[Ohiogift] mastery-based learning?

[Eric C Calvert]

I agree wholeheartedly that gifted students need more than just a quick pace through the material. But, I also don't think mastery based learning that allows students to progress at different paces necessarily precludes collaboration, creativity, and complexity. 

For example, it's possible to let students advance faster than their age peers and still collaborate. It just may be that some of that collaborative learning happens with older peers in a higher grade level classroom, in an alternative setting (such as a collaborative online space) with similarly advanced online peers in other classrooms and schools, in a field-based learning experience, (e.g. mentorships, internships, etc.) or simply in a different course for students in middle and high school. (For example, we have quite a few students in our programs who take either a self-paced course online or take an accelerated summer intensive course for credit that isn't awarded based on "seat time", primarily so they can free up a period on their school schedules the following year to take a high interest elective, take a dual-enrollment course, or a more advanced course in the subject area. In other words, mastery-based learning in one course enables more meaningful engagement in another more traditional course setting.)

Ultimately, though, I think some of the value of mastery based learning for gifted students hinges on what students and schools then do with the time saved. There certainly ARE bad implementations of mastery-based learning that create "hurry up, then wait" situations for gifted students and have some of the problems you've identified. (Especially when it's used in districts that then won't support subject or whole grade acceleration when students top out.) But, there also approaches to mastery based learning that (1) differentiate HOW students demonstrate standards mastery that can enhance opportunities for creativity and complexity for gifted students in a standards-based system and (2) create flexibility with time that can then be used very advantageously to support both both higher achievement relative to standards as well as social and creative development.

Have a good weekend,

Eric Calvert
Center for Talent Development


________________________________________
From: Ohiogift [ohiogift-bounces+eric.calvert=northwestern.edu at lists.osu.edu] on behalf of  (Susan Marantz) via Ohiogift [ohiogift at lists.osu.edu]
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2016 5:16 PM
To: Ohiogift at lists.service.ohio-state.edu; XL-PDX at yahoogroups.com; OATAG at yahoogroups.com; (Mary Collier); margaretdelacy at comcast.net
Cc: (Mary Collier) via Ohiogift
Subject: Re: [Ohiogift] mastery-based learning?

Hmmmm.... I am struggling with understanding and accepting mastery based learning as a positive strategy for serving gifted students.

Is learning just about working through a list of linear objectives?

If you take away collaboration, creativity, and complexity, I think you are missing key components of a quality education.   And I believe that gifted students need more than just a quick pace through material.

I would be interested in having more discussion on this topic if list serve readers would like to respond.

Susan Marantz
GIS Maryland Elementary School
Bexley

---- "(Mary Collier) via Ohiogift" <ohiogift at lists.osu.edu> wrote:
>
> Should have/could have been done a hundred years ago.  There should be no excuses these days with all the technology.
> Mary Collier
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Margaret DeLacy via Ohiogift <ohiogift at lists.osu.edu>
> To: OATAG <OATAG at yahoogroups.com>; XL-PDX <XL-PDX at yahoogroups.com>; Ohiogift <Ohiogift at lists.service.ohio-state.edu>
> Sent: Fri, Oct 21, 2016 12:21 am
> Subject: [Ohiogift] mastery-based learning?
>
> Friends:
>
> Below is a link to and excerpt from a blog post on the "high flyer" blog jointly hosted by the NAGC and the Fordham Institute.
>
> This article will also appear in the NAGC publication "Teaching for High Potential"
>
>
> Mastery-based learning, is it good for gifted learners?
>
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__edexcellence.net_articles_mastery-2Dbased-2Dlearning-2Dis-2Dit-2Dgood-2Dfor-2Dgifted-2Dlearners&d=CwIGaQ&c=yHlS04HhBraes5BQ9ueu5zKhE7rtNXt_d012z2PA6ws&r=MrZYg2VdB9HNY47M-u1ATVyEftRbTOo37mVHRsYl1UU&m=g1ydX-Jt0gLsnBZUCVlGUbu64BxD8IE92J1dhOWxgkI&s=fUAz47pf0xDu_7hzxMP7tayHfaQ-YYQsYq3hmRfoRUs&e=
>
> Mastery-based learning, also called competency-based or proficiency-based learning, is a program of personalized, differentiated education where students’ progress is based on their successful achievement of learning objectives, rather than prescribed “seat time” in a specific grade level. Typically, these programs require students to demonstrate proficiency through frequent assessments before advancing to the next learning activity or objective. Several states, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, are currently exploring the implementation of competency-based education programs in their districts, which will improve educational opportunities for gifted children in the regular classroom—but only if administered properly.
>
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