Life Science, Physical Science and Earth and Space Science are not giving mastery; tests are not locking
| Article ID |
925 |
| Product |
Pathways |
| Issue |
Life Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science appear to work differently from other PLATO curricula. Life Science, Physical Science and Earth and Space Science are not giving mastery, only scores and completion. How are they designed with regard to mastery, tests, and scores? Why do module mastery reports on these learning paths (or learning paths that contain portions of these curricula) sometimes not show mastery? |
| Resolution |
Life, Physical, Earth & Space Science with Assessments give mastery on test score 80% or higher; without-assessments version not mastery-based |
Details
Resolution
Each of the Life Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science curricula includes two alternate learning paths: - Life Science or Life Science with Assessments
- Physical Science or Physical Science with Assessments
- Earth and Space Science or Earth and Space Science with Assessments
Mastery In Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth and Space Science, each module contains a tutorial, application and test. No mastery is given, only completion. The test requires a score of 60% or better for completion. The test does not lock and can be retaken multiple times in succession. It is recommended that these learning paths be assigned only if you do not need to record mastery. In Life Science with Assessments, Physical Science with Assessments, and Earth and Space Science with Assessments, there are a tutorial, application, several practice tests and a mastery test. The mastery test gives completion and mastery if 80% is earned. The tutorial must be taken before the learner can take the application or practice tests, but the mastery test may be taken as a pretest or posttest. Mastery of the mastery test at 80% or better leads to mastery and completion of the module, and in turn to mastery of the course and curriculum level as additional modules are completed. The mastery test locks after the student takes it; a student who fails the mastery test must re-enter the tutorial before being able to retake the mastery test. It is recommended that these learning paths be assigned if you wish to require mastery at the 80% level. Score
The tests in Life/Physical/Earth and Space Science do show a score at the end of the test and in reports. Completion is based on attaining at least 60%. The mastery tests in Life/Physical/Earth and Space Science with Assessments also show the score on the learner menu and in reports. The practice tests (which are short, e.g., 3 questions) do not show a score; all of the questions on a practice test must be answered correctly before the learner is given completion for that practice test. For more details about Life/Physical/Earth and Space Science and how they work, refer to the curriculum guides located on the PLATO Web Learning Network user guides link or on the Documentation CD that comes with PLATO Pathways. Note: There is an error in the Physical Science curriculum guide: it states: Learners must answer all questions correctly in practice tests to demonstrate completion before they are able to take the mastery test. It should read: Learners must answer all questions correctly in practice tests for completion status [on the practice tests]. In fact, the learner can choose to take the mastery test first as a pretest, as discussed in the Pretesting section later on the same page in the guide.
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