What Is Personalized Learning?

02.04.2019 Reimagine Learning with Personalized PD
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., TCEA 2019, Room 214B
Presenter(s): Alysa Cozart, Karen Goble, Lindsay Yancey, Meaghan O’Hara
About: Klein ISD has shifted to a personalized approach to PD honoring teacher voice. What started as an idea to level up teachers’ technology use through a Google Roadmap has evolved into a multi-faceted approach to reimagine learning. We will share strategies to support our vision, our four tenets of personalized learning, and many PD examples.

This was one of my favorite sessions during #TCEA , which was presented by amazing women who are passionate with education, technology integration, teacher professional learning, and curriculum instruction! One of the many take-aways that I learned from this session is the importance of organized planning invested by Klein ISD to ensure the successful deployment of their 1:1 student laptop. This deployment also included the transformation of educator professional learning to a personalized approach where teachers and administrators get to select their learning paths. 

So, if you ask me what is my take on personalized learning? Well, it is definitely the way to differentiate and scaffold adult learning especially when it comes to educational technology integration. The reason I say this is because there are adult learners who are either in the beginners level, intermediate level, or advanced level when it comes to understanding in-depth and implementing relevant and purposeful active and engaged learning using technology. It is not wise nor recommended to provide a "one-size fits all" professional learning approach. It is better to provide different opportunities where adult learners can choose the path they want to take that will lead to more meaningful experiences and sensible ownership. More often that it should, many district leaders and professional development specialists think that adult learners need to be micro-managed and held closely when it comes to their learning, to the point where the adult learners become too spoon-fed with their own growth and development.  

To access the Google Slide deck from the "Reimagine Learning with Personalized PD" presentation, please click the bit.ly link posted right next to this text. ​👉

bit.ly/reimaginePD

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In connection with this presentation, I dug upon this great resource that offers one of many definitions and explanations of Personalized Learning that is provided by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. To download the PDF file of the images below, click on this link.