The title is wrong, data is objective but the models are not and which data is used is not (and she argues both those points).
She links to Gary Rubinstein's blog[1] that is mind boggling in its analysis of the results of an actual model of teacher's effectiveness and the resulting data.
1) The model that NYC used to evaluate a teacher's effectiveness is not available. It appears that the input data is not available either, only the output data of the model. That isn't transparency.
2) The output of the model is random. Having a feedback loop on random output data isn't going to improve the model.
Maybe Bill Gates' model and data will be better and will be transparent. I'm skeptical.
She links to Gary Rubinstein's blog[1] that is mind boggling in its analysis of the results of an actual model of teacher's effectiveness and the resulting data.
1) The model that NYC used to evaluate a teacher's effectiveness is not available. It appears that the input data is not available either, only the output data of the model. That isn't transparency.
2) The output of the model is random. Having a feedback loop on random output data isn't going to improve the model.
Maybe Bill Gates' model and data will be better and will be transparent. I'm skeptical.
[1] http://garyrubinstein.teachforus.org/2012/02/26/analyzing-re...