The UK/TEP-DAME project was initiated to establish a center for teacher preparation data acquisition, management and exchange. An overarching goal for the center was the study of techniques to encourage the application of Information Systems Technology tools in schools and colleges of education, and the dissemination of ideas that would be helpful to other teacher preparation professionals engaged in this kind of work. As the project began in the spring of 2004, the first activities involved the systematic establishment of a center for information system development in the University of Kentucky , College of Education . Efforts were made to focus on tools, techniques and procedures that are standardized and useable in many IT environments.

The UK College of Education Database Issue Sets was developed to encourage communication about databases. The issue sets document is not a handbook, a manual, or a didactic presentation. Rather, it is a tool for faculty, staff and administrators with an interest in databases to use in identifying and reflecting on critical concepts which underlie any serious effort to establish and maintain a database and information system dedicated to the support of educator preparation.

The intent of these "concept sets" is to provide a starting point for managers about to begin the process of developing a Descriptive Study of Information Technology Applied to Colleges and Departments of Education. The first five concept sets focus on the concepts and terms associated with databases and information systems. The final concept set is actually a suggested template that a manager can use in starting to develop a descriptive study of his/her database and information system. The descriptive study is simply that; texts and diagrams that illustrate work that has been done on databases and information systems to apply information technology to the problems of teacher preparation.