Mastery Quizzes: One Piece of the Assessment Puzzle

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Mastery QuizzesOne Piece of the Assessment
Puzzle

• James R. OlsenWestern Illinois University

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Outline

• Background
• Description
• Rationale
• Topics
• To Create a Mastery Quiz System

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Background Why did I develop a Mastery Quiz
System?

• I've used mastery quizzes
• in high school
• Algebra I (four quizzes),
• Trigonometry (12 quizzes).
• in college
• Math 100 (two quizzes)
• Calculus (four quizzes).

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• Disclaimer I am not crying for
  "back-to-the-basics." On the contrary, I am for
  multiple forms of assessment, problem solving,
  the use of calculators and computer algebra
  systems.
• I see Mastery Quizzes as one piece of the
  assessment puzzle.

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Description

• My mastery quizzes are
• announced (I give an announcement sheets
  detailing the objectives and sample items).
• short.
• only used for basic, key concepts and skills.
• a requirement for passing the course.
• Students are given multiple chances to pass.
• Students are given two chances given in class
  (after that they take them after school).
• graded right away.

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Rationale

• The purpose of the mastery quizzes is simple
  Monitor student progress toward some of the
  central mathematical concepts and skills that all
  students need to know and be able to do.

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My reasons for using mastery quizzes are

1. Get the students to learn the material in a
   timely manner.
2. Confidence builder for students.
3. Certain concepts and skills will continually be
   used.
4. The teacher knows that everyone can do it.
5. Tells the students what is important.
6. Partial credit can sanction flaws in
   understanding. What may appear to be an
   "oops-mistake," may actually be a flaw in
   understanding

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Topics

• Algebra I mastery quiz topics (and links to
  example quizzes)
• Trigonometry mastery quiz topics (and links to
  example quizzes)
• Calculus mastery quiz topics (and links to
  example quizzes)

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Create a Mastery Quiz System

1. Decide on the topics. Estimate how many mastery
   quizzes you'll use.
2. Start brainstorming on questions.
3. Get a clear focus on the questions. Optional
   Write an announcement sheet to hand out to the
   students.

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Create a Mastery Quiz System (contd)

• Have enough variety that students can't just get
  the answer by rote memory.
• Variety within the quiz (question to question)
• Variety from quiz version to quiz version
• Finalize version 1 of the first mastery quiz.
• Write subsequent versions. (I use four versions
  per mastery quiz.)
• (Do Steps B and F for subsequent mastery quizzes.)

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Jim Olsen JR-Olsen_at_wiu.edu Mathematics
Department Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
61455 309/298-1466