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Optimizing Mastery Learning by Fast-Forwarding Over-Practice Steps

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Title: Optimizing Mastery Learning by Fast-Forwarding Over-Practice Steps
Language: English
Authors: Meng Xia (ORCID 0000-0002-2676-9032), Robin Schmucker (ORCID 0000-0002-5275-3608), Conrad Borchers (ORCID 0000-0003-3437-8979), Vincent Aleven (ORCID 0000-0002-1581-6657)
Source: Grantee Submission. 2025Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning (EC-TEL 2025) (20th, Newcastle and Durham, UK, Sep 2025).
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305A220386
Document Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers
Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Elementary Education
Grade 6
Intermediate Grades
Grade 7
Grade 8
Descriptors: Mastery Learning, Skill Development, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Technology Uses in Education, Learning Processes, Equations (Mathematics), Problem Solving, Mathematics Instruction, Middle School Students, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Mathematics Skills, Drills (Practice), Middle School Mathematics
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-03870-8_37
Abstract: Mastery learning improves learning proficiency and efficiency. However, the overpractice of skills--students spending time on skills they have already mastered--remains a fundamental challenge for tutoring systems. Previous research has reduced overpractice through the development of better problem selection algorithms and the authoring of focused practice tasks. However, few efforts have concentrated on reducing overpractice through step-level adaptivity, which can avoid resource-intensive curriculum redesign. We propose and evaluate Fast-Forwarding as a technique that enhances existing problem selection algorithms. Based on simulation studies informed by learner models and problem-solving pathways derived from real student data, Fast-Forwarding can reduce overpractice by up to one-third, as it does not require students to complete problem-solving steps if all remaining pathways are fully mastered. Fast-Forwarding is a flexible method that enhances any problem selection algorithm, though its effectiveness is highest for algorithms that preferentially select difficult problems. Therefore, our findings suggest that while Fast-Forwarding may improve student practice efficiency, the size of its practical impact may also depend on students' ability to stay motivated and engaged at higher levels of difficulty. [This paper was published in: "Two Decades of TEL. From Lessons Learnt to Challenges Ahead. EC-TEL 2025. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 16063," edited by K. Tammets et al., Springer, 2026.]
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED676615
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Optimizing Mastery Learning by Fast-Forwarding Over-Practice Steps
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Meng+Xia%22">Meng Xia</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2676-9032">0000-0002-2676-9032</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Robin+Schmucker%22">Robin Schmucker</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5275-3608">0000-0002-5275-3608</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Conrad+Borchers%22">Conrad Borchers</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3437-8979">0000-0003-3437-8979</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vincent+Aleven%22">Vincent Aleven</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1581-6657">0000-0002-1581-6657</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Grantee+Submission%22"><i>Grantee Submission</i></searchLink>. 2025Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning (EC-TEL 2025) (20th, Newcastle and Durham, UK, Sep 2025).
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 16
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  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Data: Speeches/Meeting Papers<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+6%22">Grade 6</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+8%22">Grade 8</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mastery+Learning%22">Mastery Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intelligent+Tutoring+Systems%22">Intelligent Tutoring Systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Processes%22">Learning Processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equations+%28Mathematics%29%22">Equations (Mathematics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+Solving%22">Problem Solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematics+Instruction%22">Mathematics Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+6%22">Grade 6</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+8%22">Grade 8</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematics+Skills%22">Mathematics Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drills+%28Practice%29%22">Drills (Practice)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Mathematics%22">Middle School Mathematics</searchLink>
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  Label: DOI
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  Data: 10.1007/978-3-032-03870-8_37
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Mastery learning improves learning proficiency and efficiency. However, the overpractice of skills--students spending time on skills they have already mastered--remains a fundamental challenge for tutoring systems. Previous research has reduced overpractice through the development of better problem selection algorithms and the authoring of focused practice tasks. However, few efforts have concentrated on reducing overpractice through step-level adaptivity, which can avoid resource-intensive curriculum redesign. We propose and evaluate Fast-Forwarding as a technique that enhances existing problem selection algorithms. Based on simulation studies informed by learner models and problem-solving pathways derived from real student data, Fast-Forwarding can reduce overpractice by up to one-third, as it does not require students to complete problem-solving steps if all remaining pathways are fully mastered. Fast-Forwarding is a flexible method that enhances any problem selection algorithm, though its effectiveness is highest for algorithms that preferentially select difficult problems. Therefore, our findings suggest that while Fast-Forwarding may improve student practice efficiency, the size of its practical impact may also depend on students' ability to stay motivated and engaged at higher levels of difficulty. [This paper was published in: "Two Decades of TEL. From Lessons Learnt to Challenges Ahead. EC-TEL 2025. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 16063," edited by K. Tammets et al., Springer, 2026.]
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/978-3-032-03870-8_37
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Mastery Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intelligent Tutoring Systems
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      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
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      – SubjectFull: Learning Processes
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      – SubjectFull: Equations (Mathematics)
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      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 6
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 7
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      – SubjectFull: Grade 8
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Drills (Practice)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Mathematics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Optimizing Mastery Learning by Fast-Forwarding Over-Practice Steps
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            NameFull: Meng Xia
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            NameFull: Conrad Borchers
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            NameFull: Vincent Aleven
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              M: 09
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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            – TitleFull: Grantee Submission
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