Are you at Mastery or Above?
Key Terms for Mastery Learning
Mastery Learning
Mastery Learning is an educational approach in which students must achieve mastery of a subject before moving forward to learn subsequent information; learning builds on established understanding. Students are given the time and support they need to reach mastery.
We choose mastery learning because more students achieve higher and more enduring results.
We expect every student to be successful and we create the conditions for this success through: flexible placement in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics; instruction based on students needs; small class sizes; teaching until mastery is demonstrated; giving students enough time to master new material; requiring more from students to achieve deep understanding rather than passing with only 70%.
Education That Makes Sense
QSI utilizes the Mastery Learning model. It is a well-researched practice with strong evidence for being highly effective. In traditional schools, students can pass courses and miss 40%, 30%, 20%, or even 5% of content. In Mastery Learning, we care about students mastering 100% of course content. We believe gaps in learning, if left unchecked, turn into deficits, difficulties, and frustrations later.
Instruction at the Appropriate Level
Success builds upon success. When students master all learning objectives, they move on. Learning at a level too easy leads to boredom; too difficult leads to frustration. New students take placement assessments in mathematics, reading, and writing to ensure proper placement. Teachers use a variety of instructional strategies to engage all students.
Assessment FOR Learning
Traditional education systems often identify gaps without any plan to fill them. Mastery learning requires demonstrating proficiency. If not mastered, students receive additional, differentiated support to re-learn and are reassessed. This cycle continues until true mastery is achieved. QSI uses assessment FOR learning, not just assessment OF learning.
Time is a Resource
In traditional schools, time is fixed and performance varies. In mastery learning, time becomes the variable and all students achieve high performance. Time is not an indicator OF success but a tool FOR success. All students are different with varying fluency, intelligence, work ethic, and aptitude. By varying time, more students demonstrate proficiency at higher levels. This shift promotes a growth mindset benefiting students throughout their education and careers.
Success Orientations
Success for All is the motto of QSI. Research indicates successful people have developed personal orientations leading to success. Personal habits, interacting successfully with others, reliability, responsibility, diligent work habits, promptness, keeping your word, and kindness are at least as important as knowledge. Success Orientations are actively encouraged and taught throughout the QSI curriculum.
QSI Shenzhen\'s Trashion Show is an annual event that celebrates environmental protection, awareness, and creativity. Students design outfits from reused or recycled materials, and the event also links to Group Interaction through collaboration and Independent Endeavour through each student\'s individual design and presentation.
TSW demonstrate honesty by: habitually telling the truth; telling truth when negative consequences follow; bringing lost items to teacher; not cheating on tests; not involved in theft. TSW demonstrate trustworthiness by: following commitments with action; promptly accomplishing errands; acceptable behavior unsupervised; not involved in vandalism.
TSW demonstrate responsibility by: coming to school on time; bringing materials to class; completing schoolwork timely; showing organization; contributing unassigned ideas and research; taking care of materials; avoiding accidents; being careful in commitments.
TSW demonstrate tolerance for other nationalities, races, cultures by: not making disparaging remarks; joining group activities with different people; having friendly associations. TSW demonstrate acceptance of newcomers by: including them; not excluding; approaching newcomers to make them welcome. TSW demonstrate concern by: avoiding hurtful words; supporting unhappy people; helping others succeed; displaying unselfish behavior.
TSW demonstrate kindness by: not putting down others; not physically abusing others; displaying acts of kindness; giving time to help. TSW demonstrate politeness by: not exhibiting rudeness; using socially acceptable language; displaying courtesy.
TSW demonstrate group involvement by actively participating. TSW support leadership by: encouraging responsible behavior; promoting classroom learning; not discouraging others; cooperating. TSW support group activities by: contributing constructive ideas; avoiding negative comments; controlling emotions; displaying kindness; cooperating.
TSW appreciate nature by: not damaging plants; making positive comments about nature; creating nature artwork. TSW appreciate orderly surroundings by: picking up litter; keeping areas neat. TSW appreciate beauty of ideas, music, art, and literature by: making positive comments; not displaying disrespect.
TSW show initiative in tasks beyond assignments. TSW set goals beyond minimum effort. TSW pursue particular interests not in curriculum. TSW show initiative using library and resources. TSW show self-sufficiency in completing assignments.