Personalized Mastery-Based Learning Ecosystem

Abstract

Children differ greatly in what they know and are ready to learn when they enter school. However, when their individual needs are assessed and addressed, even very young children can learn and can greatly surpass grade-level expectations. This chapter discusses the partial implementation of a research-based personalized mastery-based learning ecosystem (PMLE) that uses My Math Academy, a games-based learning program and personalized teacher resources to deliver learning outcomes for young children at scale. The implementation of the My Math Academy PMLE with nearly 1000 prekindergarteners at a high-need school district resulted in significant learning gains, including gains beyond grade level, despite large learner variability in students' prior knowledge and learning progress. Teachers also felt empowered to deliver differentiated instruction, building on the personalized learning students experienced through My Math Academy. Results showed that the PMLE framework can help close equity gaps and help children excel in ways that defy expectations.