Introducing the ability to have different Mastery Scales in Teamie
While Standards-based or Mastery-based grading has a single Mastery scale on which student progress is assessed, we recognize that not all grade levels or subject areas may want the same mastery scale. Many of our schools also assess students’ Approach to Learning (ATL) and want to record progress on ATLs, similar to subject standards, but ATLs have a different scale and hence aligning ATLs to assessment tasks and giving feedback was a challenge.
With this new update where different standard sets can have different mastery scales, we can enable the ability to have ATLs and Subject standards in the same class with different mastery scales. We can also enable schools who want to have a 3-point mastery scale in Primary school, and a 4-point scale in Middle and High School. This update provides the freedom to schools to follow the practices that best suit their teaching and reporting requirements.
Enhancing Learning through Mastery Scales
Mastery scales offer a new dimension to assessment, allowing educators to measure and communicate learning progress more effectively and consistently. Our recent enhancements bring a fresh perspective to mastery scales, catering to the uniqueness of each classroom, grade, and subject.
In the past, we at Teamie used a single set of mastery scales for all grades and subjects. This approach has been limiting for teachers who want to use different mastery scales for different subjects or grade levels. For instance, the English department may want to use different mastery scales for reading comprehension and writing, while the Math department may want to use different mastery scales for Math concepts.
Mapping Mastery Scales for Specific Grades and Subjects
The foundation of this innovation lies in the ability to associate each mastery level with a set of grades and subjects. This association ensures that mastery scales are tailored to the specific needs and requirements of each classroom. The journey starts by mapping mastery levels to different grade and subject combinations. This configuration empowers educators to provide more accurate and relevant assessments & feedback, enhancing the learning journey for students.
In addition to academic content, teachers can also use different mastery scales to assess students’ learning and development of Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills. ATL skills are important for all students, regardless of their age, ability, or subject area. They can help students to succeed in school, in the workplace, and in life.
Furthermore, this new approach will give teachers more flexibility in how they define student mastery, and it will make it easier for them to create standards-based grading rubrics that are aligned with their specific curriculum.
How the New Feature Works – Objective Scales in Rubric Creation
One of the highlights of our updates is the integration of mastery scales into rubric creation. Rather than having a uniform set of mastery levels for all objectives/standards, each criterion within a rubric can now be linked to different mastery scales. This allows educators to precisely align assessment criteria with learning objectives, providing a more accurate reflection of student performance. The process becomes more dynamic, ensuring that assessments are uniquely tailored to each classroom’s requirements.
Standards can be associated with specific sets of mastery scales. This allows teachers to create rubrics that use the mastery scales that are most appropriate for the standard. For example, a teacher of math may want to associate the standard “Solve simple equations with one-step solutions” with the mastery scale “Emerging”. When a standard is added to a rubric, the rubric will use the mastery levels that are associated with the standard. This ensures that students are graded consistently across different rubrics and that their mastery levels are accurate and meaningful.
The different mastery scale approach is not just limited to rubric creation and extends to various classroom views. From the Classroom Rubric View to Classroom Standards View, the mastery scales are seamlessly integrated, allowing educators to make informed decisions based on accurate data. Even the Classroom Mastery View and Student/Parent Gradebook View have been refined to reflect only the relevant mastery scales, streamlining the assessment process.
How Different Mastery Scales Can Help Teachers
Here are some of the important benefits of using different mastery scales to create standards-based grading rubrics:
- More flexibility: Teachers can create standards-based grading rubrics that are more aligned with their specific curriculum and the needs of their students. For example, an English teacher may want to use a more detailed mastery scale for reading comprehension, with levels such as Emerging, Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished. This allows the teacher to give students more specific feedback on their progress.
- More accurate tracking: Teachers can track student progress more accurately by using different mastery scales for different subjects or grade levels. For example, a Math teacher may want to use a mastery scale with more levels for more complex math concepts, compared to other subject areas. This allows the teacher to identify students who are struggling with specific concepts and provide them with targeted interventions.
- Better communication: Teachers can communicate student mastery more effectively to parents and guardians by using different mastery scales across different grade levels and subject areas.
- Fairer grading: Teachers can ensure that their grading practices are fair and equitable by using different mastery scales for different subjects or grade levels. For example, a teacher of English may want to use a mastery scale with more levels for students who are learning English as a second language. This allows the teacher to take into account the student’s English language proficiency when grading their work.
- Integrating ATLs: Teachers can use different mastery scales to assess students’ learning and development of Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills. This allows the teacher to give students more specific feedback on their progress in developing important ATLs along with feedback on their subject-specific standards using a mastery scale that is appropriate for ATLs and a different mastery scale that is relevant for the subject-specific standards.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the new feature for different mastery scales is a powerful tool that can help teachers to create more accurate, meaningful, and helpful grading rubrics. By using different mastery scales, teachers can create rubrics that are specific to the curriculum and needs of their students. This can lead to better student learning and achievement.
It is a valuable tool that can help you to improve your standards-based grading and reporting. As a teacher using standards based grading on Teamie, we encourage you to check out the new feature for different mastery scales. We would love to hear your feedback on this new feature. Please feel free to share your thoughts by writing to us at support@theteamie.com or giving us a shout out on Twitter!