ERIC Number: EJ836853
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1436-4522
EISSN: N/A
Data for School Improvement: Factors for Designing Effective Information Systems to Support Decision-Making in Schools
Breiter, Andreas; Light, Daniel
Educational Technology & Society, v9 n3 p206-217 2006
National legislation that increased the role of accountability testing has created pressure to use testing data, along with other data, for instructional decision-making. Connected to this push for data-driven decision-making, is the increased interest in data delivery systems or Management Information Systems (MIS) in education. But, before administrators rush to build data and information systems, we argue for a careful review of existing knowledge about information systems in the education sector in light of what business and organizational research already knows about information systems. We draw on the considerable body of business and organizational research on MIS and a recent educational case study in New York City to introduce a theoretical framework to describe the process from data to decision-making in schools. Our exploration of how schools use information focuses on the potential of new technologies and new ways of analysis to meet the information needs of educators across different levels of the system. We conclude with a discussion about critical factors for the development and implementation of effective information systems for schools: 1) Build from the real needs of classroom and building educators; 2) Recognize teachers' wealth of tacit knowledge as a starting point; 3) Select appropriate data to include in the information system; 4) Effective testing requires close alignment between standards, teaching and testing; 5) Educators need professional development on instructional decision-making that considers the role of data; 6) Educators need expanded repertoires of instructional strategies; and 7) Further research on effective instructional decision-making and IS support is needed. (Contains 2 figures and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Educational Strategies, Delivery Systems, Information Needs, Management Information Systems, Decision Making, Educational Improvement, Design Preferences, Design Requirements, Case Studies, Computer System Design, Information Networks, Use Studies, Standardized Tests, Data Analysis
International Forum of Educational Technology & Society. Athabasca University, School of Computing & Information Systems, 1 University Drive, Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3, Canada. Tel: 780-675-6812; Fax: 780-675-6973; Web site: http://www.ifets.info
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
IES Cited: ED506645; ED555739