Personalized learning has emerged as a pivotal strategy in educators’ quest to meet students where they are and increase engagement. Nonetheless, equitable access to technology, the right PD, and better assessment tools can make or break these educational efforts.
In an eSchool News Innovation Roundtable focused on personalized learning moderated by eSchool News Content Director Kevin Hogan, school leaders discussed personalized learning experiences, success stories, and what the future will look like.
Participants include:
- Dr. Matthew Callison, Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, South Fayette Township School District (PA)
- Diego Ochoa, Superintendent, San Mateo-Foster City School District (CA)
Key takeaways and insights from the roundtable include:
What does personalized learning mean for the day-to-day management of a school district?
“We think about how we can provide more personalized opportunities for students in terms of course content and learning experiences,” Callison said. “I think there’s an element of it related to technology, but how can we create more authentic, more powerful learning opportunities that are relevant to our students’ futures while also really putting humans at the center?”
Indeed, looking to the future is a key part of personalized learning. “At a high level, as we look at our current students and looking toward the future, we think about what opportunities are relevant to our students and how we can create them in our districts, whether that be new physical spaces or new programs, and then build teacher capacity, get teacher buy-in, and create those opportunities. It’s time to build relationships,” Callison said. … “This is one of the ways we approach personalized learning and creating more meaningful opportunities for students who are traditionally underserved.”
“Personalized learning is about creating learning experiences that put the decision-making in the hands of children about what they want to do and what they want to learn more about,” Ochoa said. “There has to be an approach to curriculum design, where you want skills to be in the picture rather than the whole. And think about how adults in the system foster personalized learning. It’s really about getting into the student space and asking big questions that can drive their learning in directions they feel passionate about.”
Take advantage of every opportunity to see personalized learning in action in your district, new district, or professional conference.
“We need to go to these hubs where ideas are shared, because we know that it’s often an extension that comes back to other ideas, and that’s what the planet is about,” Ochoa said. “Once you get your foot in the door, you come back with a list of things you want to follow up on.”
“You can’t miss something, so we visit schools and startups to see how they work or see new programs at other schools. [it] It opens your eyes to what’s possible,” Callison said.
“Sometimes it’s just about sharing [within your district], it simply provides teachers with the opportunity to learn from other adults. Even colleagues in their own district,” Ochoa said. “We look at the design of personalized learning as one, we look at investing in personalized learning as one, we look at the theory, but we also have a practitioner space. “You have to get into that space and work with these people to understand how they’re putting that into action with kids.”
What’s next for personalized learning?
“We help students understand their strengths, interests and career preferences,” Callison said. “We will continue to build opportunities and programs that are inclusive and intentionally built to engage all students. We will continue to explore a variety of technology solutions that can provide the additional support everyone is looking for. I don't think there is a magic bullet. “But there is certainly room to connect technology to provide support to both teachers and students, and even to build better communication between students, families, and teachers.”
With the help of the grant, Ochoa District will aim to enhance personalized learning opportunities in schools that serve more than 80% of students who are homeless, foster youth, multilingual learners, or low-income.
“We have enormous income inequality,” he said. “Our agenda for the next five years is to look for individualized innovative thinking and innovative programming that can be introduced specifically to these schools. We want to give kids the experience of having all this content available at school.”
More eSN Innovation Roundtables Exploring Critical Education Issues
Related:
Agency and Self-Direction: Giving Students a Voice
3 Simple Strategies to Accelerate Student Growth
To learn more about personalized learning, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching hub.