Mastery Based Learning and Grading 101 Big Ideas

Mastery Based Learning and Grading 101

Big Ideas Mastery Based Learning and Grading focuses on the journey and progress towards mastery. The goal is to encourage student growth, enable and support student self-evaluation and communicate their learning progress. Revisions and reassessments are key and students have multiple opportunities to show what they know and understand.

What Does this Have to Do With Growth Mindset? Growth-minded students • Persist in the face of setbacks and embrace challenges • Find lessons and inspiration in the success of others, instead of feeling threatened. • Believe, “This isn’t really my best work. . . yet” instead of “It’s fine the way it is” • State “There is more that I can improve” rather than “There is nothing to change” • Are reminded and supported as they shift their thinking, “We love questions!”

How Can I Support a Growth Mindset? Say This. . . “I can see you worked so hard on this!” Say this because it helps your children understand you value their effort. “It seems like it’s time to try a new strategy. ” Say this because it lets your children know that they control the outcomes by making choices. Not That. . . “You are so smart!” Do not say this because it makes them thing of intelligence as a fixed quality, and the outcome as being most important. “It’s okay. Maybe you’re just not cut out for this!” Do not say this because it makes your children think they don’t have the capacity to improve or learn.

What Does a MBL Classroom Look Like? In a Mastery Based Learning and Grading classroom • Students will be graded based on their growth over the year or semester • There will be set learning targets and students will have multiple opportunities to show growth towards these targets • Students will receive feedback on their progress towards mastery and, through the use of rubrics, know what to do to move towards proficiency • Students will revise work frequently

How Will My Student Know How They are Doing? Please remember that • rather than waiting for a cumulative grade, make it a habit to continuously check progress in individual learning targets • teachers will provide feedback on students’ individual areas of weakness and then prescribe specific corrections • we are focusing on growth, not grades • final class grades will be calculated based on the number of learning targets that are proficient • individual syllabi will show proficiency in each LT and overall proficiency is calculated • Proficiency is determined by recency and frequency of achievement, and is not and not pure “number crunching” Note: Revisions are important, but depending on assignment, there may be a limited number and a limited timeframe for (re)submissions

Key Terms Mastery A complete and detailed understanding of the learning target or skill. Can apply same skills in new contexts, as well as teach the skills to someone else Proficient A complete understanding of the learning target. Can replicate the skill without explanation of expectations. Rubric Guideline used in which to determine a grade for a particular assignment or task. Rubrics are used to assess all assignments of consequence when calculating grades. Score Determined proficiency for a given skill or learning target. There can be multiple scores given for a single assignment, depending on how many separate skills are being assessed. Learning Target A skill that must be accomplished in order to pass a given class. Multiple targets will be given in a class, and a specific number must be considered proficient for a student to earn an “A”, “B”, or “C”. Learning targets are shaped and informed by the content standards for the class. Standard expectations of student knowledge and skills adopted by the State Board of Education Grade the number or letter reported at the end of a period of time as a summary statement of performance Growth improvement by an individual relative to prior Progress improvement by an individual relative to a goal or standard

What Do the Rubric Scores Mean? Mastery Rubric Level Description 4 -- Exceeds Proficiency I can show a complete and detailed understanding of the learning target, and teach the skills to someone else 3 -- Proficient I can show a complete understanding of the learning target 2 -- Nearly I can show an understanding of the learning target at times, but still need more practice Proficient / Minor Revisions 1 -- Not Yet Proficient / Major Revisions I have a partial understanding of the learning target and need more examples, tme, and practice to progress towards proficiency 0 -- No Evidence I am not yet able to demonstrate the skill, or have not yet submitted work that demonstrates my understanding of the particular learning target

How is MBL Different from SBG ? Traditional Grading Mastery Based Learning Grade based on assessments (quizzes, projects, homework). One grade given per assessment Grades given for separate attempts at learning targets. These attempts carry no weight towards overall grades. Assessments are based on a percentage system. Measurement of success may be unclear or sometimes feel arbitrary. Proficiency in separate learning targets is the goal. Final class determined by number of learning targets that are marked either proficient or advanced. Uses a mix of assessment, achievement, effort, and behavior to determine the finale grade. May use late penalties and extra credit. Achievement determined by demonstration of ability in separate learning targets. 0 s and missing assignments do not “count against” class grade, but rather are seen as missed attempts to demonstrate proficiency Everything goes in the gradebook, regardless of purpose. All classwork, regardless of the type, carries a zero weight towards the overall class grade. All work is considered “practice” towards demonstrating proficiency in a learning target. Learning Targets will determine the final class grade. Include every score, regardless of when it was collected. Assessments record the average, not the best, work. Both recency as well as frequency are considered when determining whether a student is proficient in a given learning target

What Should I Look for in the Schoology Grade Report? Please click on our links for “MBG Screencast” to watch a video guiding you through what to look for in Schoology