Optimized Process Data Model Innovation
States, school districts, schools and teachers are engaged in serious efforts to
raise achievement levels, close persistent achievement gaps and improve
classroom, school and system performance. Essential to the success of these
efforts are state-level investments in centralized data management technology
systems that are fully integrated and able to provide the real-time,
high-quality, process data policymakers and educators require to arrive at
accurate and effective decisions.
State-of-the-art education data system capacity and design breakthroughs,
enabled by advanced technology innovation, have resulted in the development of
the significantly improved ‘optimized data processing and management model’
specifically for education. The Aligned·By·Design Integrated and Optimized Data
Model is a comprehensive, on-line data management system which permits educators
to securely monitor student, classroom, school and system performance in
real-time, automatically collecting and analyzing a continuous portfolio of
performance and instructional data.
An efficient, cost-effective and fully interoperable operation and instructional
improvement system, the optimized data model meets and exceeds all the
“strengthening state data system” priorities included in the U.S. Department of
Education’s Race to the Top Fund initiative.
At present, many states continue to rely on out-of-date cross-sectional data and
longitudinal databases to support their reform efforts. Cross-sectional data
produces a ‘snapshot’ of student achievement at a fixed point in time, but it
cannot track individual students over time. In recent years, some states have
developed sophisticated longitudinal data systems which permit the matching of
individual student records over time and across educational databases. Both of
these data systems provide useful information to help education leaders assess
student performance and school and school system activities.
The dynamic Aligned·By·Design data model with its pioneering dual-engine data
analytic capability integrates and significantly improves upon education’s
existing cross-sectional and longitudinal data management systems, and it is
different from them in a number of important ways. First, the level of detail is
far greater. Second, the educational processes are fully automated at this new
level of detail and generating real-time data input streams requires no
additional effort from administrators or teachers. Finally, the real-time data
is simultaneously fed into the cross-sectional database for managing today’s
“live” student learning process, and into the longitudinal database for longer
term system analysis.
The student-centric Aligned·By·Design optimized data model tracks individual
student data and performance vertically from PreK through graduation. It is a
cohesive, user-friendly and flexible backbone for the transformation of
education systems and incorporates both high-value communications functions and
powerful ‘at a glance’ reporting tools.
These process data management strengths provide states, school districts,
schools, teachers, and parents with targeted and constructive feedback and the
meaningful support needed to address learning, instruction, policy, performance
and resource allocation questions. The system feedback is highly secure and
allows educators to move beyond the limitations of today’s longitudinal and
cross-sectional data systems, and among its other important benefits, enables
educators to:
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Easily create, automatically update, vertically align and maintain a portable,
customized, Pre-K through graduation individual learning plan for every student
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Pinpoint and close student learning, teaching and classroom instruction issues
in real-time, eliminating gap accumulation and raising graduation rates
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Evaluate the effectiveness of instructional materials, strategies and approaches
for educating students individually, demographically and as groups
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Provide teachers, principals, and administrators with the meaningful information
they need to inform and improve their instructional practices and material,
teaching strategies, decision-making and overall effectiveness
A Briefing Paper describing the integrated and optimized data
model technology and features is available for download on the web site. The
Briefing Paper includes details and diagrams in an easy-to-print and email
format.
Related Pages
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To learn more about how the
Aligned·By·Design Integrated and Optimized Data Model supports state and
district administrators and teachers, please
contact us.