Which principle supports the idea that learning should be tailored to individual student needs?

Mastery learning is centered around the concept that students progress through learning at their own pace, ensuring that all learners can achieve a high level of understanding before advancing to more complex material. This principle is rooted in the idea that students have varying degrees of readiness and capability, so tailoring learning experiences to meet individual needs allows each student to master the content thoroughly. In mastery learning, assessments are used as checkpoints to ensure comprehension, encouraging personalized approaches where learners can revisit concepts until they gain proficiency.

While other educational theories—such as constructivism, behaviorism, and cognitivism—offer valuable insights into how learning occurs, mastery learning specifically emphasizes the importance of achieving a standard level of understanding tailored to the individual’s learning process. Constructivism focuses on learners actively constructing their own understanding, but it does not solely prioritize individual pacing as mastery learning does. Behaviorism looks at observable behaviors and tends to focus on reinforcement strategies rather than individual tailoring. Cognitivism emphasizes mental processes and knowledge organization but does not directly advocate for personal pacing in the way that mastery learning does.