Step 1: Take a before picture & list your dealbreakers
We get it. When you’re ready to move on, the last thing you want to do is look around your outgrown edtech, including student information systems (SIS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions and take stock. But before you ride off into a glorious new dawn of edtech excellence, take one last snapshot of the data you’re growing from. This will serve as a benchmark down the road.
When is it time for a new SIS? Here’s how you can decide. And in case the move feels too daunting to be worthwhile, consider the value of momentum. Watch how to identify which data you’ll need and which you’ll look forward to in your new solution.
Step 2: Gather the data you need to choose your new solution
If only there were stats to guide you to the best of the best in SIS and ERP systems. The good news is, that data exists, and you can ask for it! You’ll learn how in the video below. While you’re on the move, dive into this explainer that will detail all the checks and balances you can expect to encounter as you transfer precious data from one system to a grand new adventure.
Step 3: Set goals
Determine what success looks like. This will be dramatically different for every district, since each district is unique in its definition of success. These goals create a road map to follow. Natural milestones may emerge along the way, breaking success into multiple manageable steps.
Step 4: Gather feedback & measure progress
Which is more important: data or feelings? Trick question, the answer is both! Data gives us the facts of the situation: what people are using in your new edtech solution, the growth teachers are inspiring in their students, each dollar and cent, you get the picture. Feelings (we in the UX biz like to call it “feedback”) let you know whether your teams are committed to mastering an edtech investment or phoning it in. Users’ thoughts matter! Ask your users what they think, and let your vendor partner know too. It takes courage to evaluate an edtech investment, but there’s no better way to ensure you’re making the right move—for users and the budget.
Step 5: Use data to share the full picture of investment & progress
What good is all this data if no one can see it?! Creating data visualizations may take a little more labor (well—with a top-notch SIS or ERP, data visualization may be built right in!) but it’s worth it to tell a compelling story to stakeholders in and outside the school district. Your community can understand much more with a picture that offers instant insight than spreadsheets full of dense data. Do the homework for them and gain their support for your outstanding edtech vision.
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Erin Werra Blogger, Researcher, and Edvocate |
Erin Werra is a content writer and strategist at Skyward’s Advancing K12 blog. Her writing about K12 edtech, data, security, social-emotional learning, and leadership has appeared in THE Journal, District Administration, eSchool News, and more. She enjoys puzzling over details to make K12 edtech info accessible for all. Outside of edtech, she’s waxing poetic about motherhood, personality traits, and self-growth.
