What is Personalized Learning?

Caveat: I am focusing more on secondary education within this post as I am beginning to realize that primary education can vary greatly from secondary education.

Because I don't have a subscription, I am unable to leave a comment at the bottom of the article: What Is 'Personalized Learning'? Educators Seek Clarity by Sean Cavanagh.  So, I will write a short post instead, but I suggest you read the article to better understand this response

I realize the article is somewhat focused on the use of technology to support the concept of personalized learning so it may not consider all the ways personalized learning is being addressed, but I will have to agree with the first comment by Peter Barnard.  He clearly notes that the traditional structures of school is completely wrong to support learning (personalized or not).  I was also very disappointed that a particular organization that I have believe has great potential to impact education and make it personal was not mentioned. That organization is Big Picture Learning.  

I have been interested in this organization for quite some time (but never had too much opportunity to get that involved yet).  I first learned about it because I was interested in ways of doing school differently, which led me to learn about the Met School and Dennis Littky who wrote The Big Picture: Education is Everyone's Business (pictured below).  

I have more or less been infatuated with the philosophy and practices espoused by this organization and truly believe it has created an amazing system to ensure that learning is personalized. I personally believe the concept of Learning through Internship is a remarkable way to both (1) allow the student to drive the curriculum and (2) support these "adults-in-training" to become competent, contributing adults by placing them with adults (see note).  Additionally, another major tenant is One Student at a Time; I don't think you can get much more personalized than that!

So, for anyone interested in seeing some personalized learning in action, please check out some of the links above.


NOTE: The high school campus is such a bubble of isolation that these "young adults" do not get a chance to interact with adults enough. Therefore, they don't interact very well with adults when they have the opportunity.  I challenge you to watch teenagers on a high school campus and consider if you would see the same behavior in general  public--at least to the degree you see at the school.