Data-informed instructional methods offer tremendous promise for increasing the effectiveness of teaching, learning, and schooling. Yet-to-be-developed data science approaches have the potential to dramatically advance instruction for every student and to enhance learning for people of all ages. Next steps that emerged from a recent National…

Academic standards and performance outcomes are a major focus of the current Cycle 2 Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) audits. AUQA has clearly stated that universities will need to provide "evidence of setting, maintaining, and reviewing institutional academic standards and outcomes" (2010, p. 27). To do this, universities…

The Hint Factory is an implementation of our novel method to automatically generate hints using past student data for a logic tutor. One disadvantage of the Hint Factory is the time needed to gather enough data on new problems in order to provide hints. In this paper we describe the use of expert sample solutions to "seed" the hint generation…

Despite all the speeches, articles, and meetings about data-based instructional decision making, the author's observation after more than 20 years of working with middle and high school teams is that teachers and administrators often make important instructional decisions on the basis of historical precedent, anecdotal information, experience, or…

The University of Southern California has implemented a decentralized management philosophy. Implementation of this approach to management is facilitated by making accurate management information available to decision-makers in their offices in real time. (MLW)

The evolution of decision support systems (DSS) has enabled computer and information technology to assist the management process of decision making. Decision support systems are designed to look forward in time, to forecast outcomes of uncertain events. A 70-item bibliography is included. (MLW)

Pepperdine University's encouragement and support of microcomputers is described. A secondary organizational structure was incorporated that optimally supports microcomputers without increasing staff within information services. (Author/MLW)

Pepperdine University's encouragement and support of microcomputers is described. A secondary organizational structure was incorporated which optimally supports microcomputers without increasing staff within information services. (Author/MLW)

Typical higher management expectations for the planning process are explored, along with why these expectations cannot always be met. Some limitations to planning for computer services are proposed that can make planning meaningful for operational concerns. (MLW)

To be sure that the capitalization required in the move to distributed processing is spent wisely, it is necessary to understand the function, integration, and system architecture. How to achieve corporate standards in office automation/decision support in higher education is discussed. (Author/MLW)

This final article in a series on identification of cost/benefits data, formulation of models, and data collection discusses use of cost/benefits analysis results. The following issues are addressed: how to be prepared for study objections; how to increase understanding of your study; and viewing cost/benefit analysis as an iterative activity.…

A project to implement an integrated data system at the four-campus University of Missouri is described. Analytical processing is discussed as it relates to executive decision-making support. It is noted that understanding of specific institutional circumstances and timely delivery of supporting information are critical to system effectiveness.…

The development and implementation of an institutional framework to guide the management and use of information technologies (computing, office automation, and telecommunications) at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta, are described. (Author/MLW)

Describes a method of selective information presentation exemplified by an editor that produces an encyclopedia based on source articles, and needs access to dynamically-selected aspects of the articles for editorial decision making. Presents a system that provides a generic basis for summarization by building multilingual, genre-driven automatic…

The University Information Center has transformed data retrieval and reporting from a slow process performed by high-priced technical personnel to an instantaneous service performed by those who need and can define the service required. The result at Indiana University has been improved quality of computing. (Author/MLW)