Usage Data

Occasionally, we are asked for a usage report – typically a spreadsheet showing the number of logins per teacher.

We don’t track logins, but we can help you show the impact of Byrdseed.TV.

Logins ≠ Learning

The purpose of Byrdseed.TV is to increase the level of student thinking. And a spreadsheet with teacher login counts does not help you see student thinking.

A teacher might log in every day, but never use the lessons with students. Or a teacher might log in once a month, get their lessons set up, and never need to log in again.

Better Evidence: Student Work

The most convincing proof that Byrdseed.TV is working is in what students produce.

When you visit classrooms, note: are students engaged in meaningful thinking? Are they debating ideas, making connections, asking better questions?

It will be obvious if Byrdseed.TV is making a difference in classrooms.

But you don’t have to be in the building to see this. Ask your teachers to send you a sample. We can provide you with a list of everyone with an account. Here’s a sample email:

Hi! It’s been X weeks since we got our Byrdseed.TV accounts. I’d love to see what students are doing so far. Please send me your favorite example of student work from a recent lesson. A quick photo is fine. I’ll need it by Friday the Xth.

When you get those photos back, you’ll have something no login spreadsheet can give you: evidence that students are thinking at a higher level.

Need to think about how to roll Byrdseed.TV out effectively? We have a guide here.

Show It To Your Boss

If you need to justify Byrdseed.TV to leadership, student work is your strongest card. You’ll stand out among the spreadsheets! A login count says “teachers opened a website.” A photo of a third grader’s work says “this is what our program produces.”

And it’s always best to be proactive. Collect and share samples early.

PS: You Can’t Verify Our Data

There’s one more reason we don’t offer usage reports: you cannot verify that our data is accurate. We’d have every incentive to make the numbers look good.

But we can’t fake student work.