What Is Mastery Learning?

What Is Mastery Learning?

Mastery learning is an instructional strategy focused on ensuring your students completely understand a concept before moving on to the next. Instead of progressing the whole class on a fixed schedule, this model allows learners to work at their own pace. The curriculum is broken into units, and students must demonstrate proficiency, often by scoring 80% or higher on a test, to advance. If a student doesn't reach mastery on the first try, they receive targeted support and another opportunity to succeed.

Mastery Learning Strategies and Activities

Implementing a mastery learning approach involves specific strategies and activities designed to support every student in your classroom. These methods help structure lessons so learners can demonstrate a solid understanding of a topic before moving forward.

The strategies focus on breaking down content, regularly checking for understanding, and providing targeted support when needed. Activities are designed to give students multiple opportunities to practice and show what they know, allowing for different learning speeds.

Here are some common mastery learning strategies and activities:

• Chunking: Breaking down complex subjects into smaller, more manageable units of study.
• Formative Assessments: Using frequent, low-stakes quizzes or questions to monitor student progress and identify learning gaps.
• Corrective Instruction: Providing targeted support, such as small-group work or extra practice, for students who have not yet reached mastery.
• Flexible Pacing: Allowing students to progress through material at their own speed based on their individual understanding.
• Retrieval Practice: Asking students to regularly recall information to strengthen their memory and comprehension.
• Direct Instruction: Using guided, step-by-step lessons for complex topics, followed by independent practice.
• Collaborative Learning: Organizing group activities where students can discuss concepts or teach their peers.
• Enrichment Activities: Offering advanced problems or independent projects for students who have already demonstrated mastery.
• Clear Learning Goals: Defining specific, measurable objectives for each unit so students know what is expected of them.
• Dual Coding: Combining words with visuals, like diagrams or images, to present information in multiple ways.

Mastery Learning Benefits

Mastery learning presents a different way to structure your classroom, and like any instructional model, it comes with its own set of potential upsides and challenges. Understanding these aspects can help you decide if this approach is the right fit for your students and school environment.

This approach can lead to better academic results and student confidence by ensuring all learners reach a certain level of understanding before advancing. However, it also requires significant teacher time for planning and individual support, and it can create challenges in managing a classroom where students are all working at different speeds.

Here are some of the reported benefits of mastery learning:

• Improved Academic Outcomes: Students may achieve a deeper understanding of subjects, leading to fewer knowledge gaps and better long-term retention.
• Greater Student Confidence: Successfully mastering concepts can build a student's self-esteem and reduce their fear of failure.
• Promotes a Growth Mindset: This model helps students see that ability can be developed with effort, which encourages perseverance.
• Individualized Support: The structure allows students to learn at their own pace, with those needing more time receiving the necessary support to catch up.
• Increased Student Autonomy: Students can take more responsibility for their learning outcomes as they see how their effort connects to their progress.
• Stronger Teacher-Student Relationships: The need for one-on-one feedback and guidance can foster more interaction and trust between teachers and students.
• Development of Life Skills: Students practice skills like goal-setting, problem-solving, and self-evaluation, which are useful beyond the classroom.
• Reduced Disengagement: By providing more support and opportunities for success, this approach can help keep students engaged in their education and reduce frustration.

Mastery Learning Examples

Mastery learning can be applied in various settings, from online platforms to traditional classrooms. These models often use specific instructional designs and technology to allow students to progress after showing they understand a topic.

Implementing this model requires a significant investment of time from teachers for planning, assessment, and providing individual support. It can also present a challenge in managing a classroom where students are working at different speeds, which may slow down the overall pace of instruction.

Here are some examples of mastery learning in practice:

• Khan Academy: An online platform where students work through lessons at their own pace, receiving immediate feedback and practice problems
• Setting Minimum Grades: An educator sets a mastery threshold, like 90% on a test, that students must meet before they can move on to the next unit.
• Personalized System of Instruction (PSI): A model used at the university level that involves self-paced learning and requires students to pass a test after each unit to proceed.
• Gamified Learning: Lessons are structured like levels in a game, where students must adequately complete a level before they can advance to the next one.
• Checkpoints: A teacher sets up several points within a unit where students must show their work to confirm they have mastered each step before continuing.

Mastery Learning Best Practices

Applying mastery learning involves a set of practices designed to structure the learning process. These practices focus on defining clear achievement targets and providing the necessary support for all students to meet them.

Implementing these practices often starts with breaking down subjects into smaller units, each with its own learning objective. You can then use assessments to check for understanding and provide corrective instruction before a student moves on to the next topic.

Here are some best practices for mastery learning:

• High Mastery Threshold: Setting a clear standard of achievement, often 80-90% on an assessment, that students must meet before advancing to new material
• Corrective Instruction: Providing targeted support for students who do not initially meet the mastery threshold, which can include one-on-one tutoring, small group work, or additional practice exercises
• Frequent Formative Assessments: Using regular, low-stakes checks like quizzes or exit tickets to monitor student understanding and identify areas needing more support
• Enrichment Activities: Offering advanced problems or related projects for students who demonstrate mastery early, keeping them engaged while others receive support
• Collaborative Learning: Creating opportunities for students to work in groups, allowing them to support each other's progress and discuss concepts

Teach with TeachShare

By ensuring students fully grasp a topic before advancing, mastery learning builds a stronger foundation for lasting comprehension and confidence. Start creating resources that support this approach with TeachShare now.