Class Structure: Creating a Mastery-Focused Environment

1.  Which of the following best describes the difference between mastery-focused and performance-focused classroom environments?

a.High grades are more strongly emphasized in mastery-focused than in performance-focused classroom environments.

b.Assessment is more likely to be used to provide feedback about learning progress in mastery-focused than in performance-focused classroom environments.

c.Value is more likely to be placed on demonstrations of high ability in mastery-focused than in performance-focused classroom environments.

d.Ability is more likely to be viewed as fixed in mastery-focused than in performance-focused classroom environments.

2.Which of the following is characteristic of a performance-focused classroom?

a.An emphasis on improvement

b.Ability as incremental

c.Entity view of ability

d.Effort toward understanding

3. A teacher strongly emphasizes deep understanding of content and improvement in her class. This emphasis most strongly illustrates which of the following?

a.A mastery-focused classroom environment

b.A self-regulated classroom environment

c.A performance-focused classroom environment

d.A challenge-focused classroom environment

4.Which of the following is the best example of a performance goal statement?

a.I really want to learn how to do these problems.

b.I know I am not great at piano, but if I keep practicing I will get better.

c.I want to score a 650 on my Math SAT.

d.I don’t have to win the marathon; I simply want to run it in a time consistent with my ability.

5.Which one of the following teacher statements most promotes a mastery-focused rather than a performance-focused classroom?

a.“Let’s try hard now. I want to see a lot of A’s and B’s on the next test.”

b.“Very well done. Every person in the class improved on their scores compared to the last quiz.”

c.“Very good, everyone. Over half the class got either an A or a B on the last test.”

d.“C’mon now. Let’s give some of these top students a run for their money on this assignment.”

6.Ted Holmquist repeatedly makes comments such as, “Mistakes are a normal part of learning, so don’t feel badly when you make a mistake. Remember, our goal is to really understand this stuff, not just memorize a few terms.” Of the following, which statement best describes Ted’s efforts?

a.He is attempting to increase the students’ self-regulation.

b.He is attempting to create a mastery-focused classroom environment.

c.He is attempting to create a classroom environment in which students perform better than students in other classes.

d.He is attempting to model desirable behaviors for the students.

7.Mr. McCormick is trying to motivate his fourth-grade students.  He posts all of the “best” work on bulletin board and gives out the “best grade of the week” award on Fridays because he feels these strategies will motivate the learners to do their best.  Which of the following is most consistent with Mr. McCormick’s behavior?

a.He is modeling self-regulation.

b.He is enhancing student self-efficacy.

c.He is creating a performance-focused classroom.

d.He is promoting a humanistic view of motivation.

Essay Item

8.Describe three differences between a mastery-focused and a performance-focused classroom environment.