Episode 4: A Look at Mastery Learning and Perusall
Oct 28, 2022
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Join Jon Bergmann, a pioneer of the flipped classroom movement and author of The Mastery Learning Handbook, as he unveils the transformative power of Mastery Learning. He shares insights on adaptive assessments that cater to all students, innovative grading practices like gamified assessments, and the integration of Perusall to enhance student discussions. Discover how these strategies boost engagement and accountability while leveraging social learning to create deeper connections among learners.
Mastery learning emphasizes that students must fully comprehend concepts before advancing, ensuring a solid foundation for future learning.
The use of differentiated assessments in mastery learning helps cater to both struggling and advanced students, promoting individualized learning experiences.
Deep dives
Understanding Mastery Learning
Mastery learning is an educational approach that focuses on ensuring students fully understand material before advancing to new concepts. It operates on the principle that students engage with content, partake in assessments, and if they do not demonstrate mastery, they receive remediation and additional support to help them succeed. Examples of mastery learning practices include the requirement for passing a driver's test or a board exam for medical professionals, highlighting that mastery is a common experience in various fields. This method has gained renewed interest due to the pandemic, which exposed the need for flexible and effective learning strategies.
Challenges and Strategies for Advanced Students
One of the key insights from implementing mastery learning is the varying effectiveness it has for different student demographics, particularly for advanced learners. Research indicated that while mastery learning supports students who struggle, it often does not sufficiently challenge those already excelling. As a solution, different assessment levels were introduced, allowing advanced students to choose tests based on their proficiency, ranging from basic to more challenging assessments. This approach has empowered students to engage with material at their own pace while still being pushed to develop deeper understanding and critical thinking skills.
The Role of Grading and Technology in Mastery Learning
Grading within a mastery learning framework presents unique challenges, especially in traditional systems that rely on percentages to assess student performance. A modified grading system focuses on formative assessments that prioritize students' progression toward mastery, allowing retakes of tests to give students multiple opportunities to succeed. Technology such as Perusall plays a crucial role by facilitating asynchronous learning, promoting engagement, and providing instructors with valuable feedback about student understanding. Ultimately, the goal is to create an environment that values learning and mastery over merely achieving a passing grade, shifting the educational emphasis from speed of learning to depth of understanding.
In this episode of Social Learning Amplified, Eric Mazur catches up with Jon Bergmann, one of the pioneers of the flipped classroom movement. Jon uses Perusall in his classes to facilitate student discussion. During the discussion, Jon introduces the concept of Mastery Learning, which is covered in his new book, The Mastery Learning Handbook.
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