Data Mining

Log in from www.Indistar.org I’d like to explore with you Indistar’s Data Mining feature available to SEA teams. First, I hope you have bookmarked “www.indistar.org” for easy access to the Indistar homepage screen. So, lets start at the beginning-double click on the blue login box in the center of the homepage. Doing so takes you to the next screen shot.

Here you may enter as an SEA team member using your login and password and doing so takes you to the next screen.

Data Mining Look at the red arrow leading your eyes to the center of the screen-double click on the Data Mining link.

Data Mining 1 2 3 You have arrived at the Indistar Data Mining feature screen, and yes, there is a lot of information on this page. Basically, as a data miner, you want to know that you can find data sets for individual indicators at the state, district and school level. AND you can find data sets for Coaching Comment activity at the district and school levels. So, lets chunk or divide this screen into 3 sections. First find the red #1 - Here is where you will find the directions for accessing aggregated data for individual indicators. To view Assessment, Plan, and Monitoring Data: 1. Select Process Level (State, District, or School) and click "Show-Hide Indicators" tab 2. Select an Indicator from the list. 3. Select Date Range for filtering data (optional) 4. Select the information to view from Assessment, Planning, or Monitoring step and click "Submit" 5. Repeat these instructions for viewing data for other indicators. Next, find the red #2 – here appear the directions for view Coaching Comments at the district or school levels 1. Select Process Level (District or School) and click the "Show Districts-Schools for Coaching Comments" tab 2. Select a District/School from the list to view their Coaching Comments report. 3. Repeat these instructions for viewing coaching comments for other Districts/Schools. Finally, locate the red #3 – here you will see three radio buttons – state, district, school – remember, as a data miner you may mine for aggregated indicator information at the state, district and school level, however, for Coaching comments you may mine at the district and school levels only. So, of what value may this type of report offer an SEA team? If I were to ask you to think about instances when you might, as an SEA user, mine for this sort of data, I am hoping that one scenario which comes to mind is to use this type of information on how best to plan for statewide TA needs, resources and professional development. For example, if your mining uncovers or exposes a disconnect between users choosing “Full Implementation” during the assessment step for particular indicators and then you detect a lack of full implementation evidence in the monitoring step, that may inspire your SEA team to develop a guidance doc that can be posted as a resource listing what the SEA considers sufficient evidence for full implementation. Another example that comes to mind is perhaps your data mining expedition may reveal an uptick in the number and quality of coaching comments which may indicate that the Coaching Comment training the SEA developed and delivered is working!