[sims] Ideas for automating analysis of SIMS assessment data in Excel

[Mike_Bostock]

I have looked at 4Matrix and hated it. Looked at SISRA and loved it but couldn't get financial backing, hence I have tried to become an Excel expert which I am finding is starting to limit me. Discover may well be the key but I've been told that won't be until Summer Holidays so nothing I can do for the rest of the term other than work longer hours.

 

I think etiquette here allows me to respond if our product is mentioned.

I don't mind people hating 4Matrix but I wouldn't like this to be the last word about it on these forums. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but actually 4Matrix will probably do everything and more that the original post asked for. Please look at the flip brochure at http://www.4matrix.org/exams to see what it will do on exam results day for the 250-ish schools that are already using 4Matrix. I hope that this link won't be censored because I think I am entitled to defend my product and this is the most efficient way to do so.

 

The other implicit criterion mentioned in the first few posts was cost. 4Matrix is intended as a high-value, low-cost product. It was developed as a school improvement tool rather than a data analysis package and intended for use by school leaders primarily, supported by a data manager. It supports an approach to reducing in-school variation that has lead to at least one school getting an Outstanding Ofsted report recently and attributing that to their use of 4Matrix. This particular school (Aston Academy) is the subject of an SSAT school event on 6th July where the head will be demonstrating how teachers use 4Matrix to raise standards and develop the QA role of leaders. Please go along if you can and judge for yourself the impact. Then judge the value of 4Matrix against its cost. Rationally, you can't really dislike that.

[dhicks]

4Matrix is intended as a high-value, low-cost product.

 

It sounds like just the tool my previous school needed - I'll be sure to pass on the URL. However, your website is a little vauge about pricing - as I imagine you update your application every year, do you price on a site-licensed subscription model?

[Mike_Bostock]

It sounds like just the tool my previous school needed - I'll be sure to pass on the URL. However, your website is a little vauge about pricing - as I imagine you update your application every year, do you price on a site-licensed subscription model?

 

Thanks for asking the question David.

Like most suppliers, we don't put prices on our website for similar reasons. We charge a low annual cost for any size school and any number of users. We offer discounts on three year licences. It is worth saying that 4Matrix is a sophisticated, easily-installable, networkable SQL-driven Microsoft application. It will automatically pull a wealth of data from SIMS using a built-in application written for us by TASC Software - a SIMS Premier Partner. It will also easily import data from CMIS etc. and you can copy and paste into it from Excel. Please contact me via the website if you would like to know more.

[ctaylor]

I think etiquette here allows me to respond if our product is mentioned.

I don't mind people hating 4Matrix but I wouldn't like this to be the last word about it on these forums. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but actually 4Matrix will probably do everything and more that the original post asked for. Please look at the flip brochure at http://www.4matrix.org/exams to see what it will do on exam results day for the 250-ish schools that are already using 4Matrix. I hope that this link won't be censored because I think I am entitled to defend my product and this is the most efficient way to do so.

 

The other implicit criterion mentioned in the first few posts was cost. 4Matrix is intended as a high-value, low-cost product. It was developed as a school improvement tool rather than a data analysis package and intended for use by school leaders primarily, supported by a data manager. It supports an approach to reducing in-school variation that has lead to at least one school getting an Outstanding Ofsted report recently and attributing that to their use of 4Matrix. This particular school (Aston Academy) is the subject of an SSAT school event on 6th July where the head will be demonstrating how teachers use 4Matrix to raise standards and develop the QA role of leaders. Please go along if you can and judge for yourself the impact. Then judge the value of 4Matrix against its cost. Rationally, you can't really dislike that.

 

No offence intended here David - I didn't like the product but that doesn't mean to say others wouldn't. I'm looking for an alternative method I can use without having to pay a third party to do the work.

 

Thanks to everyone for your input on this.

[Mike_Bostock]

Thanks Charlotte. This is not a problem. To say 4Matrix is not for you is to acknowledge your assessment of it, and also the fact that it probably wasn't designed for what you have in mind.

With good wishes for finding an approach that works for you.

[chris_pound]

Did this ever get resolved?

 

Did SIMS Discover provide the solution?