West Valley Team - Our move toward providing a more student-centered, personalized learning environment for our students has prompted many discussions around the use of the words, differentiated, individualized, and personalized. This morning, I came across an article that tries to make sense of the use of these three words;
While Differentiated, Individualized, and Personalized Learning are Distinct, They Also Overlap
Classrooms are a whirlwind of learning styles, needs, interests, backgrounds, and abilities. Students need to not only be met where they are but also have a say in where they’re going. Fortunately, educators have access to a plethora of instructional approaches that, if implemented effectively, will provide students with the high level of engaged learning they require to be successful.
But unfortunately, over the years, the purpose and distinguishing characteristics of some of these instructional approaches has become unclear. Let’s detangle some of the loose edges surrounding differentiated, individualized, and personalized learning—three instructional approaches that are constantly confused.
By understanding the difference, and ultimately how these separate strategies can fit together, you will be better equipped to initiate more engaging and effective learning, and ultimately shift to a student-centered approach.
What is Differentiated Learning?
Differentiated learning is instruction tailored to the learning needs and preferences of different students. It’s a step in the direction away from the “one-size-fits-all” approach to teaching. The method varies according to the needs of each student or what research and real-time observation shows works best for similar students in groups, but learning goals remain the same for everyone.
What is Individualized Learning?
Similar to differentiation, individualized learning is instruction based on the learning needs of students. Individualization, however, places more focus on student pacing.
What is Personalized Learning?
Of the three strategies discussed in this article, personalized learning provides the most student autonomy. Students have an active role in designing lessons and projects that are meaningful and relevant to them based on their interests, aspirations, and passions. Teachers, then, act more as guides than the curators of information and learning experiences.
Seeing Beyond the Differences
Now that you understand the clear distinctions between each of these strategies, I want to challenge you to ignore the lines between them. While it’s important to recognize what you’re practicing, where the ideas come from, and what the research says about their effectiveness, these strategies all have elements that can help create powerful, student-centered learning experiences, whether you use them individually or combine them together.
So whether you’re differentiating learning, individualizing learning, personalizing learning, or combining elements of all three, remember that it’s not about conforming to the strategy as much as it’s about conforming the strategy to your students’ needs.
