CohortTracker™ is an early warning web application that allows schools to monitor students' progress towards graduation. Educators can identify students getting off track and intervene before it is too late. The app is designed to be a general-purpose student achievement tracking system … [Read more...]
Prism delivers Budget Playground iPad® app to Cornell
08/09/2011 By
Prism recently delivered an iPad® app to Cornell University’s New York State Center for Rural Schools. Budget Playground allows school districts to create multi-year budget scenarios. They can then modify those scenarios in real-time to help boards of education agree to budgets that will be … [Read more...]
Prism now a certified Apple® developer
08/05/2011 By
For immediate release: Binghamton, NY, August 5, 2011: Prism Decision Systems, LLC is now a certified Apple® developer, part of a dynamic and diverse community innovating with Apple technologies, including the iPhone® and iPad®. “There have been more than 15 billion apps … [Read more...]
School planning in the era of Race to the Top
08/03/2011 By
Race to the Top (RTTT) has arrived in full force. School districts across the country are already feeling its impact. In New York State, RTTT is driving the Board of Regents reform agenda focusing on three areas: Common core standards Data driven instruction including school-based inquiry … [Read more...]
How to: Completing a tradeoff analysis
07/08/2011 By
You Are What You Decide asked: “So, how do you decide? Based on your gut intuition, a formal analysis of trade-offs, your core beliefs, multiple criteria, the alignment to your vision for a preferred future? Or something else?” There are many approaches to completing a formal analysis of … [Read more...]
Reducing Dropout Rates & Increasing Graduation Rates: a Case Study
06/20/2011 By
The New York State Education Department has released updated high school graduation rate data. According to the press release, "New York’s overall graduation rate continues to rise slowly over time...Statewide, 73.4% of the students who started 9th grade in 2006 had graduated after 4 years, by … [Read more...]
Readings: Creativity & Problem Solving
06/13/2011 By
Frequently, I am asked to recommend the best books on creativity and problem solving. Below are three that I consider "must read": DeBono, Edward. Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step-by-Step. New York: Harper & Row, 1970. Edward DeBono is a giant among creativity experts and this, his best … [Read more...]
Top Ten Rules for Raising Kids
05/25/2011 By
At first blush, this may seem an aberrant post to this blog, but it is not. You Are What You Decide asked: "So, how do you decide? Based on your gut intuition, a formal analysis of trade-offs, your core beliefs, multiple criteria, the alignment to your vision for a preferred future? Or something … [Read more...]
How to: Multi-criteria Analysis – Part 3
05/19/2011 By
A multi-criteria analysis is a formal decision process you might use when making a weighty decision. This is the final of a three-part post that walks you through the process, step-by-step. Part 1: Step 1: Complete your research Step 2: Generate and weight criteria (i.e., define your … [Read more...]
Smile for Your Well-being, Marriage and Long Life!
05/16/2011 By
Did you know that how you smile can predict Your well-being? How fulfilling and long-lasting your marriage will be? Your ability to inspire others? How long you will live? View Ron Gutman's entertaining Ted Talk, reviewing research on the positive effects of smiling. … [Read more...]