The personalized system of instruction (PSI) is characterized by mastery, specified objectives, self-pacing, small-step sequenced materials, repeated testing, immediate feedback, credit for success rather than penalty for errors, proctors, and lectures for motivation. Research indicating the effectiveness of PSI is cited, and problems with…

A description is given of the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Curriculum Management System (CMS), a computer managed system that utilizes input from research findings on effective schools. The goals and objectives of instruction are clearly delineated and effectively communicated to students and their parents. Each student,…

Varied attempts by educators to individualize the instructional process in a classroom setting are quite frequently hindered or facilitated by the vertical pattern of organization--graded or nongraded--under which a given school functions. The nongraded school allows for the progression of a student through the contents of a given subject…

Describes the use of "Personalized System of Instruction" (P.S.I.) in the second semester of a first-year high school Chinese class that contained students of widely divergent ability levels. (KM)

Discusses the rationale for and results of an undergraduate course in calculus using modularized mastery level instruction. The salient features of the present program are instructor controlled learning with modularized materials, immediate results on quizzes, and lecture-recitation sessions. (VT)

Four studies examined the importance of student proctors and mastery performance in Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) programs. Results of the studies indicate that students will generally perform at the required level and that mastery of unit content is the most important element of PSI systems. (Author/AV)

Reports that both "good" and "poor" students benefited from the "Personalized System of Instruction" in a news writing course. (RL)

Describes an individualized chemistry course based on mastery learning. The course uses the CHEM Study inquiry approach and textbooks with students proceeding at different rates, according to their individual abilities and interests, through a prescribed set of learning activities involving readings, sound pages, films, experiments, problem sets,…

The development of mastery learning theory is traced as a teaching-learning strategy and its application in five steps is discussed. Practical classroom concerns are considered and the implications for the teacher's changing roles are examined. (CL)

Discusses the planning, development, implementation, and course management required to use the Personalized System of Instruction in the basic speech communication course. (PD)

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's personalized teaching system has the following features: students are provided with behavioral objectives prior to instruction; passing levels for tests are set in advance and are independent of class performance; and the program is divided into small units and students are tested frequently. (LBH)

A curriculum model linking mastery learning, individualized instruction, and modularized instruction would be ideal for the effective streaming of adult students toward targeted career objectives in the continuous intake programs of Ontario's community colleges. Pitfalls of implementation include teacher overload and lack of administrative…

In order to assess educators' beliefs about individualization of instruction and/or mastery learning, the School Climate Assessment Learning Environments (SCALE-I) was developed. SCALE-I is an attitude-type instrument consisting of 30 positive Belief Statements. Subjects were three groups of educators from the Department of Defense Dependents…

Is mastery learning an effective strategy in the teaching of vocational agriculture? Instructional Management Problems, the individualized instruction approach, and performanced based curriculum are topics investigated in answering this question. (MW)