The "Forum Guide to Data Governance" highlights how data governance programs benefit education agencies and provide timely and useful best practices, examples, and resources for agencies implementing or updating their data governance programs. This resource is intended to address the needs of federal, state, and local agencies related…

Academic libraries develop collections and services for scholars who use video games in teaching and research. However, there are no assessments of related information and technology needs. The authors conducted 30 semi-structured interviews to gather data about these needs and understand how the University of Minnesota Libraries can facilitate…

Librarians at the Science and Engineering Library at the University of Minnesota surveyed engineering students participating in a work placement as part of the cooperative education program. The survey asked about students' on-the-job information usage, comfort level accessing different types of engineering literature, and experience learning to…

Quality labor market data and analysis is critical to developing effective market-driven workforce and economic strategies in states, regions, and localities. Such information can be complex, intimidating, and overwhelming to many users, however. This issue brief offers a framework for understanding workforce information, including a summary of…

The needs assessment of adult basic education (ABE) in Minnesota touched on both the need for classes for ABE students and the need for training for ABE staff. Chapter 1 provides a summary of recommendations; chapter 2 gives a statement of the problem; and chapter 3 discusses the design, implementation and results of the needs assessment. The…

This case study of a commission charged with studying consolidation of two Minnesota towns illustrates the processes of identifying research needs, citizen participation in research, education of the public, and decision making on a highly controversial public issue. (SK)

Educational improvement through data-based decision-making using high-quality data is a longstanding goal of policymakers and practitioners, and ensuring the quality of the evidence available to inform such decisions is a key part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The evidence-based education that such initiatives promote involves the…

Geographic information systems (GIS) provide a computer-based system for organizing, tracking, and using practically any kind of information that has a geographic component. Partnerships between rural electric cooperatives and local governments in Minnesota and Missouri make GIS data available for various uses by electric cooperatives, county and…

Minnesota vocational educators implemented a statewide public opinion poll to find out what people knew about vocational education and how much and what kind of information the public needs about it. Some results and how they will be used in Minnesota's vocational-technical education system are given. (MF)

An initial set of potential indicators for use in planning, reviewing, and providing puplic information about vocational education in Minnesota was identified. A list of approximately 70 characteristics of vocational education was submitted for review by secondary, postsecondary, and adult vocational education program administrators and the staff…

In order to demonstrate to the Federal Communications Commission that they were serving the needs of the public the two public television stations in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) commissioned an interview study of "voiceless" groups in the community. The first step was to identify those groups which had common…

Views of academic deans at 15 private Minnesota colleges concerning assessment were surveyed. About half of the colleges experienced some but not great pressure for assessment from their external environment while the remaining had felt essentially no pressure. The deans identified obstacles to assessment, including fears about possible intrusion…

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…

The major purpose of this study is to identify the information needs of all Minnesotans involved in some post-secondary educational pursuit and to determine if existing resources and services meet those needs. The study report consists of two parts. The first section includes analysis of library data for the 1967-68 year in the areas of available…

This report summarizes the discussion and recommendations of a symposium which focused on issues addressing the collection, sharing, and use of information to improve transition services and supports to youth and young adults with disabilities. Participants included representatives from state agencies, advocates, family members, and Community…