Recent developments in mastery learning 1

Mastery learning strategies have been widely used with considerable success in increasing the proportion of students attaining the mastery criterion. Students attaining mastery do, under appropriate conditions, change in their affect about the subject and themselves. Research on time and achievement in relation to mastery learning procedures show reduction in student variability and increases in learning efficiency and learning achievement.     

A mathematical model for mastery learning

Prior research on mastery learning has examined relationships between achievement and time on task, motivation variables, as well as the effects of prior learning. One can show that the results of prior research lead to certain requirements on a model for mastery learning. This article uses those requirements to develop a mathematical model for mastery learning. This model includes measures of a motivational factor and of the specific ability of a learner with respect to the content being learned. The model also contains a variable to reflect prior learning. The model has been developed to include a computer program which accepts student data and from which predictions can be made and tested. Assumptions and limitations of the model are discussed, and some research questions are raised. In most respects the model proposed in this article is susceptible to the same tests and refinements as an empirical law in the physical or life sciences.     

Action learning: the possibility of differing hierarchies in learning sets

This paper presents the proposition that a variety of differing hierarchies exist in an action learning set at any one time, and each hierarchy has the potential to affect an individual's behaviour within the set. An interpretivist philosophy underpins the research framework adopted in this paper. Data were captured by means of 11 in-depth interviews that formed part of wider research into set members' perceptions of what makes an effective action learning set. The interviewees were all former students of the researcher and her colleagues. The research draws upon grounded theory as a dominant research paradigm and uses thematic analysis to interpret the research findings. The findings of the research serve to simply illustrate that there is the potential for a variety of differing hierarchies to exist in an action learning set at any one time. Some of the hierarchies may exist for the full duration of the set; others are somewhat ephemeral. The findings from this research also present themselves as points of consideration for academics and practioners who have used or are about to use action learning as a learning vehicle.     

Designing instructional strategies which facilitate learning for mastery

While early proponents of mastery learning (ML) provided operational definitions regarding appropriate teaching/learning procedures, they did not provide guidelines for developing specific instructional strategies and activities. This article aims to provide such guidelines based on theories of learning and cognition. Part 1 describes the general instructional procedures developed by early ML proponents. Parts 2–4 provide guidelines for (a) the initial group‐based instruction, including guidelines for teaching to three different types of objectives (informational, conceptual, and procedural) and for varying four different modes of presentation (lecture, dialogue, discussion, and searwork) (b) sequencing; (c) developing correctives; and (d) developing enrichment activities.     

Examining a mathematical model of mastery learning in a classroom setting

The purpose of mathematical models in any discipline is to describe accurately the relationships among significant variables of a system. The use of mathematical models is widespread in the sciences, but has rarely found its way into educational research. In developing a mathematical model for mastery learning, empirical research has shown that prior learning, motivation, and time on task are part of the significant variables that work together in some way in a determination of student achievement. A mathematical model that shows the relationship among these variables has been developed. To test the appropriateness of this mathematical model, carefully designed and controlled experiments must be conducted to collect numerical data on the significant variables. Using the model, the accuracy of its predictions can be compared with actual results. This is the technique used in testing mathematical models in the sciences and should be applicable to mathematical models of learning.     

少儿古筝学习心理的把握与调适

古筝是我国传统音乐艺术宝库中最具代表性的器乐。弘扬古筝艺术，不仅是继承传统艺术的必须，也是落实民族文化大省建设，提高青少年文化素质的有效途径。少儿古筝学习热潮的掀起对艺术事业是一件好事。要提高古筝教育水平，促进这股热潮的蓬勃发展和长盛不衰，需要教学工作者孜孜不倦的热忱和深入细致的研究。科学把握和适时调整学习心理，则是这种研究工作的重要内容。     

Past and future research on learning hierarchies 1

Several areas of research on learning hierarchies are identified. It is proposed that the first of these, investigating the validity of hierarchies, should now be considered virtually at an end because of the increased support for hierarchies provided by the evidence of recent studies. A brief discussion is given of the few studies that have been performed in six other areas. General recommendations are made for future research on hierarchies, and some plans are suggested for specific investigations.     

促进远程学习的策略初探

本文针对远程学习中的学习者特征和学习困难,从网络课程教学设计、学习支持服务、技术媒体支持、教学管理四方面阐述了促进远程学习的策略.     

End-of-course and long-term retention outcomes for mastery and nonmastery learning paradigms

Using both end-of-course achievement outcomes and long-term cognitive retention as criteria, the present study provides comparative data on the effectiveness of a mastery and nonmastery approach to instruction. Differential effects across taxonomic levels were assessed for both criteria. The results indicated that mastery students performed significantly higher than non-mastery students for end-of-course outcomes at the highest taxonomic level and equally well for knowledge, comprehension, and application level outcomes. Retention differences were found for knowledge level outcomes only, with mastery students demonstrating significantly greater retention performance. The feasibility and desirability of implementing a learning for mastery paradigm in a single course at the college level are discussed relative to the magnitude of the present results.     

Are mastery learning strategies beneficial for developing problem solving skills?

The purpose of the present study was to investigate instructional methods appropriate for developing problem solving skills (PSS) in a paramedical course. Three instructional methods were compared: Frontal Lecture Strategies (FLS), Mastery Learning Strategies (MLS) and Experiential Mastery Learning Strategies (EMLS) in which feedback corrective procedures were embedded within experiential learning situations. Results showed that FLS produced the highest scores on Lower Mental Process subtest while EMLS yielded the highest scores on all measures of problem solving skills. Several implications of this study for future research are suggested and discussed.