Mastery vs. Exposure

In this corner, weighting 225 pounds, Mr. Mastery Number 1 and in the other corner, weighting 230 pounds, Mr. Exposure Number 2.  The match tonight is a cage match and the last person standing is the winner.  Now let the match commence, Bing!

 

 

In a meeting with educators, a conversation between mastery and exposure was contentious and fierce.  After reading an article that posted scores related to the end of course test, my colleague stated that the information in the paper was misleading for his focus his instruction on mastery of the curriculum instead of pacing based on the curriculum map.  His point was that it is more important for the students to gain mastery of the material prior to moving ahead to expose the students to the entire curriculum. 

 

 

My position was that if this theory is practiced in all schools, many students will continue to suffer on the end of course test because they lack the exposure.  We clearly understand that each student is different but we own them the opportunity not to rob them of the exposure to the curriculum.  As a social studies educator, we are required to exposed all sixth grade students to eleven units, from

Europe

to Personal Finance.  It is critical that students have the opportunity to see the world even though they may not fully understand or appreciate the trip.

 

 

 

 

For too long, many schools and parents in minority and low social economic communities have committed a crime by reproducing the community.  The task for the school and parents is to enhance the learning of each child daily.  We need to develop students who are productive, critical and creative thinkers, collaborators and know how to make excellent decisions. These goals can only be met when students are expected and demanded to achieve through a rigor and vigor curriculum. The argument of mastery is valid (only in theory) but will present frustration and low esteem for many students who fail to catch up. Our purpose as educators is to teach the curriculum the school district deemed necessary and if we dislike the curriculum our task is to change the curriculum not short-change our students.  We welcome all opinions to determine the winner in the cage match between Mastery vs. Exposure 

Comments

[Eric D. Patterson]

Having had the good fortune of and education with its emphasis on mastery OVER exposure, with supplemental time and energy devoted to exposure to a wide variety of materials and experiences, I can understand both points of view. However, if pressed for a response, my tendancy is toward exposure over mastery in that exposure has a higher probability to inspire interest in a broad range of subjects

[Syrita Jackson]

As much as I delight in my students mastery of new content I realize that in real life most of us are by necessity, "Jack of all trades, master of none". Real life requires that students have some background knowledge of how the world works. If we insist on mastery (by whatever "magic number" mastery is these days), many students will not have the needed information to even dream, let alone fulfill their dreams. There is no hope without EXPOSURE. You can live with mediocrity, yet people die every day from a lack of knowledge.