ERIC Number: ED269892
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1985-Mar-30
Pages: 86
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Selection Criteria for Integrated Computer Based School Information Management Systems (SIMS). Final Report.
Wright, P.; Wernik, I.
This report presents an evaluation instrument through which school districts and schools can identify and select computer-based school information management systems (SIMS) suited to their needs. These selection criteria were identified through a survey questionnaire and interviews at 18 representative schools in the Edmonton (Alberta) Public School District. As a result of analysis of these data, a three-level evaluation process has been devised, with progressively more detailed selection criteria. Level 1 defines the four basic functions of SIMS: school records, scheduling, student attendance, and grade processing. It also covers basic criteria such as cost, reliability of vendor, hardware capacity, and ease of use. The Level 2 selection criteria are more detailed, and are used to determine whether a system meets the needs of a particular school. Level 3 evaluation, aimed at the few systems that are finalists in the selection process, involves functional and performance testing of all system modules in a real life environment. Evaluation at Level 3 is a two-phase process: first, each system is evaluated against the most detailed criteria, and second, the outcomes of individual product evaluations are summarized and compiled for comparison and final selection. Accordingly, two separate instruments are included: the SIMS Selection Criteria Level 3 working form, and the Comparison Summary and Review Form. Appended are the questionnaire and interview forms used to gather the information from which these criteria were derived, and a detailed scoring comparison form. (TE)
Descriptors: Computer Managed Instruction, Computer Software, Data Processing, Databases, Elementary Secondary Education, Evaluation Criteria, Evaluation Methods, Evaluation Utilization, Foreign Countries, Information Needs, Information Processing, Information Retrieval, Management Information Systems, Microcomputers, School Administration, Word Processing
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Administrators; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: Edmonton Public Schools (Alberta).
Authoring Institution: Alberta Dept. of Education, Edmonton.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A