WHY PERSONALIZED LEARNING?
Each and every one of our students comes to school with different backgrounds, experiences, resources, learning styles, knowledge and emotional maturity. As educators, we understand that each child is unique and that every child can learn and succeed when provided the right learning opportunities for their unique needs and situations. We also see that while traditional one-size-fits-all education might work for some, it leaves many behind. Often those who are left behind are those who are already struggling or don't have the same access to the same opportunities as their peers creating an inequitable system.
Many educators and schools are beginning to find success in meeting the needs of all learners through a personalized approach to education. They leverage teacher-student relationships, a variety of teaching methods, a competency-based learning approach and purposefully integrated technology to create a more equitable system of education. Personalized learning allows each learner to learn what they need, when they need it, with support from their teacher and some choice over how they will learn it.
In Michigan
As Michigan embarked on the creation of their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, they listened to Michigan educators who recognized the need to break away from traditional one-size-fits-all systems to create more equitable outcomes for students. This is reflected in the creation of Michigan's Top 10 in 10 Strategic Goals and Initiatives and the MI Roadmap in which personalized learning is highlighted as a means to a more equitable educational system.
Many educators and schools are beginning to find success in meeting the needs of all learners through a personalized approach to education. They leverage teacher-student relationships, a variety of teaching methods, a competency-based learning approach and purposefully integrated technology to create a more equitable system of education. Personalized learning allows each learner to learn what they need, when they need it, with support from their teacher and some choice over how they will learn it.
In Michigan
As Michigan embarked on the creation of their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, they listened to Michigan educators who recognized the need to break away from traditional one-size-fits-all systems to create more equitable outcomes for students. This is reflected in the creation of Michigan's Top 10 in 10 Strategic Goals and Initiatives and the MI Roadmap in which personalized learning is highlighted as a means to a more equitable educational system.
WHAT IS PERSONALIZED LEARNING?
Personalized learning occurs when the student has a degree of choice over his or her education in terms of delivery, context, and pacing. Individual outcomes and how proficiency will be demonstrated are collaboratively defined. The student’s interests, experiences, and abilities guide his or her learning, making new information more relevant and meaningful. This approach has the potential to build the student’s capacity and desire to learn beyond the scope of the curriculum and the confines of the classroom.
Though many educators personalize learning for their students, personalized learning as a system can seem very complex. It can be helpful to look at the 5 key elements of personalized learning as described by CompetencyWorks to simplify.
Though many educators personalize learning for their students, personalized learning as a system can seem very complex. It can be helpful to look at the 5 key elements of personalized learning as described by CompetencyWorks to simplify.
Learner Profiles
Capturing the individual skills, gaps, strengths, weaknesses, interests, and aspirations of each student. Knowing each student through a combination of assessments, surveys, and relationships built inside and outside of the classroom. Personal Learning Paths Creating an individual pathway for each student, based on his or her unique learner profile. Each student has their own learning goals and objectives. Learning experiences are diverse and matched to the individual needs of students. Student Agency Students have some control over how they learn. With the help of their teachers, they are involved in designing their own learning process. They are given ownership in how to demonstrate their learning through performance-based assessments. Flexible Learning Environments Student needs drive the design of the learning environment and learning experience. The teacher uses multiple approaches in learning experiences that are responsive and adaptive to student needs. Competency-Based Progression Continually assess student progress against clearly defined standards and goals. Students advance (generally at their own pace) based on demonstrated mastery of these learning targets. |
PERSONALIZED LEARNING AT PLCON
The Personalized Learning Conference is for all educators to learn about personalized learning, while experiencing personalized learning as a learner so you can transfer personalized learning into practice. Here's how we include elements of personalized learning into the PLCON experience.
Learner Profiles
The registration process for PLCON is unique. It seeks information beyond the basics to identify your interests, your preferences and your understanding of personalized learning. From this, we create a learner profile to help you and our team choose meaningful learning experiences for you at the conference.
Flexible Learning Environments
Your learner profile will help us provide breakout sessions that are right for you. We'll select speakers and topics that suit your level of experience with personalized learning and your learning preferences. Dependent on presenter submissions, we hope to host the following session types.
Learner Profiles
The registration process for PLCON is unique. It seeks information beyond the basics to identify your interests, your preferences and your understanding of personalized learning. From this, we create a learner profile to help you and our team choose meaningful learning experiences for you at the conference.
Flexible Learning Environments
Your learner profile will help us provide breakout sessions that are right for you. We'll select speakers and topics that suit your level of experience with personalized learning and your learning preferences. Dependent on presenter submissions, we hope to host the following session types.
Introductory Sessions (45 minutes)
Introductory sessions are focused on providing an introductory lens to personalized learning as a concept. Each session is geared towards a different level of experience with personalized learning. Informational Sessions (40 minutes) Informational sessions are where presenters share strategies, mindsets, techniques and tools they use to support personalized learning in their learning environments. Round Table Sessions (40 minutes) Round table sessions are moderated discussions around specific topics in personalized learning. Deep Dive Sessions (85 minutes) Deep dive sessions look deeply into core concepts and strategies used to support personalized learning. Make and Take Sessions (85 minutes) Make and take sessions are hands-on sessions focused on helping you create something that you can use in your learning environment. |
Personalized Learning Paths & Student Agency
Your learner profile helps us select presenters, topics and facilitators who'll meet your needs. Prior to the conference we'll release the schedule, suggest sessions that are right for you and ask you to identify the sessions that interest you the most. We'll also have mentors on-hand to help you choose the a path that best fits your experiences and learning preferences.
Your learner profile helps us select presenters, topics and facilitators who'll meet your needs. Prior to the conference we'll release the schedule, suggest sessions that are right for you and ask you to identify the sessions that interest you the most. We'll also have mentors on-hand to help you choose the a path that best fits your experiences and learning preferences.
TIME AND LOCATION
The Personalized Learning Conference will be held at the Kent ISD Educational Service Center on May 7, 2019 from 8:00AM - 3:30PM.
Conference Schedule Time Event 8:00AM Conference Kickoff 9:25AM Breakout Sessions 10:15AM MDE 21j Panel 10:45AM Student Panel 11:20AM Lunch (Provided) 12:00PM Breakout Sessions 12:50PM Breakout Sessions 1:40PM Breakout Sessions 2:30PM Breakout Sessions 3:30PM End of Conference |
Kent ISD Educational Service Center
2930 Knapp Street NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 |