Why Did the House of Cards Go to Therapy? Too Many Collapses, I Guess.
When I was in my thirties, Radiohead embarked on a technological journey that would eventually lead to the creation of one of their most iconic songs, "House of Cards." It was on the Grammy’s a long time ago. I remember. They didn’t win though. At that time, Radiohead was keen on integrating technology and data into their stuff. This data didn't just end up in the groundbreaking music video for "House of Cards"; it also influenced the song's composition. The band members, inspired by the digital nature of the visuals, crafted a song that mirrored these qualities in its sound - blending traditional instruments with electronic elements to create a hauntingly beautiful track that perfectly complemented the data-driven visual experience.
Who doesn’t love good data?
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had a few doctor’s appointments – one of which was my annual physical. I must admit that there were years that I didn’t go for the annual physical – I know pretty stupid. But now I am back on track. And, I have to say that I am really glad that I did it. My blood work came back in a matter of hours, and before dinner, I was scrolling through my results at the dinner table. One of the features we can now click on is the graphs of our test results over the years. So, as we are watching our faces age in the mirror, so too can we now imagine it in our blood and veins. Crazy.
There weren’t too many huge, unexpected swings – which in bloodwork is probably a good thing. Bloodwork is one of those things where the middle of the bell curve is great. Just great. There were a couple of things that I had to look twice at – like my triglycerides, which fell from 163 in 2021 to 73 these days. So, I was like….what is a triglyceride? And how the hell did I go from uncool triglycerides to Joe Cool triglycerides? I looked it up. I wasn’t really surprised by what I found – but it was necessary. Because I now have data in my hand that shows me the impact of diet, sleep, and how external forces can literally take years off of a life.
We are getting closer and closer to Dr. McCoy’s set up on Star Trek
I love tiramisu. It is amazing, particularly with an expresso – or even better a tawny port. I’ve done much less of that over the past year – and now, with the lab results in hand, I will have this tennis match going on in my head. Volleying back and forth between Tiramisu + port vs. cantaloupe + a cup of decaf. I do find it interesting how functional data like this can really alter decision-making for the better. We all have free will – well just a little bit, according to Robert Sapolsky, but I cannot write about that until I am done with the book.
Similarly, the importance of data in planning for academic achievement cannot be overstated. Just as bloodwork provides crucial insights into one's physical health, data in education serves as a vital tool in assessing and enhancing student performance and overall school improvement. By systematically collecting and analyzing data, educators can identify trends, measure progress, and pinpoint areas requiring intervention. For instance, analyzing standardized test scores across different years can reveal whether the curriculum is effectively meeting educational standards or if there are gaps that need to be addressed. Data on student attendance, behavior, and classroom participation also offer a comprehensive view of the learning environment, helping educators create more engaging and supportive educational experiences.
Moreover, in the context of district-wide improvement, data plays a pivotal role in guiding policy decisions and allocating resources. It allows for an evidence-based approach to educational planning, ensuring that interventions are targeted and effective. Data can illuminate disparities in academic performance among different groups of students, prompting necessary actions to bridge educational gaps. Furthermore, tracking the impact of new teaching methods, technologies, or administrative policies through data analysis helps in understanding what works and what doesn’t, leading to continuous improvement. Ultimately, just as my experience with bloodwork has taught me about the significance of making informed health decisions, in the educational sphere, robust data collection and analysis are indispensable for nurturing academic excellence and fostering an environment where every student can succeed.