In a captivating conversation, Eric Heilman, the executive director of CIRIS, explored the fascinating realm of institutional research (IR) within independent schools alongside the ATLIS co-hosts. The central focus of the discussion was data culture and its pivotal role in shaping decision-making processes within educational institutions.

After sharing his backstory, Eric emphasized the critical importance of cultivating a data-driven culture within schools. He highlighted that the long-term success of an IR program is often more profoundly influenced by the school's prevailing culture than the technical expertise of the person spearheading it.

During the conversation, the trio delved into an exciting new development—the imminent release (which is now available!) of a comprehensive guidebook designed to assist schools in launching their own institutional research programs. The guidebook covers a wide array of topics, including data strategy, data governance, and the intricate technical aspects of data analysis. Notably, the discussion touched upon the burgeoning influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in data analysis, particularly in the realm of automating the qualitative coding of open-ended survey responses.

Data silos, a pervasive challenge in educational institutions, also came under scrutiny. The participants stressed the importance of breaking down these data silos and fostering collaboration through the establishment of data strategy committees.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives were a hot topic during the conversation. Schools are increasingly focusing on tracking relevant data to inform their efforts in these areas, but they are also recognizing the need to protect sensitive data and maintain privacy.

The conversation took an intriguing turn as the participants discussed how schools decide which questions to explore through their IR programs. They highlighted the necessity of involving the entire school community in the decision-making process to foster a constructive data culture.

In the end, the podcast left listeners with a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of institutional research and the pivotal role it plays in shaping the future of education.

Resources mentioned on the show

• Data-Informed Decision Making: A Guide to Institutional Research in Independent Schools https://ciris.maret.org/ciris-resources/community-resources/ciris-guide
• https://www.maret.org/about-us/institutional-research
• Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-heilman-8aa196163/
• Center for Institutional Research in Independent Schools (CIRIS) https://ciris.maret.org/
• Boomer the dog on Instagram (Eric’s dog) @boomer.tha.berner https://www.instagram.com/boomer_the_berner/

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