Positioning your school to successfully embody the seven characteristics of mastery learning excellence (7Cs) is an involved process that requires dedicated effort. The following recommendations are intended to helps schools set expectations and manage goals for the work associated with designing, developing, and delivering a Mastery Learning Program with fidelity and excellence:
1. Commitment
School Leader
Select leaders willing to champion mastery learning. Roles includes program advocacy, resource allocation, and progress monitoring, and reporting.
Technologists
Engage technologists to assess and upgrade the school’s digital infrastructure, ensuring reliable electricity, sufficient bandwidth, and suitable devices.
Teachers
Foster teacher buy-in through comprehensive orientation, highlighting the transformative potential of the program on student learning outcomes.
2. Connectivity
Electricity
Collaborate with local electricity authorities and alternative power providers (as necessary) to ensure uninterrupted power supply for mastery learning.
Internet
Secure competitive services from an internet service provider capable of providing cost-effective bandwidth and data to meet minimum requirements.
Devices
Customize device selection (desktops, laptops, tablets) based on classroom dynamics, teaching methods, and budget considerations.
3. Coordination
Knowledge Map
Adapt the scope and sequence to support child-centered learning journeys organized around the navigation of a knowledge map rather than sequential standards.
School Calendar
Align the program with the school’s annual academic calendar, allocating time for assessments, remediation, and program evaluation.
Daily Schedule
Design a flexible daily schedule that accommodates digital learning in computer labs, classrooms, or after-school settings, as appropriate.
4. Capacity
Leader Readiness
Conduct capacity building to equip school leaders with skills in program oversight, progress tracking, stakeholder engagement, and teacher professional development.
Technologist Readiness
Provide technologists with in-depth training to troubleshoot technical issues, manage devices, and support teachers and students for effective implementation with fidelity.
Teacher Readiness
Offer professional development that supports pedagogical shifts, technology integration, data-driven instruction, and personalized learning strategies to support master learning.
5. Context
Whole Group
Incorporate differentiated instruction through engaging whole-group activities that introduce concepts, spark discussion, and foster peer collaboration.
Small Group
Facilitate targeted, data-driven small-group strategies that harness more knowledgeable others in collaborative activities that keep learners in their Zone of Proximal Development.
Independent
Design independent learning opportunities for learners to engage mastery solutions, one-on-one tutoring, and play- and project-based learning that builds their Mastery Learner Identity.
6. Content
Lessons
Develop detailed lesson plans integrating digital resources, hands-on activities, formative and summative assessments, and personalization strategies.
Digital Tools
Curate a suite of digital tools aligned with curriculum goals, ensuring a blend of instructional formats, learning modalities, and interactive experiences.
Home Activities
Provide families recommended activities grounded in projects, discussions, reading, games, outings, and creative tasks that extend mastery learning.
7. Competencies
Learner Identity
Foster Mastery Learner Identity by emphasizing cultivation of curiosity, confidence, capability and creativity to support mastery of foundation skills.
Assessment
Implement assessment strategies that combine real-time data from digital solutions with teacher-acquired data to inform each child’s learning strategies.
Data Decision Making
Data analysis creates meaningful pathways to personalization by creating an in-depth picture of each student’s learning progress and skills acquired.
Pursuing Excellence
By combining digital mastery learning tools, personalized instruction, and family engagement, schools can revolutionize their pedagogical approaches to elevate student learning outcomes.
Mastery learning is designed not only to cultivate critical competencies, but also to help children discover their Mastery Learner Identity and prepare themselves to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Application of the 7Cs of Mastery Learning Excellence will look different in each school. Especially given how diverse needs are that exist across a range of educational contexts and resource-constrained environments.
Schools should therefore tailor Mastery Learning Program strategies accordingly, based on the flexibility of their school budgets, as they consider and solve for factors such as device procurement, infrastructure enhancement, capacity building, and family engagement.
