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Creating Sustainable School Improvement Workshops Main Page School District Decision Making Information |
Analyzing & Improving K-12 School Performance -- Using GeoDemographics & GIS creating sustainable school improvement ... Attend this program to learn about methods of analyzing school and school district performance using geodemographics and geographic information systems (GIS) tools. Participants will learn how to use methods and tools to better assess trends, examine the current situation, and assess options to create sustainable school improvement. More than a re-hash of test scores and accountability measures, we will put performance assessment in the context of a more holistic perspective. We will show you how to integrate small area demographics into analyses to help understand the 'what and where' of challenge factors that can affect performance outcomes. Armed with this knowledge, you will be better able to see where and what type actions can be taken that can lead to school improvement. Learn about what annual school and school district data are available. Learn about alternative sources of data and pluses and minuses of different sources. Learn which data can be used to assess performance, changing enrollment and composition, enrollment growth, and how schools and student demographics are related to the "school district community." Participants will learn how to effectively access, develop, integrate and use disparate, multi-sourced demographic and related data to improve school performance. You will use GIS software to more easily see how data can be interpreted for different types of geography. We will use GIS software as a medium to pull together and envision information. Who Should Attend Participants are from schools, school districts, education agencies, government, academia, associations, and K-12 stakeholder organizations. Participants include superintendents, associate superintendents, planners, information specialists, managers, analysts, statisticians, GIS specialists and others involved with school performance policy, data and analysis. There are no prerequisites for this session. Participants will receive a basic introduction to the use of mapping and geographic information system (GIS) tools. Bring Your Laptop Participants will receive resource materials in advance of the workshop. Load the software and data onto your laptop and preview the materials before the workshop. During the session you will use the applications on your own computer. Upon return to your office, you will have the original resources, plus those you develop during the session, for your continued use. We recommend a laptop using a the Windows XP operating system, 200 MB usable disc space, DVD reader, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, Microsoft Excel, and WiFi connectivity for Internet access. WiFi and Internet access capability are not required. You will find the session just as productive without using Internet. What You will Receive; How You Will Benefit • Understand how to use geodemographics with GIS tools to: - assess your K-12 school performance situation - assess trends in your area - identify patterns and alternative actions leading to school improvement • Learn about: - alternative performance measures and interpretation - methodologies to access & integrate key multi-sourced geographic & demographic data - how to apply tools, methods & data for trend & impact analysis - how to better interpret data & make compelling presentations - use of CommunityViewer GIS software - accessing and using local to national, relevant, demographics • Benefit from computer hands-on sessions • Guide to Analyzing & Improving K-12 School Performance • CommunityViewer User's Guide • Receive workshop map and demographic data files for your permanent use • Receive CommunityViewer GIS (CV1) software • Receive TLFGeocoder software Agenda 8:30 – 9:00 Registration 9:00 – 10:15 Morning Session GeoDemographics, GIS, and K-12 School Performance -- Overview Roadmap to this Session Resources used in this Session (provided to participants in advance) - DVDs with Required Software and Data Files - Guide to Analyzing & Improving K-12 School Performance - CommunityViewer User's Guide Overview of Projects Used in this Sessions Which Data and How They Come Together: Role in GIS Applications Assessment GIS Project - focused on geography and data associated with state of workshop location Using CommunityViewer -- Hands-On Operations Role and Use of CommunityViewer Starting CV and Opening the Assessment Project Subject Matter Data Sources and Access Basic Infrastructure: Students, Schools, and School Districts "CCD-like data" Geocoded student data Test Outcomes and Performance Measures Test Outcomes Data & Performance Indices Graduation Rates Adequate Yearly Progress & AYP Status Measures State and Federal Improvement Status AP, SAT, ACT Data Other Measures Locating and Extracting Assessment & Accountability Data School District Community Demographics Census 2000 School District Demographic Profiles Sub-School District Demographics Attendance Areas, Blocks, Block Groups, Census Tracts Demographic Updates and Projections Geographic Updates 10:15 – 10:30 Break Computing and Integrating Challenge Factor Measures Role of Challenge Factors Computing Challenge Factors; Recommended Subject Matter Integrating Challenge Factor Estimates Geocoding Student Data; Using Geocoded Student Data (hands-on session) Address-related data: development and structure Streets base file for address matching Address matching and geocoding process Viewing Attributes of Student Data for Decision Making Summarizing (aggregating) student point data to attendance areas and district level Integrating Your Data Organizing Your Data: Geocodes and File Structure Geocoded Data Merging Your Data into Shapefile DBFs 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch Break 1:00 – 3:00 Afternoon Session Subject Matter Data Sources and Access -- Using the Data (hands-on project) How to Present and Understand these Data in a GIS Context Viewing and Using Thematic Maps Making Different Map Views Putting Map Views into Presentation Form Viewing Data in Tabular Form/Excel Files Performing Ranking and What-if Operations Interpretation and Drawing Conclusions from Analyses Which Analytical Maps and How to Interpret Them How to Interpret Trends Suggested Methods to Examine Data in Spreadsheet Form Drill Down: School/Classroom/Grade/Curriculum Strategies for Implementing Change Focus on Teacher/Classroom/Grade 3:15 - 5:00 Afternoon Session Developing a Planning Framework for Sustainable School Improvement Preparing an Overview: Applying Methods & Tools from this Session Role of Assumptions Summary of Trends Summary of Current Situation Summary of Alternative Future Improvement Actions Summary of Future Anticipated Performance Outcomes (under alternative scenarios) Making Compelling Presentations 5:00 Adjourn [goto top] |
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