Mastery Assessments
Show What You Know — Then Show You Can Use It
In a competency-based system, students demonstrate mastery through authentic performance — and earn badges as verified evidence. Tests confirm; performance proves.
Authentic Assessment
How Mastery Is Demonstrated
Inquiry Projects
Students investigate a question and produce evidence (timelines, maps, pitches, showcases).
Community Investigations
Connect learning to their island, family, and settlement.
Presentations
Heritage Reporter, Map My Bahamas, Heritage Showcase.
Peer & Conferences
"Glow & grow" peer feedback and short student conferences.
Performance Rubric
One Mastery Rubric, Every Competency
| Criterion | Beginning (1) | Developing (2) | Approaching (3) | Mastery (4) | Advanced (5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | Few facts, prompted | Key ideas, some gaps | Mostly accurate | Accurate & complete | Accurate + connections |
| Use of evidence | None | Vague | Some | Clear & relevant | Precise & integrated |
| Explanation | Unclear | Partial | Mostly clear | Clear cause/effect | Insightful, transfers |
| Independence | Needs support | Some support | Light support | Independent | Mentors others |
A student reaches a competency's badge at the Mastery (4) level; Advanced (5) is demonstrated through transfer tasks.
Observation Checklist
What the Teacher Looks For
- Uses correct vocabulary and outcome content without prompting
- Supports statements with specific evidence/detail
- Completes the performance task independently
- Reflects accurately on their own mastery level
- Applies learning to a new context (Advanced)
Digital Badging System
Eight Badges, Earned by Evidence
Badges are awarded at Mastery and stored in the student portfolio as verifiable evidence.
Criteria: connect learning to your island/community. Evidence: a community investigation.
Criteria: use keys & the 8-point compass (2.GE1). Evidence: completed map activity.
Criteria: sequence & explain arrivals (1.H1–1.H4). Evidence: timeline + explanation.
Criteria: explain symbols & Junkanoo (5.CH). Evidence: heritage showcase.
Criteria: compare Banks & islands (2.GE2–3). Evidence: compare/contrast task.
Criteria: rights & responsibilities (3.GOV4). Evidence: classroom constitution.
Criteria: analyze cause/effect across a strand. Evidence: reflection + reasoning.
Criteria: research Junkanoo/economy (5.CH5/4.ER). Evidence: a research note.
Each badge includes a short student reflection ("How I earned this"). Badges shown earned/locked are illustrative.