blind spots, values, and different ways of being
What is the Ladder of Inference used for?
To slow down thinking, check assumptions, and make reasoning visible in conversations
Why focus on socioeconomically disadvantaged students?
Data shows they are disproportionately not meeting grade-level reading standards, creating inequities
Where did Convening 4 take place?
Marina Village
Give one example of an “equity check” in PDSA cycles.
Examples: Test assumptions explicitly, integrate student/educator voice, or check whether next steps interrupt inequitable practices
In your own words, how do candor + curiosity work together in team dialogue?
Candor ensures honesty, curiosity ensures openness; together they help teams surface assumptions and deepen understanding
Name one way to ensure equity when interpreting PDSA data.
Invite multiple voices into interpretation, challenge deficit thinking, or disaggregate results
Give an example of a change idea designed to improve the love of reading.
Using academic discourse strategies like “talk moves” to engage students
What snack should always be stocked for an IEN convening?
Your inside joke here — e.g., “Extra chocolate chip cookies!”