Personalized Learning
Overview
Teachers, leaders, students, and families in communities across the country are coming together to explore how schools can better prepare students to succeed after graduation.
Together, we are exploring big questions such as:
- What must students know and do to be able to thrive in the modern world?
- What learning experiences are necessary to ensure students graduate with these skills and traits?
- How do schools better meet the needs and interests of students by providing personalized pathways toward graduation?
- How must schools adapt to create these new learning experiences and opportunities?
When schools, districts, and communities engage in conversations surrounding these questions, they arrive at common goals - increasing access to high-quality learning and addressing equity. It is our intent to better educate all students and equip them with the knowledge they need to thrive in college, careers, and life.
Rationale
Today's students will enter a job market that values skills and abilities far different from the traditional workplace talents that so ably served their parents and grandparents.
They must be able to efficiently collect, synthesize, and analyze information, and work with others to employ that newfound knowledge. In essence, students must learn how to learn, while responding to endlessly changing technologies and social, economic and global conditions.
Therefore, schools and districts are shifting from the traditional way of doing things to a more personalized learning model. These changes are underway as a response to local, regional and global challenges as well as the big opportunities that now exist to do for students what teachers have always wanted to do-give learners the support and encouragement that they need to truly excel and thrive.
Understanding that our journey towards a more personalized learning environment is one of continual growth, it is our goal to meet the learner where they are, determine where they need to be and find and scaffold the right pathway to get them there.
Personalized Learning - The LPS Roadmap
Purposeful Learning
Students are able to describe what they are learning and how it addresses a competency or standard; how the learning serves a purpose and how they can use it beyond the classroom.
Instruction on Learning
Balance of whole group, small group, and individualized instruction.
Focus on Learning
Personalized learning environments focus on stimulating and nurturing student commitment to learning. Student questions will more likely focus on understanding and mastery rather than requiring completion of work with & prescribed amount of role responses. Summative and formative assessments will be used to determine student mastery
Learner Efficacy
Students connect the fact that good choices are affective strategies, persistent, and appropriate use of resources impact their success
Ownership of Learning
Student see learning as something that has value to them. They work to learn, not just comply with adult demands. Students are resources that build their own learning and support the learning of other students. Teachers build student agency.
Flexible Pace
Students learn at a pace that works for them. The focus is on quality learning and mastery of content.
Learner Voice Infused
Student perspectives, opinions, and preferences are invited, respected and considered. Student preferences may not always prevail, but are seriously considered and implemented where practical.
Learner Choice Presented
When practical, learners are given options regarding how they will engage in learning. (Pace, Place, Partner). Focus remains on clear, robust standards, but the path may vary.
Flexible Space
In the learning environment, students may be grouped in a variety of positions, sitting at tables, on the floor, comfortably on a cushion, etc. Students are encouraged to find a location where they learn best without distracting others from their learning. The environment may expand beyond the classroom.
Collaboration
Some learning tasks are best accomplished by working alone, collaborative learning plays a key role in a personalized environment. The question is not “either/or,“ but what is the best fit for the learner and the learning task.
Technology Supported
Personalized learning is not technology driven. Technology is a tool that may be used to enhance student learning. Technology is employed thoughtfully and strategically to support learning in the most effective and appropriate ways possible.