In education, data includes student identities, exam scores, teacher workloads, facility conditions, and financial reports. Accurate and complete data support the creation of managerial decisions based on evidence (evidence-based decision making).
The essence of data is the representation of facts prepared for processing. Data occupies a strategic position as the bridge between facts and information. Without valid and complete data, information cannot be accurately generated.
3. Basic Concept of Information
Information is the result of data processing that provides meaning, knowledge, and understanding to its recipient. While data remains raw, information carries relevance and usefulness. Information functions to reduce uncertainty and to support decision-making.
For example, a list of student scores per subject is data. However, when that data is processed into class averages, pass rates, or student rankings, the result becomes information. Good information must be relevant, accurate, timely, complete, and easy to understand.
In the context of education, information plays a vital role:
- Parents need information about their child's development.
- Teachers need evaluation information to design effective learning.
- Principals require information to manage human resources.
- Education offices and government agencies need information to design educational policies.
The essence of information is data that has been processed into meaningful, useful, and reliable content for decision-making. Information is not just a collection of data, but data that is contextualized and transformed into insights that reduce ambiguity and improve action.
4. Scope of Information Quality
Not all information is automatically of high quality. Information only has value if it meets certain standards. The quality of information is determined by how well it fulfills the user's needs in a given context.
The scope of information quality includes:
- Accuracy -- Information must be correct, free from errors, and verifiable. Inaccurate data will lead to poor decisions.
- Relevance -- Information must suit the user's needs. Complete but irrelevant data only creates confusion.
- Timeliness -- Information must be available when required. Delayed information loses its usefulness.
- Completeness -- Information must cover all essential aspects. Partial information results in incomplete decisions.
- Consistency -- Information should not contradict other information within the same system.
- Clarity and Accessibility -- Information should be easy to interpret, often requiring simple presentation formats such as tables, charts, or summaries.
In education, information quality is crucial for effective management. For instance:
- Financial reports must be accurate and transparent.
- Attendance records must be complete and consistent for proper evaluation.
- Test results must be delivered promptly so that teachers can plan remedial programs.
