South Valley Academy (SVA) believes in and provides structure for personalization. All students have an advisor that can give them the one-on-one attention they deserve. As an advisor, it was the author's job to quickly identify students in need of extra support and coordinate that support with other staff members and parents. SVA also believes in…

Can public schools learn to embrace innovation and employ cutting edge technology to solve students' most persistent learning problems? In 2010, New York City's Department of Education (NYCDOE) created the Innovation Zone (iZone) to try to accomplish just that. This report reflects the findings of a CRPE study of the iZone, its goals and…

The I CAN Learn[R] Education System is an interactive, self-paced, mastery-based software system that includes the I CAN Learn[R] Fundamentals of Math (5th-6th grade math) curriculum, the I CAN Learn[R] Pre-Algebra curriculum, and the I CAN Learn[R] Algebra curriculum. College algebra credit is also available to students in participating schools…

The purpose of this article is to propose a model to integrate educational mastery principles that emphasize cooperative and learner-centered instruction in higher education with the new advances of instructional technology, and to present a pilot case study to exemplify the model. It is clear that in spite of tremendous efforts by colleges and…

The present study attempts to gauge the effect of individualized instructional methods as a reinforcement strategy for mastery learning. Among various individualized instructional methods, the study focuses on PIM (Programmed Instructional Method) and CAIM (Computer Assisted Instruction Method). Mastery learning is a process where students achieve…

For middle and high school teachers of mathematics and science, this book is filled with examples of instructional strategies that address students' readiness levels, interests, and learning preferences. It shows teachers how to formatively assess their students by addressing differentiated learning targets. Included are detailed examples of…

For middle and high school teachers of social studies and English, this book is filled with examples of instructional strategies that address students' readiness levels, interests, and learning preferences. It shows teachers how to formatively assess their students by addressing differentiated learning targets. Included are detailed examples of…

This article defines what mastery learning is, examines how it works, and indicates how well it works. (JD)

Keller's Personalized System of Instruction dominated the literature in the teaching of psychology and behavior analysis in the 1970s and 1980s. After this brief flourish of interest, PSI research trickled off to a nearly imperceptible stream in the 1990s. However, with the increasing availability and ease of use of computers and the internet,…

The personalized system of instruction (PSI) is presented as a teaching system with characteristics that render it especially vulnerable to being misused or abused by teachers, students, and administrators. Examples are provided along with reasons why misuse and abuse may contribute to negative attitudes about the system. (Author)

Classroom use of the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) was investigated by sending questionnaires to three groups: early (before 1975) users of PSI, recent (after 1975) users, and current chairpersons of psychology departments. Data from all three sources suggest that fewer PSI courses are being taught and that many depart substantially…

The authors stress mastery criterion as the most important component of the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI). (DE)

Using 68 students in professional education coursework, the study determined whether accomplishment of performance objectives determined by satisfactory performance on unit tests during instruction was related to the student's performance on an end-of-course retention test. Evidence supported the assignment of grade credit based on objective…

Presents four guidelines for improving individualized instruction, based on the author's experience with the "mastery learning" approach to instruction. (JG)

The diverse population of students in grades 1- 3 at a suburban elementary school has created a challenge for teachers when differentiating instruction in reading. The purpose of this doctoral project study was to explore the lived experiences of these teachers as they have acquired research-based instructional strategies in reading that support…