Personalize Learning (#plearnchat)

Introducing the collaborative blog series on Learner Agency by Personalize Learning, LLC and The Institute for Personalized Learning.

The term "student" was defined in the middle ages. It is time to rethink what that implies and redefine the learner.

In this blog, Clare Bertrand reflects on the "Powering Up Success" event on EdWeek in early October. 

"I loved this discussion–it is a great example of how technology integration can put the student in control of his or her own learning and also enable teachers to learn from their students. Technology helps to facilitate the notion that everyone in the classroom (whether that classroom is virtual or physical) is a learner.

Personalized learning, or student-centered learning, supports this notion of flexible roles for both teachers and students in the classroom. Barbara Cervone and Kathleen Cushman highlight how student-centered teachers see themselves as continual learners in their paper: Teachers at Work: Six Exemplars of Everyday Practice. They also stress the importance of a culture that employs common planning time and classroom observation as tools for innovation. Using these structures consistently and in a supportive manner (i.e., non-evaluative) are key to helping teachers reflect and respond to their students' needs and shape their own continual learning agenda. Students also thrive when given leadership roles, are reminded that they bring knowledge and expertise into the classroom, and have the time to partake in self-guided knowledge discovery in any learning environment."

Over the last decade conversations have been about analyzing the data to improve test scores.  The time has come to change the conversation to "The Learner" who has been the missing piece.  Once we understand the learner and how they learn, then transformation of our educational systems can begin.

The learner needs to be part of the daily conversations from now on:  no longer The Missing Piece.

Questions to consider when moving to a learner-centered environment:

> Who are the learners today?
> How do learners learn best?
> How do we meet the needs of the diverse learners in the classroom?
> What is the new role of the teacher?
> How is the role of the learner changing?
> Why is there a culture shift with these new roles?
> How can teachers and learners be partners in lesson design?
> How will teachers prepare to be the guide and partner in learning?
> How will learners express their understanding of what they know?
> What learning environment will be created for these learners?

 
Share your ideas in the comments section of this page.

Jeff Utecht provides food for thought on personalizing education and what it means for the learner.  

"Does it really matter that every child learns the same thing or at the same time? Or is it more important that they just become a learner? Learning how to learn, unlearn, and relearn and having the skills and the passion to make it happen.

What if it was just a school's mission and vision, or in my school's case, our Definition of Learning that drove learning in our schools. What if at the end of every year kids had to show this:

We value meaningful learning where students construct enduring understanding by developing and applying knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Increased understanding is evidenced by students who:

> Explain its relevance
> Describe how it connects to or conflicts with prior learning
> Communicate it effectively to others
> Generalize and apply it effectively to new situations
> Reflect critically on their own and other's learning
> Ask questions to extend learning
> Create meaningful solutions

Do we care what class it happens in? Do we really care about the content? Or can we stand in awe of the great work our kids can produce when we make it personal and allow their passion to show through."