Personalizing
                   Learning
                          Richard Culatta and Karen Cator
          Office of Educational Technology | US Department of Education




www.ED.gov/technology                                         @OfficeOfEdTech
The traditional
classroom model has
    some serious
    challenges…
Approach to Innovation
“pencil-sharpening” innovation uses technology to improve existing models




             http://www.photo-dictionary.com/phrase/1742/pencil-sharpener.html
The TragicallHistorie of
        HAMLET
       Prince of Denmarke

          SCENE I. Elsinore

FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him
BERNARDO: Who's there?
FRANCISCO: Nay, answer me: stand,
and unfold yourself.
BERNARDO: Long live the king!
FRANCISCO: Bernardo?
BERNARDO: He.
FRANCISCO: You come most carefully
upon your hour.
BERNARDO: 'Tis now struck twelve;
get thee to bed, Francisco.
FRANCISCO: For this relief much
thanks: 'tis bitter cold, and I am sick
Approaches to Innovation

Technology can be used in
  transformative ways to address
  challenges of the traditional
  classroom model
Challenge #1
All learners are treated the same despite different needs and
challenges
Challenge #2
We hold the schedule constant and allow the learning to vary




                           vs
Challenge #3
Student performance data comes too late to be useful
It’s Time for a New Model




 “We must take classroom learning beyond a one-size-fits-all
  mentality and bring it fully into the 21st century”
National Ed Tech Plan
“Technology gives students
opportunities for taking
ownership of their learning.
Personalized learning is paced
to student needs, tailored to
learning preferences, and
customized to the specific
interests of different learners.
In an environment that is fully
personalized, the learning
objectives and content as well
as the method and pace may
all vary.
What is Personalized Learning?

 Adjusting the pace (individualized)

 Adjusting the learning approach (differentiated)

 Leveraging student interests/experiences

= Personalized Learning
Examples of Personalized
Learning
 Systems that adapt to learner needs
Examples of Personalized
Learning
 Approaches that support differentiated learning
Examples of Personalized
Learning
 Increasing the frequency of formative assessments
Examples of Personalized
Learning
 Providing learners choice about what and how they learn
Examples of Personalized
Learning
 Customizing instruction based on performance/preference
Examples of Personalized
Learning
 Approaches that turn learners into creators
Elements of Personalized
Learning
Access Everywhere
 Students need their own devices/access




                                           Computer
                                             Lab
Personal Learning Plan
     Near-real-time
      feedback to
      parents/students/teac
      hers:
Competency Based
Essential elements
    Ability for students to own their data




Student-managed electronic
learning portfolios can be part of a
persistent learning record and help
students develop the self-
awareness required to set their
own learning goals; express their
own views of their strengths,
weaknesses, and achievements;
and take responsibility for them.
    - National Educational Technology
                                 Plan
Data Streams
 Leveraging patterns from digital interactions to improve
  improve instruction, and fuel research:




          http://www.ed.gov/edblogs/technology/research/
Personalized learning is
   for teachers too!
Personalizing Teacher
Improvement




  Teacher receiving real-time feedback via earpiece
Race to the Top - District

                     Education
Final Thoughts
www.epiced.org
“Education is both a moral obligation
and an economic imperative. We are
 in a fight for the future – a fight that
         depends on education.”

         - President Barack Obama
Thanks!



www.ED.gov/technology             @OfficeOfEdTech

Personalized Learning

Editor's Notes

  • #3 Here are three that I feel are particularly problematic – you may have others
  • #4 Unfortunately, much of the technology is what I call “pencil-sharpening” technology
  • #14 Individualized/Adaptive (adjusts content around a specific topic)
  • #15 Differentiated (algorithm tries different approaches to instruction)
  • #16 Garland HS in TX. Formative assessments: increased formative assessment by 10x (lots of medium quality questions). Instructor reviewed results and made decisions about what to do next. Had 15% drop out 1/3rd didn’t show up regularly – went to 100%attendance and no dropouts. Freed him up to “coach” the kids (not always academic issues causing the problem)
  • #17 Tools that help students understand where they’re at and make choices about what to do next
  • #19 Teachers don’t have to assign the same thing to everyone. Mooresville example of Brown vs. BOE
  • #26 Drive-by professional development is not effective
  • #27 Example of TFA approach: teacher with earpiece received real-time feedback from a coach to improve teaching