Data interoperability has been identified as an area of primary concern for leaders across the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools – in districts small and large, rural and urban, and everywhere in between.
David Miyashiro and Jonathon Guertin of Cajon Valley Union School District, two leaders heavily featured in our recent case study that dug into the pain points in advancing data interoperability in districts across the country, hosted our most recent #DPLIS Twitter chat on this very topic.
Tonight’s #DPLIS chat w/ @davidmiyashiro and @jonguertin of @CajonValleyUSD will focus on data #interoperability. Their work is featured in our new data interoperability case study, which you can explore here: https://t.co/E9Ja9ZZNqw
— Digital Promise (@DigitalPromise) May 31, 2018
Participants began by talking about their definition of data interoperability in their context.
Q2: @DigitalPromise defines data interoperability as the seamless, secure, and controlled exchange of data between applications. What does data interoperability mean to you and your district? #DPLIS
— david miyashiro (@davidmiyashiro) May 31, 2018
A2 In Mineola Data Interoperability is getting disparate system the ability to talk to each other. #DPLIS
— Michael Nagler (@NaglersNotions) May 31, 2018
A2: For us the lack of data interoperability we currently have makes using digital tools more laborious. It also makes advocating for and monitoring student success more difficult. #DPLIS https://t.co/su90uW197o
— Mrs. Smith (@MrsSmithNGSD) May 31, 2018
We would love to be able to access the variety of student data in a single place! I know that if it is possible, you will find a way to make it happen for us! #DPLIS
— Shelly Smith (@S_Smith_1st) May 31, 2018
A2: Interoperability is being able pass data to and receive data from venors/applications in standardized formats that allow for informative analysis. #DPLIS
— Andrew Peterman 💻 (@apeterman1) May 31, 2018
A2: At @bwrsd we have signed the @projunicorn pledge and have started to evaluate our existing vendors using their data interoperability rubric: https://t.co/g7bbPNqEg1 #DPLIS
— Tom Driscoll (@Mr_Driscoll) May 31, 2018
A2:For someone who does not understand that inner works of servers/networks, Data interoperability has been a symbolic battle to find coherence among many competing forces.If we can speak the same language & share information, our educators can make magic for our students. #dplis
— Mario J. Andrade (@mariojandrade) May 31, 2018
They then spoke to the challenges they were addressing in their districts in advancing single sign-on.
Q3: Single Sign On (SSO) was a challenge for @CajonValleyUSD that we tackled this year. What is your district doing to help make logging into multiple systems easier? #DPLIS
— david miyashiro (@davidmiyashiro) May 31, 2018
A3- SSO for teachers is a little easier than SSO for kids, especially when using a variety of apps #DPLIS
— Michael Nagler (@NaglersNotions) May 31, 2018
Great insight from a teacher! #DPLIS https://t.co/isaoh1IGcB
— Digital Promise (@DigitalPromise) May 31, 2018
A3. Going to do a little sneak preview of our case study we'll share a link to at the end of this chat – SSO was a huge undertaking for @CajonValleyUSD! #dplis https://t.co/aTuC76f12v
— Melissa Gedney (@melissaged) May 31, 2018
A3 – SSO was identified by @bwrsd educators as a major need to streamline digital learning workflow. We explored one tool this year, but it actually made it more complicated in some settings (ex. K-2) so we're exploring new product for next year based on teacher feedback. #DPLIS
— Tom Driscoll (@Mr_Driscoll) May 31, 2018
Under all of this data undeniably lies a people challenge.
