Turning Data into Information

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Turning Data into Information

• Tommy Walz
• Rob Stalling
• Dynamic Landscapes 2008

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Purpose of this Presentation (Transform data
into information)

• Pose questions that need thoughtful answers
• Analyze the process
• There is more than one correct answer

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Why Electronic Data?

• One location
• Remotely accessible
• Can be manipulated
• Grouped
• Sorted
• Placed longitudinally
• Answer What if? or Who is..?

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Questions We Have Answered

• Is there a relationship between attendance and
  performance?
• Is there a relationship between gender and
  performance?

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Questions We Have Answered

• How do the kids who have been with us since
  Kindergarten compare with those who have not?
• Is the demographic make-up of the Barre Town
  School changing over time?
• Can we forecast enrollments (Cohort Survival
  Ratio)?

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What Databases do We Have?

• Staff (AS/400 FMP)
• Student Management System (Chancery SMS
  MacSchool)
• Assessments (FMP)
• Special Ed (Sped Docs - FMP)
• Health (FMP)
• Phys Ed (Fitnessgram)
• Cafeteria (Vendor-owned)
• Library (Follett Destiny)
• Inventory (FMP)

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What Databases do YOU Have?
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What Data?Examples

• Lunch (SES)
• Age, gender, DOB, grade level, teacher
• Assessment scores
• Disabilities
• Health Screenings, Immunizations, Chronic
  conditions
• Staff credentials

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Data Sources

• Clerical staff
• DOE
• Vendor
• Cafeteria
• Teachers
• Curriculum Director/Curriculum Specialists

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Where Does it Go?

• In specialized databases, i.e., SpedDocs?
• In general databases?
• In spreadsheets?
• On the school/SU network?
• On a web site?
• In teachers mailboxes?
• In administrators hands?
• In kids backpacks?

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Data Flow The Simple Model
Data Source
Mediator
Target Audience
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What Data Flow Really Looks Like
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How Good is the Data?

• Is it valid?
• Is it relevant?
• Is it current?
• Is it consistent?
• What am I missing?

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Data Changes

• Time sensitivity
• Changes in eligibility
• With transient population
• Changes in services
• Changes in assessments
• Changes in demographics

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Resources Needed

• Assessment tools
• Reliable and consistent data sources
• Hardware
• Software
• Security
• Policy
• Channels of communication
• Personnel

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Who Has Access?And How Much?

• Clerical staff
• Teachers
• Administrators
• School Board Members
• Students
• Parents
• Public at Large

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Where can Information Help?

• Changes in curriculum
• Changes in services
• Test scores
• Graduation rates
• Climate
• Fact-check conventional wisdom

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Measure the Impact

• Assessments
• Historical Records and Comparisons
• Surveys
• Student Work
• Anecdotal Feedback

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Challenges

• Incomplete data
• Poorly designed assessments and/or reports
• Incorrectly recorded data
• Duplicate records
• Very transient students
• Lag time between assessment and scores
• Disenfranchised staff members
• When to archive

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Additional Info

• http//www.vtcite.org/forum
• Tommy Walz twalzbsu_at_u61.net
• Rob Stalling rstalbsu_at_u61.net