This assignment asks students to write a short paper analyzing four indicators from an education indicators report. For each indicator, students must: (a) describe trends in terms of school life, (b) identify potential causes of trends, (c) explain implications for their role as a teacher, and (d) discuss potential ways to address or adapt to issues. The paper should provide an introduction and conclusion drawing connections among indicators. When choosing indicators, students should consider organizing them by input/process/outcome or other schemes. The paper aims to help professionals interpret statistics and apply them contextually.

1. Assignment C: Indicators Application
This assignment’s primary purpose is to help professionals interpret statistical
information, and to apply that information in a relevant context. It asks you to choose
four indicators from the 2008 Saskatchewan Education Indicators Report (Ministry
website) and write a short paper. Alternatively, you could choose the most recent edition
of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Report published by the Council of Ministers
of Education, Canada.
In general, the paper will have four sections: one that a) describes the relevant trend for
each indicator in terms of day-to-day school life b) identifies potential causes for the
trend c) explains what the implications are for your role as a teacher and d) discusses
potential ways in which you may address or adapt to the issues presented in each
indicator.
The paper will provide a suitable introduction and conclusion which together draw
connections or interrelationships among the indicators. It is not necessary that the
indicators be thematically linked. You might choose to organize them by input/ process/
outcome; or by context /cause/consequence, or elementary/middle years/secondary, or by
some other organizer. (Note: the four indicators must be attached or clearly identified).
Some questions to keep in mind are:
1. What is the trend (at least three data points) or pattern that is evident here?
2. What is not shown in the graph? How might that influence what is in the graph?
3. From the provided commentary, what can you determine about the causes (or
hypotheses for causes) for the trend or pattern? What are the consequences?
4. Are educators able to bend the line (affect the trend line through their behaviours)
or are they creatures of circumstance (unable to control the direction of the line
through their behaviours? Why or why not?
5. What negative or positive results will stem from the trend line?
6. What unanticipated byproducts will the trend or pattern have for students,
schools or teachers?