Education Empowerment Action

Some online instructors prefer to use mastery programs.  Education Empowerment Action has determined that these programs provide a greater distance from student and instructor.  They can provide easier course management for instructors, while providing unnecessary stress and course failure for students; see related case study:Perfection Required - Surviving an Online Mastery Program.

Sorry I Can't Be Perfect

Written by YMPowe
May 23, 2020

Mastery learning programs are ideal for students who already have a strong grasp on the subject matter, and they are taking the course to quickly meet a prerequisite requirement without being limited by the time table of a traditional in-class quarter or semester instruction.  A mastery learning program is not recommended if one is new to the subject matter or in the past have had difficulties with the subject matter.

The idea of mastery learning derives from the 1968 philosophy of Benjamin Bloom, an educational psychologist who claimed that “students must achieve a level of mastery, that is 90% on a knowledge test, in prerequisite knowledge before moving forward to learn subsequent information” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bloom).. 

Bloom explained that students should not be allowed to move onto the next level until they achieved mastery of the current prerequisite.  Thus, if a student does not meet the level of mastery, the student should  be given additional support and tested over again until mastery is achieved.

Education Empowerment Action suggests that students should be weary of enrolling into online classes that are managed using a mastery learning program (see related case study: Perfection Required – Surviving an Online Mastery Program).  Here is why. 

In a traditional online  course, students will learn from a textbook and other related material.  They may be required to submit weekly assignments and take a weekly examination that will test their knowledge on the topic.  They receive the appropriate grade and move on to the next chapter of the subject matter.

That is, if the student was presented with an examination of 10 questions, and successfully answered 9 out of the 10 correct, then student would perhaps receive a grade of A-/B+.  Then move on to the next chapter.

However, mastery programs are different. Completing all coursework from a chapter without making an input mistake, the mastery learning program will allow the student to take an examination on the topic.  With a mastery learning program, the same examination results, 9 out 10, will result in non-mastery, failure. The student will have to repeat all coursework in the chapter and retake the examination.  If the student achieves less than 90% or a B+ on the coursework and examination, the student will not be allowed to move onto the next chapter in the textbook.  Nor will the student be given credit for the work completed in the current chapter. 

Thus, the student becomes trapped.  Mistakes may be associated to lack of knowledge, but as the student is force to repeat coursework and test without advancing, anxiety and depression can build, and increased input or typing errors can occur. A byproduct of some mastery programs is that they measure whether a student can persevere under the stress imposed by the program.

Some colleges have not established standard online software and subject matter platforms, and other colleges allow the instructor the to choose the subject matter online software of their preference.  Prior to enrolling into online classes, students will not be able to determine whether the online subject matter platform is a mastery learning program or not from the schedule of classes.  An academic counselor may be able to assist students to identify the online course platforms. 

Many colleges provide course instructors’ emails. If so, then this will provide an opportunity for students to inquire directly of the instructor about the online platform being used. Be aware that the course instructor may not define the program as a mastery learning online program. Moreover, students simply may not know if the online course is a mastery learning program until they read the course syllabus or access the program.  

Review the college's add/drop policy.  Keep it close to you.  If you discover that you are in a mastery learning program course, if you are doing well in the course, no worries.  Carry on.

However, if the program proves to be defeating, then drop the class as soon as possible.  Try not to wait until after the add/drop period has passed.  Although you will avoid an “F”, you will  receive a “W”.  Receiving a “W” will not effect your grade point average (GPA), but too many “Ws” will hinder your ability attain financial aid.