In part one of our two-part interview with Dr. Linda Jordan, we dive into the brain science behind assessment, standards-based grading, and mastery-based learning. Dr. Jordan draws on extensive research about episodic memory, associative memory, and dopamine release to explain why traditional testing methods often fail to accurately measure student learning. She makes the case for more authentic, meaningful assessments that allow students to demonstrate mastery in flexible ways. Tune in to hear Dr. Jordan's insights on why we need to align grading systems and assessments with what we know about how the brain acquires and retrieves knowledge.