The concern over big data and ramifications of its use permeates many, if not all, aspects of life in the 21st century. With the advent of online learning, another area of concern, one that directly impacts the world of education, has been added: the use of data within online professional development settings. In this article, we examine the type…

Since 2010, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) has periodically administered the "Strong Foundations" survey, which documents the content, structure, and effective use of state postsecondary student unit record systems (PSURSs). This report highlights the results of the fourth administration of the survey,…

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…

A small and diverse segment of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) universe includes colleges and universities that offer only degrees above the baccalaureate level. These graduate-only institutions are colleges or universities that offer programs in a variety of fields, including acupuncture, medicine, law, theology,…

This report addresses two key questions about postsecondary student unit record data systems (PSURSs): (1) What data are collected by various parties; and (2) how do these entities use the data to inform policy decisions? This 2016 report is both a follow-up and a redesign of two previous "Strong Foundations" reports by SHEEO (2010 and…

State education data systems have often been described as data rich but information poor. Historically, these systems were created for compliance purposes and, therefore, designed and managed as information technology projects, but a culture change is under way. Educators and other stakeholders are beginning to value data as a tool to inform…

Outlines the procedures used in the creation of the Cooperative Management Information System (CMIS) at Macomb County Community College: determination of information needs, data collection, and information storage and manipulation. Discusses the use of CMIS in assessing program effectiveness. (SK)

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)

IN APRIL 1967, A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO 3700 PERSONS TO DETERMINE THE SERVICES DESIRED BY POTENTIAL USERS OF THE ERIC CLEARINGHOUSE FOR JUNIOR COLLEGE INFORMATION. OF MORE THAN 1,000 JUNIOR COLLEGE EDUCATORS WHO RESPONDED, NEARLY THREE-FOURTHS IDENTIFIED A PRIMARY NEED FOR INFORMATION ON CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION. EARLY DISSEMINATION OF…

The effective communication of desired information between the generator and the user requires one to accommodate variances in decision-making style, behavior, and context. The premise that decision making in organizations follows the classic rational model is discussed. (Author/MLW)

Designed to assist evaluators in selecting the appropriate software for the generation of various data collection instruments, this guide discusses such key program characteristics as text entry, item storage and manipulation, item retrieval, and printing. Some characteristics of a good instrument generation program are discussed; these include…

Describes an effort by a local United Way chapter, in conjunction with three shelters for battered women, to regularize the collection and presentation of data needed in applying for funding. Addressed are requirements of the funding source, useful indicators, extent of reports, data collection procedures, and data utilization. (GC)

The conceptual framework for determining intelligence needs for dissemination service capacity that is presented is designed to assist state education agencies in improving their abilities to provide comprehensive dissemination services to their clientele. A section on the intelligence component of this model concerns (1) users and non-users at…

This policy paper is the second in a Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB) series on accountability reporting. This paper describes several problems states have encountered in their initial school report-card efforts, some of the lessons they have learned, and some of the questions that must be answered. Following the introduction, the first…

Although most school districts and schools are routinely involved in data collection, they do not typically use the data they collect in a systematic fashion to identify strengths and weaknesses and develop improvement strategies. One reason for the lack of data use is the perception that the data are being collected for someone else's purposes.…