2001 NCES

1
Online Data Analysis at the School Building Level

• Meeting Local Needs
• Donald D. Peasley, Program Information and
  Improvement Specialist
• Joan Sotherden, Director
• Mohawk Regional Information Center

2
Goals for Today

• Define Who Wants the Data Analysis
• Define What they need from the Data
• Assessing Existing Data
• Assessing Important Questions
• Identify the Planning Needed for the Collection,
  Organization, Analysis, Interpretation, and
  Utilization of Data at the Local Level
• Define Cultural Considerations

3
Data Based Decision Making . ..
4
Data, Data Analysis and Technology . . .

• When you work with technology, youre really
  working with people, their social attitudes,
  their superstitions, and their rules
• Jorg Haake, German National Research Center for
  Information Technology

5
Why Base Decisions on the Data?

• Mandated Accountability
• Need for Documented Growth and Improvement of
  Learning Outcomes
• Market Forces
• Increased Expectations of Clientele
• Opportunities Afforded by Technology

6
Who Needs Data Analysis at the Local Level?

• Primary Audience
• Principals
• Superintendents, Central Office Admin.
• Secondary Audience
• Department Chairs
• Teachers
• School Boards
• State Education Department

7
What is the Client Need that Drives Data Analysis
Requests?

• Federal Reporting
• State Reporting
• Regional AccountabilityComparisons
• Local Instructional Improvement Decisions
• Self Preservation!!!

8
Planning and Assessing Needs for A Locally Based
Data Analysis System

• Whats the big picture?

9
Planning and Assessing Needs for a Locally Based
Data Analysis System

• What are your primary questions?
• ExampleIs retention related to race or gender?
• What is the grade distribution broken down by
  race, gender?
• What is the attendance rate broken down by race,
  gender?

10
What is the grade distribution broken down by
race, gender?Attempt One
11
Question 2 What is the relationship of course
grades to state exit exams?Attempt One
12
Question 3 What is the Effect of Attendance on
Achievement? Attempt One
13
Do you know how you measure the answers to your
questions?

• What will the report look like?

14
General Considerations in any Data Analysis
Project

• What are the business rules for the
  organization?
• (what are the important questions????)
• Where is the data now?
• (what format is the data in?)
• (what shape is the data in?)
• What constitutes valid data?
• (when you deem the data to be good?)
• How often should the data be updated?
• (what is the refresh cycle?)
• Who gets to use the data
• (what are the security policies?)

15
A Gateway to Performance Data
16
Attempt TwoPreformatted Answers to Primary
Questions
17
Attempt Two, Cont.
18
Attempt Two, Cont.
19
Attempt Two, Cont.
20
Attempt Two, Cont.
21
Planning for a Data Analysis System

• Are you sure that you are getting the most out of
  your existing student management system?
• Do you know how to use your student management
  system?
• What data exists in a system now?
• What reports do you use now?
• What reports could you use now?
• Who is going to enter this data?
• Who is going to verify and maintain this data?
• Who is going to use this data?
• Are you sure you are not duplicating efforts?
• It only looks easy

22
Delivering and Supporting A Data Analysis System

• Student, Financial, Personnel System(s) Report
  Functionality
• OLAP Access to Key Performance Indicators
• The Data Storage Shed.
• Ad-Hoc Analysis Capability
• Training on Access
• Training on Interpretation
• Training on Data Management
• Regional collaboration
• Statewide collaboration

23
Hints for Success

• Involve Teachers as Leaders and Planners
• Start Somewhere
• Promise Low, Deliver High
• Its OK to Say I dont know
• Get Help (and pay for it) when you need it
• Im from BOCES and Im here to help
• Involve Teachers as Leaders and Planners

24
Top Ten Data Analysis Tools

• Ad-Hoc Procedures
• Spreadsheets--The Duct Tape of Data Analysts
• Frequency Distributions
• Average, Median, Standard Deviation
• Bar Charts (see frequency distributions)
• 6 thru 10. Crosstabs tables and 2 and 3 Way Bar
  Charts

25
Try our sitecognos.moric.orglog on as
guestContact dpeasley_at_mohawk.moric.orgjsother
d_at_mohawk.moric.org

• Thank You!!!!