Collecting data is only half the battle. The resources in this category focus on the crucial next step: turning raw data into meaningful insight and actionable knowledge. These resources guide you in analyzing, interpreting, visualizing, and using data to make informed decisions that improve student outcomes.
This category is relevant for those looking to use data available in a meaningful way. The resources in this category will equip users with the knowledge and tools to translate data into meaningful insights and actions that can enhance teaching, learning, and overall program effectiveness.
What This Category Offers:
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Accessible Data-Use Frameworks: This section includes highly user-friendly and relevant guides like "Using data for monitoring and evaluation," which provides a clear, seven-step cyclical process for schools to use data effectively. Many resources here are evidence-based and target all user types.
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Technical Analysis and Reporting Guidance: For more rigorous analysis, you will find resources like "Reporting guidelines for standardized effect size reporting", which is essential for MERL staff evaluating program impact.
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Data Visualization and Communication Tools: The category includes practical templates like "Visualizing data - students outcomes" to help users create reports that are easy for teachers and other stakeholders to understand. The Psychosocial support (PSS) and social emotional learning (SEL) toolbox offers interactive data visualization tools.
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Strategic Application of Data: Resources like "Catalyzing Future Directions of Social and Emotional Learning Assessment" and the internal report on Teach For Poland's SEL survey results show how data can be used not just for reporting, but for reflection, program improvement, and strategic decision-making.
How to Leverage This Category's Utility:
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For School Leadership: Use the frameworks here to build data literacy among your staff. Lead data conversations that focus on learning and improvement, not just judgment.
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For MERL Staff: Apply the technical guides to ensure your analysis is sound and your reports are insightful. Use the visualization tools to communicate complex findings clearly to diverse audiences.
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For Teachers: Use the practical guides and templates to help you interpret your students' assessment data, identify learning patterns, and adjust your instructional strategies accordingly.
Linkages to Other Categories: This category is the sense-making and action phase.
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Feeds from: How to Monitor Student Outcomes – use the raw data collected in this section here to answer the question “So what?” It provides the "so what?" for the data collected during monitoring.
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Feeds into: How to Prioritize Student Outcomes – The insights generated by using the resources in this category create a feedback loop to potentially enable a revision of goals and strategies based on what the monitoring data shows.
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Supports: How to Support Teaching and Learning using your Student Outcomes Data – This data-driven decision-making process is the engine of the learning cycle. Effective data use is what makes a MERL system truly functional and impactful.