Defining the Critical Elements of a Mastery Learning Program / Thomas R. Guskey.

This paper describes the elements that most clearly identify and are most critical to a mastery learning program. Ways in which teachers can easily and efficiently implement these elements in their teaching and practices are outlined, along with procedures for evaluating their effectiveness in improving student learning. A discussion is presented on the elements most basic and crucial to the mastery learning process. These elements consist of feedback, correctives and enrichment activities, coupled with congruence with specific learning criteria and the procedures used to evaluate learning. Implications for the implementation of mastery learning are discussed: (1) mastery learning can be very broadly applied; (2) teachers need not dramatically change what they are doing in their classrooms or the way they teach to use mastery learning; (3) mastery learning has a positive effect on most student achievement; and (4) more students can experience learning success. A brief list of references is included. (JD)

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