Mining for Data

Charles Shewell
Jul 8, 2022
2 min read

A Critical Look into Data Management Systems

Teacher effectiveness and student achievement, along with meaningful information is used through analysis after information is collected from data management systems. These systems, while crucial for growth in all areas of education, have flaws that still need to be addressed for improvement. I believe there are 3 major issues that raise critical questions when looking at the collection of data obtained through systems used in education. Today I will discuss what I feel are the key issues as they are:

The linking of data across management systems.
Understandings of results in data evaluation.
Privacy.

DATA LINKING

The adoption of common data definitions in order to link data across state educational data systems. Historically, data definitions were created and developed individually through local school systems, including districts, state education, and universities which allowed different meanings to their own data, allowing limitations on interpretation of the data collected. Because definitions for data elements do not match across agencies, correlation of information cannot be properly analyzed and understood, causing misinterpretations of educational trends and affecting decision making in policy.

ANALYSIS

Once data is collected through these systems, understanding the results can be used in a variety of ways such as school improvement, professional development, demographics, and perception. The two underlying issues of data analysis are those that analyze information provided by data systems are human, which can be persuaded by a variety of factors, as well as not having a proper process to understandably identify the correct data to use, and properly defined terms for consistency. Like commercial entities, districts can tailor the information to better serve their needs over a student's need for deeper learning.

PRIVACY

This leads us to privacy as it plays an integral role in protecting the sensitivity of information collected. Data is stored in multiple management systems and used for educational improvement, but some of this information should remain confidential. Some federal and state laws provide individual information privacy, but employees that often handle the data have little to no training on the proper use of this data and the risks of this data being misused. Schools and universities need governance of policies as well as training on what data can be collected and who is allowed access to the information.

QUESTIONS I HAVE

The Southern Region Education Board, SREB, is an organization trying to correct some of these critical issues in education through programs such as the Educational Technology Cooperative by helping policymakers make informed decisions through data, but the SREB is funded by contracts and grants from foundations and agencies. This leaves me asking questions such as: