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PSS adopts web-based tech for students, teachers data
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Posted on Nov 08 2006
The Public School System now has a web-based technology for reporting of student information and teacher data, called Pacific Education Data Management System Web Database.
PSS actually began using the new system since school year 2003-2004 but it only started using the Web database last year, according to Education Commissioner David M. Borja.
Borja flew this week to Washington for a national conference sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. He said part of the reports needed in the conference include an update of the system being used for student data entry and the teacher reporting system.
Borja endorsed the PEDMS and its use for state annual reporting of the SAT 10, Standard Based Assessment, PSS Report Card and the NCES Report.
“The PEDMS system is the only software tool that manipulates, as well as generates the results of the SBA Assessment Student Achievement data,” said Borja.
The system is still being improved, he said, as school personnel involved in the data entry for the PEDMS Web Database are learning the MySQL database software and its Structured Query Language.
“This process is a struggle for some of the school personnel,” he conceded, as there are “problematic” errors and glitches being discovered by school personnel, requiring the PSS Central Office PEDMS data personnel and programmer to rectify these errors.
Borja said the major setback at this time is the entry of data to the PEDMS Web Database. PSS internal reports told Borja that the elementary schools are doing fine compared to secondary schools. Files from the elementary to the junior high, or from the junior high to high school still need to be re-entered as these do not easily merge into the existing school database.
PSS elementary schools use the PEDMS while secondary schools also use off-the-shelf software that assist them with class scheduling and multiple attendance tracking of students.
“The system is not fully trouble-free nor is it complete with all the required data fields. Data fields identified as needed are provided to our programmer to add to the PEDMS system,” reads part of the reports forwarded to Borja.
