Search results for "tests" ...

• Using Testing in Your Stories

  The authors of this tipsheet bring to light the potentially strong impact that testing can bring to an investigative story. Some of the information found in this tipsheet includes ways to determine what to test and how to test it, how to choose a testing device, how to keep costs low and suggestions on sample size.

  Tags: California Watch; Consumer Reports; consumer-focused; science; samples; lead; lab; testing; tests

  By Ellen Gabler; Joanna Lin; Andrea Rock

  2011

• Downloading the Data on Teachers

  "Crunching teacher performance data is one of the hottest -- and most controversial -- areas in education reporting right now." Felch offers helpful tips on how to utilize that data to find out who's cheating who.

  Tags: test scores; teachers; elementary education; teacher performance

  By Jason Felch

  2011

• Schools Data with Tableau Public

  Let Tableau help you create and publish new data visualizations from the schools your are investigating.

  Tags: test scores; Tableau Public; data mining

  By Ross Perez and Ellie Fields

  2011

• The Education Beat: Don't Let Anyone Tell You It's Lame

  Alpert discusses the potential of covering the education beat, noting it's a data-rich subject. She highlights possible stories to cover with plenty of examples of excellent work that has been done. She discusses the unique questions to explore when covering charter schools.

  Tags: education; data; teacher pay; charter schools; attendance; teacher turnover; testing; special education; local school districts; state board of education

  By Emily Alpert

  2010

• Best Practices in Software Engineering

  Boyer discusses "best practices" when developing software that will be both sustainable and useful over the long-term. Topics addressed - as well as tools to help tackle them - include: version control, task tracking, defect tracking, staging environments, load testing, push-button deployment, web frameworks and agility, and testing.

  Tags: programming; ruby; django; program development; Git; Mercurial; Unfuddle; GitHub; pgpool; Fabric; Capistrano; web frameworks; Ruby on Rails

  By Brian Boyer

  2010

• Turning schools data into scoops

  Vogell explains the value of school data as a rich source for stories on education. She explains where and how to start with your reporting. She discusses out what to look at when evaluating test scores and student achievement; discipline and school safety; teaching and certification; various other valuable data.

  Tags: education; testing; standardized test scores; National Board Certification; NBCL; schools; No Child Left Behind; students; school data; student achievement; grade inflation; college remediation; discipline; school safety

  By Heather Vogell

  2009

• Scouring syllabi: Basic ways to check if colleges and universities are teaching

  Gabrielson outlines basic ways to check if colleges and universities are teaching. Tips include looking at graduation rates; evaluating testing results; and investigating the curriculum.

  Tags: education; curriculum; testing; matriculation; graduation rates; drop out rates;

  By Ryan Gabrielson

  2009

• Consumer Investiagtions for Tough Times

  This incredibly extensive tipsheet is a must-have guide to consumer investigations during the economic downturn. From quick-hits to long-form investigations, they've included it here. The tipsheet goes on to detail other information on doing your investigation - from parsing out tips to details on testing. The last several pages are a list of resources (websites and phone lists) for covering the consumer beat.

  Tags: consumer investigation; better business bureau; debt consolidation; subprime mortgage scams; contractors; lottery; foreclosure; unemployment; credit counseling; consumer affairs

  By n/a

  2009

• Paper and Databse Trails

  Hall discusses the information that an investigative reporter can gather from various data sources including documents and databases. The tipsheet provides a list of documents/records and what sort of information you can anticipate finding with each given example

  Tags: documents; FOI; databases; audits; payroll documents; police reports; correspondence; reports; annual budgets; overtime; purchasing records; contracts; campaign finance reports; test scores; tax-exempt organizations; inspection reports

  By Dee J. Hall

  2009

• Following the Money: From Grade School through College

  This tipsheet discusses how to track education funding from grade school through higher education. The data sources used for example are the Illinois State Board of Education and Property Tax Revenue from the Illinois Department of Revenue. Lowenstein advises on where to look for education funding: local property taxes; commercial and industrial property taxes; local and federal governments; test scores by region; other supplemental income for schools

  Tags: education; taxes; property taxes; department of revenue; education funding; testing; test scores

  By Jeff Kelly Lowenstein

  2009