Mastery

A radical new approach to education for learners of any age

How much information is forgotten almost immediately after it is taught? How many students graduate from high school unprepared for careers where lifelong learning is essential to succeed? These problems stem from an educational system that uses time spent in a classroom and the results of standardized, multiple-choice tests as proxies for actual understanding. Educators Tony Wagner and Ulrik Juul Christensen call for a radical new system of learning, where students progress individually when they demonstrate that they can use what they have learned—no matter how long it takes to get there. This is called mastery learning, and it is the future of education.

This book shows how mastery learning is already being put to use in the United States and around the world, from kindergarten to college and in the workplace. Through conversations with teachers, students, parents, policymakers, and employers, Wagner and Christensen show how mastery improves motivation and prepares students for productive work, an engaged civic life, and personal growth and well-being. They also outline the challenges of adopting mastery learning and how to overcome them. Mastery is an urgent call to action to transform education for all.

• “What students learn is important, but so, too, is how and why they learn. In this authoritative guide, Wagner and Christensen unpack mastery learning—an approach that integrates the what, how, and why of learning. Rooted in science, enlivened by stories, and to-the-point with specific recommendations and examples, Mastery is for any teacher, parent, or leader who sees education as the key to a brighter future.”
  Angela Duckworth, author of Grit
• “If you’ve ever wondered why our education system feels stuck in the past, this book delivers both a powerful critique and a bold vision for the future. With compelling stories and actionable insights, Wagner and Christensen make a powerful case for a new approach built on curiosity, persistence, and real-world skills.”
  Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Drive
• “In an age of tremendous uncertainty and constant change, schools will need to radically reform how they treat students—and teachers. Mastery offers a global tour of some of the more promising experiments in redesigning school for modernity.”
  Amanda Ripley, New York Times–bestselling author of The Smartest Kids in the World