The Exploring Engagement Fund provides risk capital for arts nonprofits to experiment with innovative ideas about how to engage diverse Californians. In order to understand the variety of Californians engaged in arts experiences, this guide is intended to support current and future Fund grantees in collecting participant information. Exploring…

Describes a performance technology approach to paperwork reduction for managers that looks at information as a stimulus designed to prompt or initiate a desired behavior or response from the reader. Guidelines for improving performance through the use of information that serves as directions or feedback are given. (LRW)

Selecting an appropriate school district information system means obtaining the best features while sacrificing few that are desirable. Evaluation criteria include scope of work; integration of modules; accuracy of attendance module; checking "power" for attendance; a fast scheduler; graduation requirements capabilities; and before adoption,…

Sophisticated managers know that reams of data cannot take the place of important information. Planning is necessary to ensure that what is being reported in an organization is necessary and useful and that data are not assembled just because the computer makes it possible. (MLF)

Specific conditions and information needs of the engineer in Indonesia are described. Much foreign input is applied in development projects resulting in a continuous need for transfer of technology. Most libraries and information services are not adequately equipped to provide for the engineer's information needs. Steps are being taken to help…

There are many ways to collect information about college teaching. Many are quick, easy, and unintrusive, and are valuable supplements to the standard source of information, student ratings. A matrix of data needs and corresponding sources of course, instructor, and student information helps refine the information gathering process. (MSE)

A discussion of the relationship between theory and practice in professional continuing education considers the different kinds of professional knowledge (according to its generalizability or explicitness), modes of knowledge (replication, application, interpretation, association), and the contexts of knowledge use. (MSE)

Data and information needs of college administrators are discussed, along with the uses of information to support decisionmaking. Difficulties in applying information technology to the administration of higher education are briefly reviewed. Data and information are discussed both in definitional and functional terms. Data are defined as either…

Principles for college market research include (1) only ask relevant questions; (2) ask key questions often; (3) compare responses; (4) ask important questions of many people; (4) keep the research simple; (5) don't cut corners; (6) listen to the customer through focus groups and complaint systems; and (7) share the information with people who can…

User dissatisfaction with computer systems usually results from too little involvement of the user in the programing process. Defining information requirements satisfactorily and taking steps toward smooth staff acceptance of the system are important prerequisites to satisfaction with the system's design. (MSE)

The concepts of need and needs assessment are examined in the context of information needs for college administrators. A description is included of the conceptual framework underlying the Needs Assessment Information System (NAIS), which was developed by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Attention is directed to: (1)…

Noting that obtaining facts and figures on important policy issues related to children is the critical first step toward identifying what is working and what needs improvement, this Kids Count guide is designed to help local community members find and use data on the condition of children and families in Minnesota. The guide describes how to…

This forum paper contains the perspectives of three adult education researchers (Jerold W. Apps, Daniele D. Flannery, and T. Tappey Turner) concerning the role of adult educators in the information age and the attitudes of adult educators toward the recent information explosion. In perspective 1, on the roles of the adult educator in the…

Computer-based support services needed by individual planners/managers in small academic units (deans' and department heads' offices) within a larger higher education environment should provide the capability to interact easily and inexpensively with powerful information systems which allow the planner to integrate data from several sources, test…

Discusses the importance of databases and information systems in efforts to examine the interinstitutional transfer of credits, courses, curricula, and students. Highlights the achievements of selected states and institutions in developing systems to monitor student flow and academic performance and to evaluate and enhance transfer/articulation…