In today's digital era, information systems are no longer just a necessity for business organisations, but have also penetrated the world of education, government, and people's daily lives. Almost every human activity is related to information, whether it is when a teacher processes student grades, a student searches for learning references, or when people access public services online. However, we often lack a fundamental understanding of what information is, how it is formed, and what factors determine its quality. Understanding the basic concepts of information systems is important so that we become not only users, but also smart managers of information.
The concept of information systems starts with facts. Facts are objective realities that occur in the field. For example, a student scored 85 in Maths. This fact is then captured, recorded, or recorded so that it becomes data. Data is a symbolic representation of facts, whether in the form of numbers, text, images, or sounds. In this example, the number "85" recorded in the school's academic system is data. However, data alone is not necessarily meaningful. Data only turns into information when it has been processed, processed, or interpreted so that it gives meaning to its users. If the number 85 is processed together with the scores of other subjects and then compared with the Minimum Completion Criteria (KKM), then we can conclude whether the student has completed learning or not.
The transformation of facts into data and then into information is the essence of information systems. Information has a strategic role because it can be used to make decisions. However, not all information is suitable as a basis for decision making. This is where it is important to pay attention to the quality of information. Quality information must fulfil several indicators, namely:
- Accurate, information should be free from error, not misleading, and reflect the true condition.
- Relevant, the information must match the needs of the user. No matter how good the data collected, if it is not related to the problem at hand, it is of little value.
- Timely, information must be available when needed. Late information will lose its function in decision-making.
- Complete, information should cover the necessary aspects without leaving out important elements that may affect the conclusions.
In education, the quality of information is crucial. For example, a school that wants to improve the quality of learning must have accurate information on teacher attendance, student learning outcomes and the availability of infrastructure. If teacher attendance data is incomplete or reported late, the information obtained cannot be used as the basis for formulating school policies. Likewise, in decision-making at the education office level, relevant and timely information is key in designing programmes that suit the needs of schools.
In addition, the development of digital technology requires us to be more critical of the quality of information. A lot of information circulates widely on social media, but not all of it is accurate and relevant. This is where the importance of digital literacy - the ability to select, evaluate and utilise information wisely - comes in. Education has a strategic role to play in equipping students, teachers and communities to be able to distinguish between raw data, valid information and misleading opinions.
Thus, an understanding of facts, data, information and information quality is not just a theoretical concept, but a practical provision in modern life. When we are able to process data correctly and produce quality information, the decisions made will be more targeted. For education, this means improved learning quality, transparency in school management and better services to the community.
Conclusion
Information systems basically start from facts, processed into data, then transformed into information that has meaning. However, the value of information is determined by its quality: accurate, relevant, timely and complete. Understanding the basic insights of information systems helps us to be more critical, wise and professional in managing information. For the world of education, this understanding not only increases knowledge, but also becomes the foundation in realising transparent, accountable and quality-oriented education governance.
Author Profile
I am DEDI SUARNA, a Postgraduate student of Islamic Education Management at UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung who is committed to developing the quality of education through academic studies and professional practices. I am currently taking the Education Management Information System course supervised by Prof. Dr. H. A. Rusdian, MM.
