Learning Gets Personal
January 19, 2018
Reimagining the Role of the Teacher
When teachers first hear about personalized learning, they sometimes feel threatened. There is a lot of fear around the notion of trying to meet individual students needs, and it can feel overwhelming. Teachers may also feel undervalued because they subscribe to the misconception that personalized learning seeks to replace teachers with technology. While technology is a tool that can be leveraged to help teachers meet the diverse needs of students, the ideas at the center of personalized learning are really not about technology. Instead, personalized learning is really about best practices in teaching. Technology can, and should, be an aid to teachers, but the best personalized learning tools we have are teachers. Meeting the diverse needs of students by tapping into their skills and interests is something that only a teacher can do well.
While teachers are absolutely essential to personalized learning, this new way of teaching does require that we rethink the role that teachers play. The traditional model of education was developed during a time when knowledge was scarce and the goal was to disseminate a standardized level of basic information to the masses. This model relied primarily on whole group lecture and skills practice. The demands placed on education today are very different from that model, and in order to prepare students for today's world, teachers must play a different role than in the past. This issue of Learning Gets Personal provides helpful resources aimed to shed light on these changing roles.
All the best,
Heather
The Shifting Paradigm of Teaching: Personalized Learning According to Teachers
KnowledgeWorks, in partnership with the National Commission on Teaching & America’s Future (NCTAF) release “The Shifting Paradigm of Teaching: Personalized Learning According to Teachers” to explore the voices and perspectives of educators implementing personalized learning in the classroom.
"In today’s technology-driven world, teachers may no longer be the sole keepers of knowledge. But they are more important than ever in preparing students for an ever-changing workforce.
Based on interviews with teachers, instructional coaches and principals, the report explores what drives educators to build personalized learning environments in the classroom. It also provides excerpts from educator interviews and teacher reflections on how vision, culture and transparency have impacted personalized learning implementation.
Finally, the paper aligns teacher insight to 10 district conditions for scaling personalized learning, such as curriculum, instruction, technology policy and assessment systems. KnowledgeWorks originally published "The District Conditions for Scale: A Practical Guide for Scaling Personalized Learning©" in 2014."
The Teacher's Role in a Student's Independent Learning Journey
6 Possible Roles For Teachers In A Personalized Learning Environment
Personalized learning: The importance of teachers in a technology-driven world
Spotlight on Schools
Conley Hills Teachers Designing Curriculum for All Learners
Instructional Technology Coach, KSU iTeach
While teachers are adjusting their teaching to personalize learning for the students, they can learn from two incredible teachers at Conley Hills who are using UDL to meet their diverse learners’ needs. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers tools to help students succeed. UDL is a research-based framework that uses cognitive neuroscience to help teachers adapt flexible learning environments that can accommodate individual learning differences. Click here to learn more about how teachers at Conley Hills are planning instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
Important Announcements
Celebrating our PL "Bright Spots!"
Helpful Links
Questions?
Heather Van Looy, Ed.S.
Fulton County Schools
Email: vanlooy@fultonschools.org
Website: https://employees.fultonschools.org/academics/Personalized%20Learning/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 6201 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: 470-254-6899
Twitter: @heathervanlooy