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Is there such a thing as too much data?

This blog offers biographical information: Bill joined The News in 1991, after spending 12 years in the wilds of Washington, D.C. The University of Texas grad worked there for 1980 presidential candidate John Anderson and then edited the Ripon Forum.

FYI: Here is the mission of the Ripon Society:




The Ripon Society Mission

We believe the Republican appeal is rooted in the Party’s own rich history and current strengths. As Republicans, we must prove to the American people that our party is a flexible instrument for the governing of this great nation and for the realization of dignity at home and around the world.

The Ripon Society is a Republican public policy advocacy organization representing all Americans through moderate, progressive policy formation that uphold traditional common sense Republican principles of:



Limited but effective government;




A free enterprise based economy;




A strong, well-maintained, national defense;




Social tolerance;




Conservation of natural resources.




Go to the url below and you can read teacher comments on this issue.

by William McKenzie, Editorial Columnist

Data, as we have been discussing here in previous entries, is part of the Next Big Thing in education. This piece from the conservative Manhattan Institute shows that the passion for using data to help teachers improve student learning stretches across the ideological spectrum. The author essentially praises Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for his emphasis on getting more real-time data into the classroom.

The most interesting data initiative I've read about lately comes from Denver. While in vacation in Colorado earlier this month, I read a Denver Post story about how Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper wants a big-time data system that will allow schools to tap into all sorts of information about students. He believes the comprehensive data, which also would come from non-school organizations, will better help teachers understand their students' needs.

Now, obviously, there are major privacy issues that first need working out. If they can't, the brakes need applying.

Also, Denver's mayor doesn't run the schools, so he can't make this happen on its own. But, interestingly, Denver's public school administration is open to the idea. I talked to a spokesman for the district yesterday who confirmed that their view is that the devil is in the details.

Understood. But I'm intrigued. I'd like to see Denver work out the kinks and see if this approach can work. It could be something other districts, including our own, could use to their benefit. As the Manhattan Institute author says, New York sure used data to good effect to help control crime. Maybe it can be used in new ways to improve schools.

How about you? What do you think about this idea? Is it too much data for schools to have?


— William McKenzie
Dallas Morning News
2009-07-21
http://educationfrontblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/07/is-there-such-a-thing-as-too-m.html

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