Personalized Learning: A Video Series

Summary

The website content discusses the importance and implementation of personalized learning in K-12 education, highlighting the role of advanced technology and expert insights.

Abstract

The content introduces "Personalized Learning: A Video Series" emphasizing the significance of tailoring educational experiences to individual student needs. It notes that while the concept of personalized learning is not new, the advent of technology has significantly enhanced its application. The article references the work of learning scientists and the development of adaptive learning platforms that adjust to a student's knowledge and learning pace, fostering student strengths, addressing weaknesses, and providing agency in learning. Experts from various educational backgrounds, including Tom Vander Ark, Janet Pittock, and Tiffany Wycoff, share their insights on the importance of personalized learning, the terms "adaptive" and "personalized" in the educational context, and the transformation of the classroom environment to focus on student learning rather than梦 teaching. The content concludes by offering a Personalized Learning Guide for further information.

Opinions

Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart, emphasizes the need for schools to give students ownership over their learning and suggests that classrooms should be environments where learning is facilitated rather than solely taught.
Janet Pittock, McGraw-Hill Education Curriculum Director, accentuates the current emphasis on personalized learning due to its benefits in adapting to individual student needs.
Tiffany Wycoff, an innovative school leader and author, clarifies the distinction between "adaptive" and "personalized" learning梦, highlighting the importance of understanding

#1: What is personalized learning, and why is it important?

“We need to create schools where kids have a great deal of ownership over what they’re learning and how they learn.” — Tom Vander Ark, Getting Smart CEO

The desire to personalize learning experiences for students in the K-12 classroom is not new. For a long time, educators have recognized the diversity in learning styles, abilities, and strengths within their student population. They have understood the importance of personalized learning, and used whatever resources were available to them to empower those students specifically and individually.

What is new, however, is the technology we can now use to truly, deeply personalize learning. Teacher intuition uncovered a gap in the student learning journey, and drove the development of key advancements in education technology.

These digital learning tools and programs are built from learning science — by scholars who carefully study how the brain functions and the way students learn. Learning scientists collaborate with curriculum specialists, user experience experts, academic designers, and tech gurus to produce an educational tool truly equipped to personalize learning for any student.

Some of the more advanced personalized learning technology platforms use adaptive engines to create a learning path custom to a student’s individual needs — they recognize what a student knows, doesn’t know, and is ready to learn next. It fosters strengths, fortifies weaknesses, and equips the student with choice and agency. It also provides teachers with valuable insights into a student’s progress, as an individual or against a standard.

To help you better understand how personalized learning technology can empower your students, hear from three experts, including Tom Vander Ark, Janet Pittock, and Tiffany Wycoff:

Janet Pittock, McGraw-Hill Education Curriculum Director, on why there is such an emphasis on personalized learning in K-12 education today:

Tiffany Wycoff, innovative school leader and author, explains how educators should understand terms like “adaptive” and “personalized”:

Tom Vander Ark, Getting Smart Author and CEO, answers the question: “Can the classroom become a place where students come to learn, not to be taught?” →

For more information on personalized learning technology, download our comprehensive Personalized Learning Guide: