Across the United States, teachers and teacher educators are facing increased accountability for improved student achievement. Using assessment results to inform instruction provides a catalyst to improve student outcomes and is a key skill for preservice teacher candidates. The process of data-based decision making is integral to performance…

The basic principles of market analysis are examined in this paper especially as they relate to institutional planning. Introductory material presents background information, including: (1) a description of two projects undertaken to implement modern management techniques at small colleges; (2) an examination of three marketing philosophies; and…

The proper function of the computer is as a filter to suppress irrelevant data and highlight critical data, to make short-term projections, to display the dynamics of system interactions, and to allow managers and teachers to interact with models of the system. Outlines the components of such a system. (Author/IRT)

Seven institutional research maxims based on research and theory about how people cognitively process information are discussed: more may not be better; augment humans with models; chunk data wisely; know decision-makers; heuristics are not always helpful; arrange tables by patterns; and accept negative evidence and new hypotheses. (Author/MLW)

This federally funded survey, undertaken to develop a model of a decentralized local area manpower information system for meeting program management needs in urban areas, discusses the need for this system, and the origins and uses of manpower data. Characteristics and parameters of such a system, alternative models of information systems, and a…

Two recent developments in management information system technology and higher education administration have brought about the need for this study, designed to develop a methodology for revealing a relational model of the data base that administrators are operating from currently or would like to be able to operate from in the future.…

The author has developed a model for transferring and implementing educational innovations from one institution to another. The model consists of an organized set of variables whose precedence relationships were determined by statistical analysis of collected data. A questionnaire was sent to a sample of prospective consumers of educational…

To support informational needs of day-to-day and long-range decision-making, many universities have developed their own data collection devices and institutional reporting systems. Often these models only represent a single point in time and do not effectively support needs at college and departmental levels. This paper identifies some of the more…

Process indicators (PIs) of school functioning and their place within the educational indicators systems are discussed. Literature is reviewed as a basis for selection of PIs for an integral model of school effectiveness. Although it is difficult to collect data on PIs, they provide valuable information on system functioning. (SLD)

An interactive, computerized model developed for Old Dominion University utilizes university historical data, demographic characteristics, projected selected economic variables and population figures by various age groups and planning districts to forecast enrollment, financial projections, and future fiscal conditions of the institution. The…

A management information system model was designed to provide data for planning, directing, and evaluating programs for the National Origin Minority Education (NOME) office of the New Hampshire Department of Education. NOME is federally funded to provide training to local school district and community members regarding the educational needs of…

Describes a computer-based adaptation of a case management model, Computer-Assisted Risk Accountability System (CARAS), which provides an on-site, desktop evaluation tool for school-based case management teams to manage their cases efficiently. Discusses the user-friendliness of the CARAS software; how school programs benefit from CARAS; and CARAS…

A research group at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, worked on the development of a system to provide the required statistical information for effective management and decision making in university and large public libraries. A management science approach was used. Library objectives, standards, and performance criteria were…

The Social Work Education Planning and Assessment (SWEPA) System is an information system designed to function within social work education toward two main purposes: (1) to help schools more effectively specify their own educational objectives, plan their social work education projects to achieve these objectives, mark their progress toward this…

A systematic approach to planning and presenting the data collection activities of a State Department of Education is described. The Information Communication System, a model communication system used by the state of New Jersey, conveys narrative and statistical information relating to a school district's students, teachers, finances, facilities…