mastery learning

Definition

An instructional approach where students must demonstrate proficiency before advancing, allowing multiple attempts and personalized pacing. It's education as leveling up rather than moving forward on a calendar.

Example Usage

The mastery learning model let students retake quizzes until they scored 90%, which sounds great until you realize some students needed seventeen attempts to master subject-verb agreement.

Origin

Developed by Benjamin Bloom in the 1960s as an alternative to time-based instruction

Fun Fact

Mastery learning works beautifully in theory but crashes against the reality of fixed-length semesters—students who need more time eventually run out of calendar.

Source: Educational psychology and competency-based learning research

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to save your sinking Titanic

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