B6. What is the relationship between scaffolding and mastery learning?

The relationship between scaffolding and mastery learning is key to the development of overall learning. Mastery learning is where the students are helped to master each learning unit before proceeding to a more advanced learning task" (Bloom 1968). In most cases a teacher would plan to break up a skill or concept in to small chunks to allow students to gain the necessary insight and practice to become content with the subject/activity. From here children would be assessed for their basic understanding and application of the skill and grouped according to their success. Teachers will increase the difficultly of the content allowing students to ‘master’ the topic. In essence placing one chunk of information/knowledge onto another to create a tower, increasing levels of mastery is achieved.

Mastery

Increasing levels of learning/proficiency

Domains of learning – closer = more related

Scaffolding explicitly and deliberately applies these principles and reinforces that children learn in their own way, at their own speed and apply varying amounts of relevance to the tasks.

References & Research

Bloom, B. (1968). Human characteristics and school learning. New York: McGraw- Hill.