Personalized Learning Best Practice

Personalized Learning Best Practice

By: Joy Thompson

Strategy Explained!

This strategy focuses on students individual paces and interests to orient and tailor an individual learning pace and process for the student. Students with IEPs, etc. have a great opportunity to have a learning plan designed around their individual needs and best enhance their strengths.

4 Strategies for Personalized Learning

• 1) Schools use individual learner profiles

• 2) Schools use personalized learning paths

• 3) Schools use competency-based progression

• 4) Schools use flexible learning environments

Why does this Strategy Work?

• 1) students feel as if their work isn't "disposable" (their work is meaningful and done with more intention than to check for understanding

• 2) students have to be familiar with their individual strengths and weaknesses and consider these as they continue to learn

• 3) finally, it gives students skills of self-advocacy

Examples YOU can use!

• Science: Science Fair!!! Creating their OWN hypothesis to test things that THEY'RE interested in

• History: Teacher Feature- at the beginning of the year, and after 1st, 2nd, and 3rd semester, poll students about events, people, and places that they're interested in. Each week you can have a feature from the class.

• English: Have an ongoing project for students to explore different types of literature, whether poetry, ancient myths/stories, or even a new genre of books. Be sure to have a regular check-in (this can be participation or if they meet a goal, they can receive bonus points)

Examples YOU can use! (continued)

• PE/Health: Have students choose their own type of workout focus and make a workout video together.

• Fine Art: These classes are all about student-based decisions for projects and studies! Have students come together to share afterward to compare and later explore something that will really challenge them.

• Math!!!: While this can be very difficult to make personal, I like to think about how small projects like a geometry scavenger hunt, building your own house, and creating tessellations can incorporate personal choices while still applying to the content.