Methodological Triangulation to Drive Academic Interventions

As school leaders, one of our biggest responsibilities is making sure that no student slips through the cracks. To do that, we need more than just test scores—we need a 360-degree view of student learning. That’s where methodological triangulation comes in: the process of using multiple types of assessment data to make more informed, confident decisions about academic supports.

And in today’s classrooms, that doesn’t just mean formative and summative assessments—it also includes data from online learning platforms.

In an educational context, methodological triangulation refers to the use of multiple types of data—especially assessments—to evaluate student learning from different angles. Traditionally, this includes:

• Formative Assessments: Exit tickets, bell ringers, weekly quizzes, class discussions—these are day-to-day checks that help teachers adjust instruction on the fly.

• Summative Assessments: End-of-unit tests, report card grades, benchmark exams, and state tests that give us a high-level view of overall learning.

Now, many schools also have a third, powerful data source:

• Online Learning Platform Data: Tools like i-Ready, Khan Academy, Freckle, DreamBox, and others provide real-time analytics on student engagement, time on task, mastery levels, and growth over time in specific skills.

Bringing all three together gives us a much clearer, more actionable picture of what each student knows, where they’re struggling, and how best to support them.

❓Why It Matters for Tiered Academic Support

Triangulating between formative, summative, and digital platform data helps principals and intervention teams more confidently determine which students need Tier 2 or Tier 3 academic interventions.

Let’s revisit the tiers in an MTSS framework:

• Tier 1: High-quality, core instruction for all students.

• Tier 2: Targeted small-group interventions for students not meeting benchmarks.

• Tier 3: Intensive, individualized interventions for students with significant, persistent learning needs.

Without triangulation, a student might be placed into an intervention based on a single test or an observation. With triangulation, we make data-driven decisions backed by multiple consistent indicators.

❗How to Use Triangulated Data for Smarter Interventions

1. Cross-Check Concerns with Multiple Data Sources

Say a student is missing questions on formative math quizzes but is progressing well on DreamBox and scored near proficiency on the last benchmark. That’s a flag to look deeper—maybe the student is just having an off week, or maybe there’s a misalignment between instruction and assessment. But if all three sources show similar gaps, the case for Tier 2 or Tier 3 support is stronger.

2. Track Progress in Real Time

Online platforms can fill in the gaps between scheduled assessments. Teachers might only give a unit test every few weeks, but platforms can show whether a student is actively practicing and improving in the meantime. If a student is plateauing or avoiding tasks on the platform—even if they’re doing fine in class—it might suggest underlying issues worth investigating.

3. Support Precision Placement

Let’s say a 4th grader is struggling with fractions. Formative assessments show gaps, the summative unit test confirms it, and i-Ready data shows the student is working below grade level in that domain. That’s a strong case for a Tier 2 intervention targeted specifically to fractions. For a student showing widespread gaps across assessments and platforms, that may indicate a need for Tier 3 support with more individualized strategies.

4. Strengthen Family and Staff Conversations

Having triangulated data—“We believe these are the areas that the student needs to work on due to lower quiz scores, platform data showing skill regression, and benchmark assessments confirm it”—helps make conversations with parents, teachers, and interventionists more objective, collaborative, and solution-focused.

Sample Workflow for Using Triangulated Data

1. Collect Formative Data: Weekly quizzes, exit tickets, small-group observations

2. Review Summative Results: State tests, unit exams, report cards

3. Analyze Online Platform Data: Usage patterns, growth metrics, standards mastery

4. Look for Consistent Patterns: Use a visualization tool like schoolops.ai to help see patterns across the data

5. Determine Tier Placement (if needed):

   • Tier 2: Some consistent struggles, moderate gaps in targeted areas

   • Tier 3: Persistent, widespread gaps across all data sources

6. Monitor & Reassess Every 4–6 Weeks using updated data from all three sources

In a data-rich environment, it’s not about having more data—it’s about having better data and using it wisely. Methodological triangulation helps school leaders make smarter, fairer, and more personalized decisions for students.

By bringing together classroom assessments, high-stakes exams, and online learning insights, we move beyond guesswork and into precision intervention—ensuring that every student gets the support they need, when they need it.