Why Personalize

How nosotros best acquire has been a hot theme for many years. As most would stimulate experiences that are relevant, practical to our needs, meaningful, in addition to applicable crusade learning.  The powerfulness to acquire in addition to build novel knowledge, hence apply it inward ways to solve complex problems, is at the pump of what didactics has been tasked alongside accomplishing. This lofty finish has fallen way curt of expectations every bit our didactics organisation has changed real footling over the past times 100 years.  As a final result of by in addition to large the one-size fits all approach, students acquire into an surroundings where non exclusively their needs are non met, but in that location is real footling motivation to learn. With this stark reality inward place, changes inward schools in addition to instruction are definitely needed to improve encounter the needs of all learners.

Now don’t acquire me wrong, important progress has been made over the years alongside the piece of job of Carol Ann Tomlinson regarding differentiated instruction. Wikipedia provides a real concise summary of this approach:

"A framework or philosophy for effective teaching that involves providing dissimilar students alongside dissimilar avenues to learning (often inward the same classroom) inward damage of: acquiring content; processing, constructing, or making feel of ideas; in addition to developing teaching materials in addition to assessment measures hence that all students inside a classroom tin acquire effectively, regardless of differences inward ability."

Is differentiation plenty in addition to why has it non been incorporated at scale? Time mightiness travel i number every bit good every bit a lack of resources to implement this approach consistently.  Another ingredient is the apparent lack of focus on what students are actually passionate most in addition to aligning this to their learning interests. Personalized learning builds on the of import foundation that differentiation provides past times factoring inward the private interests in addition to preferences aligned to specific pupil needs.  Wikipedia provides this synopsis:

"Personalized learning is the tailoring of pedagogy, curriculum, in addition to learning environments past times learners or for learners inward club to encounter their dissimilar learning needs in addition to aspirations. Typically technology is used to facilitate personalized learning environments."

The concept of personalized learning continues to evolve.  Be certain to cheque out the working Definition in addition to critical questions to catch compiled past times Education Week.  As the Definition continues to evolve hence does the potential inward schools to comprehend this uncommon learning strategy. When implemented alongside run in addition to inward a pedagogically audio way, technology tin non exclusively support, but likewise greatly heighten learning for all students inward appropriate situations. Personalized learning represents a displace from the “what” to the “who” every bit a agency to facilitate pupil ownership of the learning process.  

Image credit: http://assessment.tki.org.nz/

This shift non exclusively results inward a refined focus, but likewise around of import benefits such as:

• Knowledge in addition to how it is used
• Authentic, relevant, existent footing contexts
• Building on various strengths/needs of all students
• Fostering independence in addition to self-directed learning
• Ownership of learning
• Different ways to facilitate learning
• Use of tech to back upward in addition to heighten learning

A to a greater extent than personalized approach to learning tin final result inward increased relevance in addition to value for students leading to improve outcomes in addition to results.  Advances inward technology at in i trial allow educators to personalize learning through both blended in addition to virtual pathways.  For many students these changes tin definitely heighten in addition to improve their learning experience.  However, personalized learning in addition to technology for that affair create non stand upward for a silvery bullet to all the woes that our didactics organisation currently has. When implemented correctly in addition to appropriately aligned to deeper learning outcomes this approach tin atomic number 82 to deeper solar daytime of the month in addition to demonstration of what students know in addition to tin do.

For a to a greater extent than comprehensive guide on personalized learning click HERE.

What are your thoughts on personalized learning? Is it merely around other catchy fad or a legitimate approach to displace schools forrad through?