Using the Mastery Component

The Mastery component is designed for formative learning, knowledge checks and guided problem-solving. Instead of evaluating learners with a static quiz, Mastery serves questions one at a time until the learner demonstrates understanding.

Why use Mastery?

• Adaptive, mastery-based learning: instead of a high-stakes pass/fail test, learners practise continuously until they answer correctly, with immediate remedial feedback.
• Eliminate guesswork and memorisation: learners who answer incorrectly are served a different question, so they must engage with the material rather than memorise answers.
• Add richer context: use Prefaces to bring scenarios, case studies, video, audio and diagrams into each question.

How Mastery works for learners

1. One question at a time: learners focus on a single question, without forward or backward navigation.
2. Immediate feedback: learners receive feedback as soon as they submit an answer.
3. Adaptive progression:
   1. Correct answer: the component completes immediately.
   2. Incorrect answer: the learner is served another question from the pool.
4. No dead ends: Mastery allows unlimited attempts. If a learner works through the whole pool without a correct answer, the pool recycles, without immediately re-serving the question they just got wrong.
5. No pass/fail barrier: Mastery measures concept attainment, so learners always complete once they answer a question correctly.

How to set up a Mastery component

1. Add Mastery: select Mastery from the component palette. Two questions are added automatically to get you started.
2. Add questions: add up to 10 questions in the Questions panel.
3. Randomise question order (optional): by default, questions appear in the order you authored them. Toggle Randomise question order on in the Questions panel to shuffle the order for each learner.
4. Set scored or unscored: control whether Mastery contributes to the course grade in Project Controls > Scored Questions.

Add context with Question Prefaces

A Preface sets the scene before the question prompt, with background details, situational context or multimedia. You can add one to any question in your Mastery component.

Preface text: enter scenario descriptions, case study prompts or background briefs. 

Preface media: add one piece of media per question:

• Image: diagrams, photos or infographics (supports alt text).
• Video: streamed or uploaded video clips.
• Audio: audio clips with title and introduction fields.
• Text to Speech: a synthetic voice reading generated from text.
• Embed: third-party iframes or interactive web embeds.
• None: remove media to keep text only.

Media layout: when a Preface has both text and media, choose how they display:

• Column (default): media stacked vertically above or below the text.
• Column-reverse: the vertical stacking reversed.
• Row: text and media side by side.
• Row-reverse: side by side with positions swapped.

On mobile and narrow screens, row layouts automatically reflow into stacked columns for readability.

Preview your Mastery component

Because Mastery serves questions dynamically, the editor offers two preview experiences:

• Learner Preview: experience the component exactly as a learner will, including shuffled questions and the mastery loop.
• Author Preview: when reviewing your course, use the Author Preview dropdown to inspect, proofread and verify every question, Preface and feedback state, including questions a learner might not see.

Best practices

1. Use Prefaces for situational judgement: combine Mastery with multimedia Prefaces to build scenario drills where learners analyse a situation and choose the best course of action.
2. Test in Learner Preview: before publishing, use Learner Preview to confirm that feedback, question transitions and scoring behave as intended.