Transcript: Metric Definition Dictionary Tour

NARRATOR:

Welcome to DataVista, a website and metrics platform for information on California community colleges and adult education student success, created by the California Community College Chancellor's Office, in partnership with WestEd.

The online Metric Definition Dictionary, or MDD, offers comprehensive details about the metrics featured on DataVista dashboards, including definitions, data sources and elements, and calculations. This video showcases the MDD, its features and how to use it effectively. The MDD is accessible at two different levels. First, a main landing page that serves as a hub guiding users to their metrics of interest. And second, a deeper detail page level that provides in-depth information on each metric. There are a few ways to access both pages. To access the MDD landing page directly, click on dictionary from the main site navigation, or use the view dictionary link in any Data View's toolkit. To access an MDD detail page, click on a metric on the MDD landing page, or select a metric from the metric definitions provided in any Data View's toolkit or use the technical definition link.

Let's take a closer look at the MDD landing page, the central hub for all DataVista metrics. Metrics are listed in numeric order, each metric includes the three-digit metric number, a single alphanumeric character identifying the associated student group, and where, applicable, the subjourney code or codes in parentheses. Beneath each metric title you'll find a simplified description, followed by a tag identifying the student group associated with that metric. You can download tailored PDF exports to support your understanding. Click on download options to choose from three types of exports, a summary list, a detail list, or a detail plus background list. Summary list provides quick details about the metrics, including the metric's title, description, and subjourney ID. Detail list provides all the information in the summary list and additional information like data sources, metric notes, and calculations details. Detail and background provides all the information in the detail list, plus background information on the metric student group.

The MDD includes features to help you locate specific metrics. Use the search bar to locate individual metrics by keyword or ID number. Use the filters to search for groups of metrics based on specific criteria such as student group, metric type or category, report or subjourney code. All student groups are displayed by default. You can select all or one of four student groups, comprehensive snapshot, CAEP adult learners, general admit cohort students, and K12 special admit students. Each student group is represented by an alphabetic character, S, A, C, or D, which follows the metric's three-digit ID.

Select metric type category to filter by types of metrics such as programs, progress and success to name a few. Use the reports filter to pull metrics associated with a specific report. You can use the subjourney code filter to display metrics linked to a specific subjourney. Subjourney IDs provide details regarding students' timelines or classifications within a student group. Once you've selected your desired filters, they will be displayed as tags above the metric list. Select clear filters to remove your selections and view all data.

For more detailed information, select a metric on the MDD landing page to open its detail page, which provides a description, value type, data sources, and, if applicable, other metric information. You can find more information in the expandable sections on the page, including notes, data elements, calculations, denominator, and other metric information if applicable to the selection. Notes provides context to the metric. Data elements indicates which California community college's management information system, or MIS, elements are used. They are also hyperlinked to take you directly to the MIS Data Element Dictionary. Calculations provide essential detailed notes and foundational information on how a metric is computed. Click show to see a step-by-step breakdown of the calculation written in plain SQL-style instructions, called pseudocode. Click hide to remove it from your view.

Denominator provides information to the reference group the metric is calculated against. You can also view other information such as the date the metric was last, updated, applicable student group, metric type, and relevant subjourneys, if applicable. Learn more about the student group by clicking view background info. Use the download PDF button below the search bar to create and download a print-friendly PDF with tailored details on the metric's construction, which can serve as a convenient reference you can return to later.

Thank you for watching this video on DataVista's Metric Definition Dictionary, or MDD. If you have any questions, please use the contact form by clicking on contact in the top navigation.