Principles of Mastery

Learning
San University
Copyright Jose State 2003

Basic Principles of Mastery

Learning
• Ninety percent of students can learn what is
normally taught in schools at an A level if they are
given enough time and appropriate instruction
• Enough time means time required to demonstrate
mastery of objectives
• Appropriate instruction means:
– Break course into units of instruction
– Identify objectives of units
– Require students to demonstrate mastery of
objectives for unit before moving on to other units

1
 and
• Grades may be determined by:
– Actual number of objectives
mastered
– Number of units completed
– Proficiency level reached on
each unit
– Any combination of above
• Students can work at own
pace if course is so structured,
but mastery learning can be
accomplished with group
instruction.

Advantages of Mastery
Learning
1. Students have prerequisite
skills to move to next unit
2. Requires teachers to do task
analysis, thereby becoming
better prepared to teach the
unit

2
 More advantages
3. Requires teachers to
state objectives
before designating
activities
4. Can break cycle of
failure (especially
important for
minority and
disadvantaged
students)

Disadvantages
1. Not all students will
progress at same pace; this
requires students who have
demonstrated mastery to
wait for those who have not
or to individualize instruction
2. Must have a variety of
materials for reteaching:

3
 More disadvantages
3. Must have several tests for
each unit
4. If only objective tests are
used, can lead to
memorizing and learning
specifics rather than higher
levels of learning