Overview of the PCG-CRM’s Data Integration Services

With the increasing emphasis on student outcomes, the need to link data from disparate sources is growing. PCG-CRM provides a unique approach for small and medium districts that enables them to begin engaging in meaningful data analysis immediately without the cost of a full-scale data warehouse implementation.

The key components of PCG-CRM's Data Integration Services are 1) a powerful relational database application, 2) a customized Data Access Portal that provides direct and easy access to a wide range of data reports, and 3) EDanalyzer, a powerful ad-hoc analysis tool. This combination provides maximum flexibility for meeting districts' data needs, user skill levels, security requirements, and quality assurance requirements. PCG-CRM's Data Integration Services are grounded in our Overall Data Use Framework.

Relational Database Software

Our Data Integration Service makes use of a relational database software with a unique architecture and table structure that can accommodate any number and type of data elements without additional programming. Setting up a new data element takes a matter of minutes, and data on that element can be imported immediately and used in analyses. All data element types are accommodated: flag, single, multi, numeric, and group. All data element names are user defined and can therefore be customized to the school or district's individual needs.

Data on schools, teachers, and other "non-student" factors are all linked to individual students, which allows all data and all combinations of data to be linked to student outcomes, and allows all data on student outcomes to be disaggregated by all other factors. This feature is also important for performing longitudinal analyses on specific cohorts of students.

The system can import data in multiple file formats (ASCII, XLS, DBF, CSV, etc.). Data can also be exported in multiple formats for use in other applications. A key feature of Data Integration Services is the availability of a single “flat” extract file that end users (with appropriate security permissions) can work with. This extract provides access to the longitudinal student level data for ultimate flexibility.

Data Integration Services can generate reports at any level: student, teacher, school, program, national, etc. Data reports display disaggregated information that show "many-to-many-to-one" relationships among an unlimited number of data elements. These reports make it easy to spot relationships that require more in-depth analysis.

Data Access Portal

Users can access all data reports without having to learn how to generate complex queries in the relational database software. This feature provides optimal user-friendliness as well as a higher level of data integrity.

Access to key information is literally one click away for all users, making data use more of the focus than the process of generating reports.

The Data Integration Services Data Access Portal is a fully developed online collaborative environment where users can:

• Share documents
• Access educational resources
• Communicate with Subject Matter Experts
• Communicate with technical support
• Interact with other users in the data community
• Manage the lifecycle of their data use implementation plans

Ad-Hoc Analysis Tool (EDanalyzer)

EDanalyzer is an intuitive, easy-to-use analytic tool that enables meaningful data analysis by educators without the need for extensive technical training. The power of EDanalyzer is controlled and contextualized within an educational context, thus eliminating the possibility of erroneous reports being generated. EDanalyzer uses live data, meaning the results are always as current as the most recent data loaded into the system. EDanalyzer has built-in analytical components so that educators can produce charts and graphs by simply pointing and clicking. Data sets can be filtered, sorted, and disaggregated with the click of the mouse. Educators can quickly switch between big-picture aggregate views of data to detailed, granular views, such as student profiles. EDanalyzer frees educators to make meaning of data rather than spending valuable time processing and manipulating data.

EDanalyzer allows educators to:

• Easily plot and graph assessment results for multiple years to find gains in student performance
• Disaggregate performance across common student and program characteristics to identify factors associated with variations in student performance
• Compare performance across different types of measures
• Quickly obtain basic statistics such as mean, maximum, and minimum for a given measure
• View a student's complete performance history in a student profile
• Find correlations between performance on multiple measures to help identify predictors of success.