In today’s world, educational institutions are generating more data than ever before. From student attendance and grades to financial data and employee records, schools are awash in data that can be leveraged to improve operations and student outcomes. However, turning this data into actionable insights requires the right tools and expertise. In this article, we’ll discuss a guide to business intelligence and data analytics to build a data-driven school.

Our Guide to Building a Data-Driven School

  1. Establish a Data Strategy
    Before you can start using data analytics to improve your school, you need to establish a clear data strategy. This should include a clear understanding of your school’s data needs, goals, and objectives. You should also define the key performance indicators (KPIs) that you want to measure and track.
  2. Choose the Right Tools
    Once you’ve established your data strategy, you need to choose the right tools to turn your data into actionable insights. This may include business intelligence (BI) tools, data analytics platforms, and data visualisation tools. Look for tools that are user-friendly and provide the insights you need to make data-driven decisions. Our pick of the lot here is Domo.
  3. Build a Data Warehouse
    To ensure that you have access to reliable and consistent data, it’s important to build a data warehouse. This is a central repository that consolidates data from multiple sources, making it easier to analyse and use. A well-designed data warehouse can help you get a 360-degree view of your school’s operations and identify opportunities for improvement. Again, business intelligence tools like Domo can be a massive help here.
  4. Develop Key Dashboards and Reports
    To make data-driven decisions, you need to be able to access the data you need quickly and easily. Key dashboards and reports can help you do this. These visualisations should provide you with the KPIs that you’ve defined in your data strategy, allowing you to monitor progress towards your goals and identify areas for improvement.
  5. Hire or Train Staff with Data Analytics Expertise
    To make the most of your data, you need staff with data analytics expertise. This may include data analysts, business intelligence specialists, and data scientists. If you don’t have staff with this expertise, you may need to hire or train staff to fill these roles.
  6. Establish Data Governance Policies
    Finally, it’s important to establish data governance policies that ensure data accuracy, privacy, and security. This includes policies around data collection, storage, access, and use. Data governance policies can help ensure that your school’s data is used ethically and responsibly.

Conclusion

Building a data-driven school requires a clear data strategy, the right tools, a well-designed data warehouse, key dashboards and reports, staff with data analytics expertise, and data governance policies. By following this guide to business intelligence and data analytics, you can turn your school’s data into actionable insights that drive improvements in operations and student outcomes.