Materials from the Annual Meeting
Data usage exceeds expectations
The numbers are officially in: Downloads of data from communitydata.ca met or exceeded our objectives on all but one metric established at the 2013 Annual Meeting. The number of downloads, number of registered users, and number of downloads per week blew past our targets. We also reached our objective of median downloads per week at 5. But, while the number of users who have downloaded data has increased 64% from 180 to 296, this number is still shy of our 400-user target.
Take home messages: (1) We've made tremendous progress from 2012-2013, but (2) the Community Data Program Team still needs to work on encouraging new users to use data from the repository.
It's also worth noting that, for the 2014-2015 program year, we will dedicate more energy tracking how data's used—the "so what" piece that shows how the program really benefits members and their communities.
New initiative: Community Snapshots
Leads expressed interest in the concept of a "Community Snapshot" as a way to profile how the Community Data Program is helping Consortia locally. The snapshots will also help share results within the network and market the program to prospective communities.
In collaboration with the Data Purchase and Access Working Group, the CDP Team will produce a template that allows members to easily showcase the work they've completed. Stay tuned for updates. [Read more via CCSD.ca]
Back to basics: Help with Beyond 20/20, Excel, and the PCCF
Several Leads mentioned that their members needed help using Beyond 20/20, the PCCF, and even Excel. For this reason, we've decided to go back to the basics this upcoming program year. Our Product Profiles will focus on the basics of commonly-used software and tools, rather than individual data tables. These would include:
- The basics of Beyond 20/20: Working with IVT tables
- TRIM(), PivotTables, Filters, and other Excel tips to make your life easier
- Using the PCCF with Taxfiler and TransUnion data
By the end of 2014-2015, you'll be an expert at Beyond 20/20, Excel, and the PCCF. Or, at least you'll be less intimidated by them.