How much of the DataPoint newsletter do you normally read? Scan the code with your phone, or click here to vote.           ON THE DDD CALENDAR       Need to brush up on how to use the new visualised Educator Information Report? Join next week's webinars, where we'll show you how to use these insights in conjunction with the Detail page, and how to apply these findings in your day-to-day work. Click below to book.             THE NEXT WEBINAR on 20 March is a refresh of the end-of-term submission process, and will include general guidelines, submission rules and common challenges encountered while submitting school data. As 21 March is Human Rights Day, no webinar is scheduled on that day. Click below or visit the Events section on the DDD Learning Hub to book your seat.                     DATA NEWS AND UPDATES       Ekurhuleni South takes on the data submission challenge         Close to 90 principals and officials from Ekurhuleni South joined forces at a secondary schools meeting on 24 Feb, to discuss issues around outstanding data submissions. And they have risen to the challenge! As of 6 March, 166 of the district’s 254 schools had submitted term-to-date data to the dashboard – a 19% improvement on the previous term. If this continues, Ekurhuleni South officials will soon have a wealth of up-to-date education insights at their fingertips. Well done team!
	Gauteng boasts biggest DDD community: With 14 903 registered users, Gauteng has the largest (and fastest growing) DDD community – more than doubling since Term 1 last year.     North West users ramp up activity in Term 1: The highest proportion of active users (out of all registered DDD users in each province) is in North West, with 671 out of 2 390 users logging in this term.   Mpumalanga users keep coming back for more: Out of the 900 Mpumalanga users who accessed DDD in Term 1 so far, a total of 709 also logged in during the previous term, putting this province ahead of the pack.
	WHEN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE = GENUINE IMPACT       Wondering how machine learning might benefit you? Consider this: Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that turns computers into super-quick learners, by enabling them to see and remember patterns while analysing data. They can then make decisions based on these patterns, without being explicitly programmed to do so. The more a computer analyses, the more it learns and the more it improves its performance over time. Examples of machine learning in education include personalised learning platforms that can automatically adapt course work and lessons to suit an individual learner’s particular strengths and weaknesses. These platforms can also offer real-time feedback, helping students to grasp difficult concepts more effectively. For officials and educators, machine learning can help with administrative tasks, allowing them to focus more time on teaching. MACHINE LEARNING ON DDD: In the next few months, DDD aims to launch a feature on the dashboard that uses machine learning to predict which learners are most at risk of failing the year. This will enable officials to provide additional support before those learners fall too far behind. Watch this space for updates.
	SHARING THE LOVE: From data training to district success         When DDD was first introduced to his primary school in Tshwane South, Mr Cetric Modise was among the first to be trained. As his career grew from those school-based days to his current role as chief education specialist, so too did his mastery of the dashboard. And with it, his passion for sharing the power of data with his peers. “My journey with DDD started with my love for what I do – changing the lives of young learners,” he says. Most recently, this involved training 15 “champion” principals who have committed to maximising DDD’s capabilities in their schools. Targeted support for curriculum facilitators ensures that data always informs their school visits, while WhatsApp reminders to principals keep term-to-date submissions on track. Mr Modise also plays a crucial role in shifting perceptions at independent schools, by demonstrating how DDD can help track attendance and subject performance, to inform intervention strategies. The result? Data submissions in Tshwane South are on the rise, school-level engagement with the dashboard is growing by the day, and education officials are building more effective intervention plans that take all factors – learner ability, teacher skills and success measurement – into account. “It’s a continual process of understanding what works, and what doesn’t, and then refining your approach as you go. The DDD Dashboard is with you each step of the way.”
To share feedback on this newsletter email: Communication@newleaders.co.za       For DDD technical assistance contact: help@dbedashboard.co.za                             dbedashboard   The DDD programme is an initiative of the Department of Basic Education, in collaboration with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and New Leaders Foundation.

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