What Is Mastery Learning?

Rogelio Valdés

Jun 17, 2021

Have you ever watched your children work hard and still feel like they just can’t understand a topic, no matter how much they try? The system often makes us believe that if we do poorly on a math test or a language test, it means we are not that intelligent. In reality, the student is not to blame, and often the teacher is not either. The real problem is the traditional model of evaluation and learning.

We were taught to think that learning is a race against time. We are just beginning to understand addition, but we already have to move on to subtraction. Then multiplication and division, and even if that still isn’t clear, we are already expected to move on to algebra because otherwise we will “fall behind.”

This creates gaps in learning, and if the foundations are weak, it becomes harder and harder to keep climbing the pyramid of knowledge. The worst part is that students become frustrated and lose confidence in themselves.

How can we improve the education system?

At Robin, students are not graded under the traditional model. Instead, we measure progress using the Mastery Learning approach.

In this model, students move at their own pace. If on their first attempt they get only 50 percent right, that is okay because they can try again as many times as needed. This allows them to spend more time on topics where they need support, while also moving much faster in areas they already understand, without having to wait for the whole group.

What does this look like in practice?

We design a learning path for each subject and each grade. That path includes a sequence of activities meant to help students acquire a specific set of skills or knowledge. Then we assign a number of points to each mastered topic depending on its complexity.

> For example, in math this month the goal might be to earn 50 points by mastering fractions, 50 more by mastering percentages, and another 50 by mastering the Cartesian plane. In total, the target for that period would be 150 points, earned as the student submits evidence and activities for each topic.

What happens if the student does not earn all the points?

That is okay. Everyone learns at a different pace, and there is no problem if mastering a topic takes longer. With enough practice, they can still get there. Students can continue completing activities and submitting work the following month, and there is no penalty. If we notice that a student is really struggling to master a topic, we can adjust the curriculum, switch the learning tools, or provide personalized tutoring.

At the same time, students can also earn more points than the minimum expected for that period. That is actually the goal: once a student truly masters one topic, they should be able to move to the next and continue progressing more quickly. The learning path we design is really a guide or a starting point, because the plan keeps adapting to the needs of the student.

What I love most about this system is that it gives children their confidence back and reminds us that we can learn almost anything if we are willing to dedicate enough time and effort to it. That is why we adopted this methodology for our Elementary and Middle School.