How do We Measure Goal Mastery in Student Assessments?

Goal mastery is determined by the course of study or curriculum guides. For example, in a United States History course, the student may be expected to “name three reasons the American Revolutionary War began.” The state has already predetermined the goal mastery rate in regards to this course objective. Or possibly, the course objective may indicate that the student be able to “differentiate between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.”

Goal mastery must be determined by the application of course objectives and student authentic processing. Teachers should consider whether the student has identified, listed, or described the causes of the American Revolution or differentiated between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution?

The bottom line is that the teacher must rely heavily on the state or district curriculum. Without using the curriculum, the determination of what is expected of the student is lost.

If we identify, at the start of a course, how many students should reach a state of proficiency (hopefully 100%) by the end of the course, we can then map out how to get that percentage of students to pass with a level of course proficiency. Built into that percent is the goal mastery per cent. The percentage should indicate how well the teacher has presented the material and how well the student has learned the material.

The indication that a student has mastered a goal is crucial to ensuring that each student is proficient and ready for the summative or state assessment.

Learn More… Take this course: Formative Assessment

Discuss Here: What are some ways that you have been measuring goal mastery in your classroom?