Key Learnings and Resources from New Educator Collaborative on Mastery

Now in its second year, Mastery Week provides a space for educators to share resources, learn from each other, and ask pressing questions on the topic of mastery. Also known as competency-based learning, mastery allows educators to establish a transparent set of learning goals with multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery of key skills and content knowledge at a flexible pace.

As individual schools move toward full mastery implementation, they often feel isolated and eager to learn from others doing this work. We’ve found it is useful for practitioners to see strong examples, make connections with each other, and share resources so they can improve their practice and build systems.

Mastery Week creates opportunities for practitioners to see strong examples, make connections with each other, and share resources to improve their practice and build systems.

That’s why we at Springpoint created Mastery Week. Mastery Week provides a space to share resources, learn from each other, and ask pressing questions. Launched in 2017, the inaugural Mastery Week campaign centered on mastery communications, featuring resources and insights to help schools plan communications strategies that engage a range of stakeholders. You can find those articles and resources below.

Explore Mastery Week resources

This summer, we looked at measurement and assessment in a mastery-based system. We shared articles and resources, and encouraged conversations on this topic—from grading and reporting structures, to student agency, to designing individual assessments, and more. Springpoint convened partners to contribute their learnings and expertise, including Center for Collaborative Education, reDesign, NGLC, KnowledgeWorks, 2 Revolutions, Getting Smart, and Mastery Collaborative.

We published a blog post highlighting four different schools’ approach to mastery assessment and introducing our newest resource: Mastery-based Learning Components & Key Look Fors, a guiding document that offers a working definition and a concrete look at elements that live inside a mastery-based system.

One of the most interactive components of the week included a Twitter chat hosted by Virgel Hammonds, Chief Knowledge Officer at KnowledgeWorks. Dozens of mastery enthusiasts came together to talk about mastery assessment and make connections. We explored the purpose of assessment and discussed how mastery accelerates equity and makes room for student ownership of learning.

Check out a Twitter Moment of the chat

If you are interested in learning more about Mastery Week and accessing some of the resources, explore the roundup below, organized by key themes.

What assessment can look like in a mastery-based system

• Read Springpoint’s welcome post, which explains the mechanics of the week and highlights resources and examples.
• Check out this curated set of high-quality, free resources that support educators in honing their mastery practice, offered by 2Revolutions.

Approaches to designing individual and system level assessments in a mastery based environment

• Explore two approaches to designing individual student assessments from reDesign.
• Get an understanding of the position and power of students in a mastery system according to Springpoint’s Xochitl Garcia.
• See how building a system of assessments can give a fuller picture of student learning, according to Center for Collaborative Education.
• Discover mastery assessment practices that experts have been working on in Vermont’s largest district.

Reflecting on the changes that accompany mastery grading and reporting

• Read a Q&A that talks about how districts and schools can iterate their approach to grading and reporting from a New Hampshire mastery expert.
• Use this Mastery Grading Reflection & Template tool from Mastery Collaborative.

Other ideas, resources, tips, and tools

• Peruse mastery assessment roundups from Getting Smart and CompetencyWorks.
• Check out a new, accredited mastery certification program for educators that was developed by 2Revolutions and Southern New Hampshire University.

About the Springpoint and Barr partnership

Barr Foundation’s Engage New England initiative is a deep investment in the students of New England. Through the initiative, partners receive support to develop a diverse array of high school models that connect all students to success in school and beyond. At Springpoint, we support communities and educators nationally—including those who are part of Barr’s Engage New England initiative—to design and implement school models tailored to the needs of communities and students.

Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to participate in Mastery Week next summer: MasteryWeek@springpointschools.org.

Published 11.13.2018