Chapter+8+Discussion+-+Technology+Information+Management

Data-Driven Decisions and School Leadership: Best Practices for School Improvement By Theodore J. Kowalski, Thomas J. Lasley, II, and James W. Mahoney

Chapter 8

Technology and Information Management (p172-190)

Chapter Outline

Introduction/Purpose:

• Provide an overview of information systems and explain their usefulness in data-driven decision making • Define basic terms • Focus on databases – development, access and management • Show relationships among technology, data-driven decision making, and educator competencies.

Chapter Focus Questions:

1. What is information technology? 2. What is the difference between being technology literate and information literate? 3. What is a database? 4. What security measures need to be taken to protect data? 5. What are data warehousing and data mining?

Overview of information systems and explain their usefulness in data-driven decision making

We must begin to look at information technology as a valuable tool to access pertinent information from multiple sources, translate that data into pertinent information and use it to make current data-driven decisions. “Many schools are drowning in data but lacking effective delivery systems and the proficiencies essential for transforming facts into useful information.”

1. What is information technology?

Technology stores and facilitates the use of data.

Data from tests constitute a powerful diagnostic and prescriptive tool for both instruction and future teacher staff development programs.

Technology and information literacy are critical.

2. What is the difference between being technology literate and information literate?

Technology literacy Acquiring basic knowledge and skills about computers Being able to apply that knowledge and those skills in practice

Should be able to: Use the Internet Modify a Web page Construct a personal database Access/use organization databases

Information Literacy Involves knowledge and skills essential for engaging in data-driven decision making.

• Someone must desire to know, use analytic skills to formulate questions, identify research methodologies, and utilize critical skills to evaluate results. • The person must possess the skills to search for answers to those questions increasingly diverse and complex ways. • Once a person has identified what is sought, he or she must be able to access it.

The information-literate person – understands connections between accurate information and intelligent decision-making.

Formulate questions Identify sources of information Access sources through computers Evaluate information Organize information for application Integrate new information Use information in critical thinking and problem solving

Problems Framing questions so that data can be aggregated or disaggregated to facilitate solutions Selecting and using appropriate statistical data and techniques

Information literacy is essential for data-driven decision making!

Basic Terms Defined:

IT – Information Technology – Computer based tool used for storing and processing data in an organized context.

MIS – Management Information System – three aspects of IT – planning, development and use. Information management should identify an organization’s additional information needs and then develop structure for using IT to create, capture and use information to meet the organization’s goals.

An effective MIS is timely, accessible, usable and multidirectional.

DMIS – Database management information system – provides a process for entering data and accessing information using IT; it is a tool intended to make the content of a database more practical for users.

Databases – development, access and management

3. What is a database?

A database is a collection of facts, statistics, and related information organized according to a predetermined logical structure. Data are raw facts; they are placed in a database in order to transform them into information (or processed facts.) Especially essential, a database is an electronic cabinet used for storing electronic folders.

4. What security measures need to be taken to protect data?

Security is a major concern for database management. Protection should be provided for:

Content misuse Alterations Deletions

An effective security system has two primary features:

Transparency – The security system should be invisible to the extent that employees do not alter applications as a result of data being added Accessibility – The system ensures that authorized personnel are not prevented or hindered from using a database as intended.

5. What are data warehousing and data mining?

Data Warehousing - A computer storage area that accumulates, integrates, and stores data with the aim of producing accurate and timely information to support decisions. Data warehousing is a term used to describe activities pertaining to defining, populating, and using a data warehouse.

Data Mining – involves database analysis to identify relationships that previously have not been discovered (e.g., hidden patterns in a group of data that can be used to facilitate decisions). The analytical applications search for patterns (e.g., trends or associations) or content (e.g., entity or entity set) relationships inside a database.

Relevance

The relationships among technology, data-driven decision making, and educator competencies

Educators require accurate and comprehensive data Educators require a technology infrastructure configured as a DMIS, allowing them to translate data into pertinent information rapidly and conveniently Educators require the knowledge and skills essential for using the information they access to make diagnostic and prescriptive decisions.