Personalized learning recognizes that the needs of students come first. The assumption is that each student or learner brings his/her own unique gifts, talents, interests and personal goals that need to be fostered, nurtured and provided opportunities to grow. Central ideas are that not all students learn at the same rate, respond to same teaching methods, and to the same types of environments as all their peers.
The personalized learning approach lends itself to collaboration between the school, the teachers, the students, and parents to design learning programs that meet the needs and goals of individual students. A personalized learning approach takes a definitive stand that a one-size-fits-all approach in education is not in the best interests of all students/learners. Choice and flexibility are emphasized within a personalized learning approach however, fundamental curriculum requirements and learning standards continue.
Education Rethink Presented by John T. Spencer
The idea is that in order for students to be better prepared for the careers of today and in the future, 21st-century learning must ensure that students have the competencies to apply their skills and knowledge to solving real world problems in the knowledge economy of the future.
Source: BC Ministry of Ed. “Interactive Guide to Personalized Learning in BC”
Presented by Sir Ken Robinson
BC Education Plan — Personalized Learning and Flexibility & Choice
Presented by the BC Ministry of Education
ACTIVITY ONE
For an example of a personalized learning program using technology, complete the brief questionnaire to create your own personalized brain training program through Lumosity:
Lumosity designs personalized training programs tailored to each person’s goals, whether those be improving your memory, reaching peak performance, or fighting cognitive decline.
Go to: http://www.lumosity.com/why-lumosity/personalized-training and click ‘Start Training’
ACTIVITY TWO
Please complete the following short poll.
Hey guys – well done on the site.
Just after this section I have got to a point of thinking where if each student is learning at their own pace then where would the collaboration and the group discovery learning come from. Would this type of learning now not be accessible due to students being on their own learning paths.
Do we forget about the new xfactor approach – everyone watching it live together and go back to the original format of having taped auditions that can be watched whenever.
How do we keep individual students motivated along their own path and not get distracted by others around that happen to be on a more appealing aspect in their path?
Stuart
Hi Stuart,
Good point on your observations on the collaboration learning and the students’ self motivation aspects in PL.
During my research for this project, I came across many articles mentioned that collaborative learning and knowledge building is one of the most meaningful ways to support personalized learning. PL may be “personal” but it’s also highly social. Collaboration plays a large role in the personalized learning model.
Speak Up 2011, (http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/pdfs/SU11_PersonalizedLearning_Students.pdf ) puts it very well when they compared the student’s learning journey with our journey, when we travel from one place to another.
When one starts out on a journey, a few things are given – you have a starting location and you have a desired ending location. You also may have a map to guide you as you travel and to ensure that your path is efficient. However, fundamentally, the journey is yours and you reserve the right to personalize that journey with random stops or side trips to explore new interests. You may also decide along the way to adjust your travel pace and spend more time here or there. Your mode of transportation for this journey is also a personal choice – by air, by train, by car, by foot or whatever manner best fits your travel style. And while you are journeying from here to there connecting the dots on your map, so are many other travelers, each mapping their own personalized path.
Today’s students are on a learning journey. And like our traveler, they too want the opportunity to personalize their journey – to set the pace of learning, to self-direct their path, and to choose.
the mode of educational exploration that best fits their style and interests. With the collective advancements in technology, our schools have the potential to provide all students with more personalized learning journeys.
Paula
Hi Stuart,
That’s an excellent question. Here’s what Knewton has to say:
If we consider Knewton’s approach to collaboration in personalized learning environments, we can have a better sense of how personalized learning tools can help improve collaborative tasks.
Hope that helps!
James
I was having troubles with the individual/social aspects of PL but after reading this article I realized that PL is not a separate program but an integrating process. Which suggest flexibility that in this case means that students learn at their own pace while working in groups. As far as this project was concerned students were given a wide range of ways to show that they have met the required educational standards so one does not have to worry about the traditional assessment.
If learning is self directed then the concept of distraction as you describe it may not be applicable here it may just be the students sorting out their path
Hey,
Great job. I really like that your activities cater to all learning styles.
Nureen