Before I get into the specifics of how and why we use Google Looker Studio, I'd like to acknowledge that I've always been a bit of a tech geek, whereas many of you reading this may not be. However, there is no denying that the advancement and prevalence of technology in both sports and schools grow with each academic year. One of the most significant changes, in my opinion, has been the shift to cloud-based services, with entire schools now running their day-to-day operations through Google, Microsoft, or a similar provider. I've listed just a few of the advantages below:
Cost Savings.
Security.
Mobility.
Insight.
Increased Collaboration.
Another advantage of a cloud-based system is that all of your data is stored in one location and can be analysed on the same system. In this blog, I'll explain how we use Google Looker Studio to analyse and present data from Google Forms and Google Sheets.
Before we get into that though, what actually is it? Google Looker Studio is a free tool that turns your data into informative, shareable dashboards and reports. It allows you to generate a variety of easy-to-read graphs, charts, and tables. Furthermore, users can access their data at any time.
Individual Performance Progress
At Shrewsbury Riverside, we want our students to be fully engaged and accountable throughout the strength and conditioning programme. We aim to achieve this by providing them with access to individual dashboards that track their progress. The ability to visually track their performance over time allows them to identify their strengths and weaknesses and fully commit to the process. Looker Studio also includes a feature that prevents students from comparing their abilities to those of others. When a student logs into a dashboard, they can only see their own data due to the filter by email feature. An example of an individual dashboard used in our Health Related Exercise PE block is shown below. Students can see all of their previous data, giving them a visual representation of their entire school experience.
Monitoring Wellness Through Google Forms
As previously stated, the benefit of using a cloud-based system is the ease with which other programmes and features can be integrated. We have extensively used Google Forms within our programme, most notably for tracking readiness to train and collecting wellness questionnaires. We simply email the link to the form every Monday and Friday, and students complete a series of questions about their sleep, stress, soreness, mood, and motivation.
The data is linked to a Google sheet, which is connected to a dashboard designed for our coaches. In a previous blog, "Monitoring Wellness and Performance in School Sport: A Reflection," I go into detail about the monitoring process. The image below displays what our coaches can see on their wellness dashboard. Scores of less than 13 out of 25 are also recorded on our wellbeing software and forwarded to the wellbeing team as part of a whole-school approach.
Automated sharing and collaboration
The final feature I'd like to discuss is how we use specific Google features to create a collaborative approach to coaching and information sharing. You can schedule an email to specific people using Google Looker Studio containing a PDF made up of certain parts of your dashboard. For example, our football coaches will receive an automated email with the most up-to-date information on their players at the start of each week. Wellness scores, gym volume loads, and injury updates will all be included. This, I believe, fully highlights the system's benefits and how everything works together.
Wellness scores: Google forms completed by students
Gym Volume Loads: sets, reps and weights, all automatically calculated on Google Sheets
Injury Data: Collected on Google Sheets with total time out, etc. calculated automatically
Ultimately, the integration of technology is now part and parcel of working in school and sport. The cost-time-benefit is a no brainer. Hopefully, this post has provided an insight into how the use of Google's Cloud based workspaces can be utilised in a school strength and conditioning.
Hi Toby. Thanks for shared your experience with LS. I'm also a user of this tool in my daily as sport coach. This is one report, like you, trying to popularize LS in our area: https://sportperfsci.com/dynamic-training-load-management-in-international-judo-training-camp/?fbclid=PAAaZ3jNOmkBC243u0bhz_VBCI5sCuWwDyI0IIBHjtAiwIHNdqAs6e6wfSYC0
Toby this is great tool, and great work. I’m school physical education teacher from Poland. How build something like that ? how can I contact with you ?? Email maybe ?