Brief researchers and media on how to calculate and interpret months-of-learning figures before using them¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The brief explicitly targets future users of the months-of-learning metric: "To inform future uses by researchers and media, we discuss in this brief how to calculate this metric as well as its trade-offs." The recommended strategy is to equip researchers and media with calculation guidance and an understanding of the metric's trade-offs before they translate test scores into months or years of learning in public communication.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Access to guidance on calculating the months-of-learning metric and its trade-offs

Constraints¶

• The metric's perceived accessibility can mask major downsides, so communication guidance is needed

Target Learners¶

• Researchers and media who communicate about student achievement

Target Learning Goals¶

• Responsible interpretation and communication of months-of-learning figures

Affordances¶

• Months Of Learning Metric

Related Strategies¶

• Test publishers and users should routinely investigate longitudinal achievement construct invariance over time

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Megan Kuhfeld, Melissa Diliberti, Andrew McEachin, Jon Schweig, Louis T. Mariano. (2023). Typical learning for whom? Guidelines for selecting benchmarks to calculate months of learning. Research brief. https://www.nwea.org/research/publication/73510/