The conference theme was "The Promise and Perils of Educational Information Systems," defined as collections of test data on knowledges, skills, interests, and attitudes maintained for the purpose of educational decision making. Topics covered were: "Longer Education: Thinner, Broader, or Higher" (Fritz Machlup); "Testing:…

The Pilot Training Project for personnel participating in Pilot State Dissemination Programs involved training of the three dissemination project staffs to carry out their dissemination functions. The program attempted to facilitate the use of tested educational research data by local educational agencies in their decision process. The staff…

Commissioned by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to assess the status of data collection activities in the museum community, this report reinforces recommendations made by a similar 1998 study, addressing the need for systematic data collection to inform public policy and museum management decision-making. The report examines a…

This report, one of six state-of-the-field reports, details how educational leaders access data, the meaning they assign to it, and how the use data to improve teaching and learning. The report recognizes that data does not provide leaders a clear direction for action; rather that data used in educational settings is complex and indefinite. These…

Provides examples of using real time data sources from the Internet and the World Wide Web to enable students to collect the data that leads scientists to scientific paradigms, expand the scope of instruction to regional and global perspectives, and integrate science with other curriculum areas. (DDR)

Explains human interactive analysis as an architecture for using computer interactive technologies in the analysis of complex work environments. A project at the Naval Training Systems Center that used video-audio data to develop a multimedia database is described; the analysis and management of data are discussed; and decision processes are…

This paper on identifying education outcomes for students with disabilities proposes a framework for applying an outcome-based approach throughout the education system, by looking at the needs of the three major levels of the system (local, state, and national); defining different uses for the term "outcome" in order to achieve consensus…

Possible impacts of changing information technology on the role of the institutional researcher, who serves as a decision support intermediary, are examined. Attention is directed to measurement, human information processing, and decision support technology. It is noted that management information systems are dependent on measurement for data…

Project MAP (Model Accounting Plan) is designed to test a demographic system for monitoring the within-school and post-school transitions of special education participants. Implemented at the local level, this system produces data to inform school-level decision-making. In addition, the data that are produced can be aggregated for use at higher…

Experiences in systems-development for state information systems are summarized for eight pilot-test state agencies, as part of the State Level Information Base project. Attention is directed to the evaluation of information needs; hardware and software choices; survey administration; data organization, storage, and linkages; and staffing…

Three papers focusing on various aspects of nontraditional postsecondary education, are presented in this volume. The first paper by Cross and Zusman explores the issue of nontraditional population needs and associated program responses. The second paper, by Bowen, Edelstein, and Medsker, focuses on the kinds of information that decisionmakers in…

The computer-based System of Interactive Guidance and Information (SIGI) was field tested and evaluated at five community colleges and one university. Developed by Educational Testing Service, SIGI assists students in the process of informed and rational career decision making. These appendices to the final evaluation report contain the manuals…

More effective use of diminishing resources was needed to provide the best possible services at the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) library. This required the improved decision-making processes of a Library Management Information System (LMIS) to provide systematic information analysis. An information flow model was created, and an…

The introduction to this anthology reports a study designed to develop a systematic procedure for gathering information from actual school settings about the impact of school organization, staffing, and administration on students--information to provide baseline data for decisionmakers. Included are description of methods and procedures, data…

The proposed taxonomy of tasks to be performed in an educational evaluation system encompasses tasks appropriate for evaluators, members of an evaluation unit, and members of facilitation and coordination units. The taxonomy classifies and specifies tasks for (1) developing a climate for evaluation; (2) selecting decision situations, selecting…