While states, districts, and schools have long collected certain education data for accountability purposes, there is growing interest in leveraging data from digital learning tools, online services, educational apps, and other technologies. However, with all the data available to us through technology, school leaders and educators still lack the ability to easily transform that data to information to help guide decisions about instruction, school administration, and operations. Further, the systems we use to collect, manage, analyze, and report on that data are often disconnected and don’t work well together.
Key Questions
- Does the vendor follow appropriate standards-based data definitions such as those developed by Common Education Data Standards, IMS Global Learning Consortium, Learning Resource Metadata Initiative, P20 Electronic Standards Council or Schools Interoperability Framework Association? (These do not compete with each other; the standards they have created are intended for distinct purposes.)
- Does the software allow for sharing of information across applications by adhering to standards developed in these types of initiatives: Digital Passport, Ed-Fi Alliance, Experience API, MyData, or OpenBadges? (Again, these do not compete; they address specific types of data sharing.)
- Does the software enable the search, alignment and discovery of digital content through the use of initiatives such as Learning Registry or Learning Resource Metadata Initiative?
Facilitator Guide
The Faciliator Guide – Interoperability provides education leaders with the information and resources they need to conduct a professional learning session. Participants will:
- Understand interoperability needs
- Review national interoperability standards and tools
- Hear from exemplars on how to overcome challenges
- Interact with your peers to learn what tools they use
- Develop and maintain relationships with other district and state leaders