What is personalized learning ?

The term personalized learning, or personalization, refers to a diverse variety of educational programs, learning experiences, instructional approaches, and academic-support strategies that are intended to address the distinct learning needs, interests, aspirations, or cultural backgrounds of individual students. Personalized learning is generally seen as an alternative to so-called one-size-fits-all approaches to schooling in which teachers may, for example, provide all students in a given course with the same type. 

Personalized learning is a teaching method based on premise. Each student gets a " learning plan based on how they learn, what they know , and what their skills and interest are. 

Teachers make sure learning plans or project-based learning match up with the academic standards. They check to see if students are demonstrating the skills they're expected to learn as they progress through their education.

How personalized learning works

There are four widely used models that schools follow. Each of these models sets high expectations for all students and aligns their learning to a set of rigorous standards.

1. Schools that use learner profiles. This type of school keeps an up-to-date record that provides a deep understanding of each student’s individual strengths, needs, motivations, progress and goals. These profiles are updated far more often than a standard report card. And these detailed updates help teachers make decisions to positively impact student learning.

2. Schools that use personalized learning paths. This type of school helps each student customize a learning path that responds or adapts based on progress, motivations, and goals. For instance, a school might create a student’s schedule based on weekly updates about academic progress and interests.

How personalized learning works cont.

3. Schools that use competency-based progression. This type of school continually assesses students to monitor their progress toward specific goals. This system makes it clear to students what they need to master. These competencies include specific skills, knowledge and mindsets like developing resilience.

4.  Schools using flexible learning environments. This type of school adapts the environment students learn in, based on how they learn best. That includes things like the physical setup of the class, how the school day is structured and how the teachers are allocated.T

The benefits  of personalized learning:

When students are allowed to work at their own pace and in a way that is best suited to their style of learning, they become empowered to master each subject on the curriculum. In a traditional classroom, educators need to teach lessons at a specific pace, which can leave some students behind and can leave faster learners disinterested. With personalized learning, each student works through lessons at a pace that allows them to properly absorb the material and ultimately master the subject. 

2. It Gives Students Agency

Personalized learning empowers students to take control over their education and plan for their own futures, which helps keep them more engaged in the classroom. It encourages students to find and explore their passions at school, and to discover different ways of learning. Not only can students learn from educators and through self-guided learning, they’re encouraged to work closely with their peers to share skills, knowledge and common interests. By keeping students engaged in how and what they learn in the classroom, personalized learning offers them the freedom to direct their own education.

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3. It Helps Cultivate Soft Skills

Personalized learning teaches crucial skills beyond traditional subjects like math, English and history. It also focuses on developing and practicing soft skills like empathy, creativity, communication and collaboration. These skills are important as students prepare for an uncertain future. While we don’t know how technology will shape the job market in the coming decades, a recent study by McKinsey Global Institute predicted that up to 30 percent of the hours worked globally will be automated by 2030.  And it’s soft skills that will still be in demand in a world of increased automation. By arming students with transferable skills, personalized learning prepares them for an unpredictable future job market.

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4. It Leads to Improved Student Feedback

Personalized learning often makes use of technology to improve classroom learning. Tech also allows educators to give feedback to students more often and more immediately, by using personal assessments and tailored quizzes for each student. Students, parents and educators can get a better understanding of how well a student is learning new lessons and address any knowledge gaps in real time.