Differentiated, Individualized, and Personalized Learning - The Likenesses and Differences

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.

Summary of AASA Personalized Learning Cohort Meetings and Focus

Kristin Humphries, Superintendent for the East Moline School District

Blog entry for AASA

09.30.19

Dr. Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” After participating in AASA’s Personalized Learning Cohort for the past two years, I know better. AASA’s Personalized Learning Cohort is a group of superintendents and district leaders who have come together around a problem of practice. How do we move schools that were built around an industrial model into a new world economy and personalize education for each and every child in order to reach their full potential?

For the past two years, I have seen incredible work in the field by our colleagues and their school districts as they move to a model that is tailored to meet the unique needs of every child. In the Dysart Unified School District in Surprise, Arizona, we saw scaffolded, personalized instruction starting in kindergarten. In North Penn, just outside Philadelphia, we were able to see students in charge of their learning and interacting with standards by creating content in high-interest areas to spark engagement. Just last week, we visited the Mehlville School District in St. Louis to see their work in helping all children create and navigate pathways that were personalized to their specific needs. As my colleague and Personalized Learning Cohort member Dr. Jeff Thake, superintendent for the Williston, North Dakota Schools, said, “When we really dig deep to answer the question -- how does each student learn best and what is each student’s strengths and interests, it’s going to transform public education as we know it.”

In the East Moline School District, we have been hard at work for over five years to move to standards-based, student-centered instruction at a rigorous level. It’s been a great deal of work, but our teachers are seeing the fruits of their labor in students that are more in charge of their own learning. As superintendent, it is important for me to communicate our shared vision that every child in the East Moline School District deserves a world-class education that is tailored to their specific needs. Dr. Gail Pletnick, retired superintendent of the Dysart Unified School District and co-chair of the Personalized Learning Cohort said, “This mission that we are all on, to personalize learning, is about equity.” The parents in my school district dream of infinite possibilities for their children just like parents from Dysart, North Penn and Mehlville. The Personalized Learning Cohort has helped me envision those next steps in East Moline as I learn from superintendents and school districts that have worked to create individualized pathways for their students in order to meet their full potential.

I look forward to continuing the work of our Personalized Learning Cohort. We are focused on learner agency by increasing engagement and giving students choice and voice as they take ownership of their education. I hope more superintendents get involved in this important work as we grow and learn together in personalizing education for every child. When we know better, we do better.

AASA in Missouri

Exploring Missouri and learning from a wildly talented group of child-centered educators this week has been an honor. AASA always out does themselves in in high quality professional learning.

How very appropriate that we would continue the study of Personalized Learning in Missouri.

Home of the iconic Gateway Arch; a national monument to the explorers, pioneers and rebels who made America possible.

A monument that celebrates America's pioneering spirit. A nation of risk-takers. Of those who seek a better way and a better future for all.

I commend the Mehlville schools for seeking a better way and taking a  student-centered approach to their improvement efforts.

My big take away from my trip to Missouri..... the first step in PL is to start.

Just start.

Start where YOU are. 

Engage your teachers, students, stakeholders and START where you are on this journey.

This work is about creating learning environments where kids are inspired....where they feel valued....where they know that they are the MOST important factor in this work.

Today, it was powerful to see teachers, students, parents, and leaders standing together as vulnerable, honest, and courageous learners.

TOGETHER, they are building something phenomenal in Missouri.

Their passion and commitment is inspiring and I am looking forward to collaborating to build a resource for all schools who want to jump in to this important work.

Get going, it's time.  Just Start.

Personalized Learning on Display With Kindergarten and 1st Grade Badge Books

At last night's West Valley School District School Board Meeting, hosted by Ahtanum Elementary School, Kindergarten and 1st Grade Teachers proudly displayed their Kindergarten and 1st Grade Badge Books. This is a tremendous example of Personalized Learning as well as the institution of Standards Based Grading in Kindergarten that moves up to 1st Grade. 

Follow this link in order to see highlights of the presentation last evening:https://wvsdyakima.blogspot.com/2019/09/1st-grade-badge-book.html

GREAT JOB Ahtanum Elementary School!

AASA Personalized Learning Cohort Upcoming Events

2019 - 20 Cohort Dates  

September 23 - 25, 2019, visiting Mehlville School District 

(home of AASA President, Chris Gaines), St. Louis, Missouri 

 March 30 - April 1, 2020, visiting Ithaca City Schools, Ithaca, NY 

All educators are welcome to join our monthly Twitter Chat - #LearnPLinAction 

     Last Monday each month at 6:00 PM ET *^{New Time}, except July and December

Next Twitter Chat is Monday, August 26, 2019 at 6 PM ET.

AASA Personalized Learning Cohort Blog

Everyone - This is the first of what we suspect will be many posts of shared information and opportunities for learning from one another. Please invite others to share by sharing the address of the blog, and how to post to the AASA Personalized Learning Cohort Blog.