Foundation Of Information Systems: Understanding Facts, data, and information in education

FOUNDATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS: UNDERSTANDING FACTS, DATA, AND INFORMATION IN EDUCATION

SarahZakiyah Postgraduate Student at UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

The fundamental insight into information systems includes an essential understanding of facts, data, and information, which are interrelated in forming knowledge. These three concepts serve as the foundation for managing information that is accurate, relevant, and useful, particularly in supporting the improvement of educational quality. In the digital era, many schools still face challenges such as manual recording, scattered data, and inaccurate information. This condition affects decision-making, which often becomes less effective. Therefore, understanding the relationship between facts, data, information, and their quality is crucial to developing an educational information system that is effective, efficient, and accountable.

Basic Concept of Facts

Facts are objective realities that can be verified through observation and empirical evidence. In science, facts are the main foundation for generating concepts, principles, laws, and theories. Scientific facts include phenomena that can be directly observed, such as water boiling at a certain temperature or gravity pulling objects downward. Facts differ from opinions because they have a basis in proof. In education, facts may consist of the number of students, attendance levels, or examination results. Facts collected systematically serve as essential raw materials before being processed into structured data to support the management of educational processes.

Basic Concept of Data

Data are representations of facts recorded in certain forms, whether numbers, text, images, sounds, or symbols. Data remain raw and meaningless until processed further. In the context of education, data may include students' exam scores, school financial reports, inventory of facilities, or participation rates in activities. The quality of data determines the validity of the information produced. Incomplete, biased, or inaccurate data can lead to misleading decisions. Therefore, managing data that are valid, reliable, and accurate becomes a critical requirement for establishing a trustworthy educational information system.

Basic Concept of Information

Information is the result of processing data into forms that are meaningful and useful for users. Information not only presents collections of facts but also provides a comprehensive picture of a phenomenon that supports decision-making. In education, information may include reports on students' academic progress, teacher performance evaluations, and school financial analyses. High-quality information must be accurate, relevant, complete, and delivered in a timely manner. Without good information, educational managers will face difficulties in formulating policies that meet real needs. Thus, information stands as a central pillar in realizing effective and efficient educational governance.

Scope of Information Quality

The quality of information determines its value and effectiveness in supporting decision-making. Key factors that shape information quality include accuracy, completeness, relevance, and timeliness. High-quality information can enhance knowledge, reduce uncertainty, and minimize risks in policy-making. In educational practice, accurate academic reports may serve as the basis for improving learning quality, while clear financial information supports transparent resource management. For information to be useful, it should also be presented concisely, clearly, and in an easily understood form. Therefore, managing information quality plays a vital role in building a credible educational information system.

Facts, data, and information are three interrelated components in constructing an information system. Facts represent the observed reality, data function as structured representations of those facts, and information is the meaningful output derived from data processing. The quality of information determines how far the outcomes can effectively support accurate decision-making. In the field of education, a deep understanding of these three concepts enables schools to manage information with accuracy, relevance, and usefulness. Hence, educational information systems can serve as strategic instruments to enhance educational management and services on a sustainable basis.

This paper is a review of Part 1: Basic Insight into Information Systems from the teaching material of the Management Information Systems course, taught by Prof. Dr. H. A. Rusdiana, M.M.