Q4: Staffing for advancing data interoperability looks different in different contexts. What does your data interoperability team look like? #DPLIS
— david miyashiro (@davidmiyashiro) May 31, 2018
Yes, we use UMRA and HelloID from @Tools4Ever. UMRA automatically provisions our accounts to all of our systems and HelloID is our SSO portal. #DPLIS
— Jon Guertin (@jonguertin) May 31, 2018
A4- In house (small district) 2 people. If we add vendor support- many more. #DPLIS
— Michael Nagler (@NaglersNotions) May 31, 2018
A4: We have two dedicated DBA/programmers and every now and then they'll let me nerd out with them! #DPLIS
— Jon Guertin (@jonguertin) May 31, 2018
Q4: #DPLIS . #BWRSD has its own @BWITDreamTeam pic.twitter.com/NnI7rKocSb
— Mario J. Andrade (@mariojandrade) May 31, 2018
A4: Leveraging external networks (like this one…) should also be considered a part of any district's data interoperability team. This is complicated work and we need to leverage the collective expertise that is our there. #DPLIS @ri_iste
— Tom Driscoll (@Mr_Driscoll) May 31, 2018
A4: The Fantastic 6 – MIS Coord, 4 DBAs & SIS Manager #DPLIS
— Andrew Peterman 💻 (@apeterman1) May 31, 2018
A4. We've seen different formulas in different districts. @megan_cicconi for example (ED of Instructional and Innovative Leadership) is a spokesperson Fox Chapel, and wears many other hats. For larger districts, there's CTOs & more dedicated personnel. it really depends. #DPLIS
— Melissa Gedney (@melissaged) May 31, 2018
And, security of data transfer is paramount to any conversation on data.
Q5: Secure data transfer is a pain point in a world without data standards. What are you doing to allow for secure data transfer in your context? #DPLIS
— david miyashiro (@davidmiyashiro) May 31, 2018
A5- We have a standard contract (legal) with each vendor that outlines our expectations and standards. Organizing the different data sets has been more of a pain point #DPLIS
— Michael Nagler (@NaglersNotions) May 31, 2018
A5: Insuring contract language clearly spells out expectations and consequences as well as clearly defining the data to be transferred and the methods by which it will transport. No data moves without this in place. #DPLIS
— Andrew Peterman 💻 (@apeterman1) May 31, 2018
A5: One step is that we are making sure to include discussion of data transfer / standards when negotiating new or renewed vendor contracts. #DPLIS
— Tom Driscoll (@Mr_Driscoll) May 31, 2018
Participants discussed what ideal data visualization would look like.
Q6: In an ideal world, what would you want data to look like for teachers? #DPLIS
— david miyashiro (@davidmiyashiro) May 31, 2018
A6- Data needs to inform instruction and help teachers personalize student work. It should also demonstrate whether there is a correlation between grades in class and data from other sources. #DPLIS
— Michael Nagler (@NaglersNotions) May 31, 2018
A6. Accessible. Easy to manipulate. Updated in real time. Private. Secure. Longitudinal. #DPLIS
— Melissa Gedney (@melissaged) May 31, 2018
Yes, being easily accessible and relevant to multiple stakeholders, especially families, is powerful. #DPLIS https://t.co/XNrFwZeiWt
— Tom Driscoll (@Mr_Driscoll) May 31, 2018
A6: Simple. Informative. Accessible. Relative. #DPLIS
— Andrew Peterman 💻 (@apeterman1) May 31, 2018
Portable too please =) #DPLIS
— david miyashiro (@davidmiyashiro) May 31, 2018
Identifies key areas and presents measures for the areas. Much like the medical field that can present the health of a person in one portal. This will prompt conversations with T’s and S’s to help personalize
— BWITDreamTeam (@BWITDreamTeam) May 31, 2018
Before departing, #DPLIS chat participants shared lessons learned to take away.
Q7: Is there a “lesson learned” from your district in advancing data interoperability that this community could learn from? #DPLIS
— david miyashiro (@davidmiyashiro) May 31, 2018
A7- Spend time designing what you want the data to look like and more importantly the relationship between and among the data sets. Of course- garbage in, garbage out #DPLIS
— Michael Nagler (@NaglersNotions) May 31, 2018
A7: For more on data interoperability, including resources and actions you can take today, visit here: https://t.co/zER6azuetv #DPLIS
— Digital Promise (@DigitalPromise) May 31, 2018
A7: Data interoperability is a key component to creating the conditions necessary for district's to advance deeper, personalized learning experiences for all of our students. It should be thought of on the same level (perhaps more so?) than device access and connectivity. #DPLIS
— Tom Driscoll (@Mr_Driscoll) May 31, 2018
A7: Know your own data. Know where you want to go and what you want out of the data. Be able to communicate expectations. Be flexible in order to reach an acceptable outcome. #DPLIS
— Andrew Peterman 💻 (@apeterman1) May 31, 2018
The monthly #DPLIS Twitter chat will return in August. If you want to learn more about data interoperability, visit our case study.