Which type of data is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of instructional practices?

Evaluating the effectiveness of instructional practices is best achieved through objective measures that directly reflect student learning outcomes. Standardized test scores and student performance metrics provide quantifiable data that can indicate how well students understand the material being taught and whether instructional strategies are successful. These metrics allow educators and administrators to analyze trends over time, compare performances across different groups, and make informed decisions about curriculum and teaching methods.

While personal opinions of teachers, feedback from online surveys, and attendance records can provide valuable insights and context about the educational environment and student experiences, they do not offer the rigorous, empirical data necessary to assess instruction effectively. Standardized test scores and performance metrics are systematic, reliable measures that can reflect the impact of instructional practices on student achievement, making them an essential component in evaluating educational effectiveness.