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Running head: Personalized Learning As It Relates To The Classroom

Personalized Learning as it Relates to the Classroom

Marissa Frejka
University of Central Florida

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Running head: Personalized Learning As It Relates To The Classroom

Every single student or person has a different process by which they learn. This is why
the intervention, personalized learning has been widely used in the education system within the
classroom. Personalized learning is defined as permitting the learner to create and engage in their
own learning objectives and curriculum (Wyman, 2012). Personalized learning is used to support
students learning styles and allow the students to have their own voice in their learning. There
has been controversy, however, when it comes to personalized learning. While others believe this
type of learning is helping more students succeed, and others who believe there are some deficits
to personalized learning. (See Blendspace Tile 2) In this Blendspace, you will watch a YouTube
video explaining what personalized learning is. The video also shows a lesson being provided by
a teacher and how she incorporated personalized learning within that lesson.
Personalized learning and individualized instruction are now recognized as crucial
elements of student centric learning that fosters real progress and achievement (Green, 2013).
Classrooms used to be structured in a way that a lesson was taught only one way for each
student. Personalized learning tailors to the students interests and capabilities. Personalized
learning is intended to facilitate the academic success of each student by first determining the
learning needs, interests, and aspirations of individual students and then providing learning
experiences that are customized for each student (Abbott, 2015). ( See Blendspace Tile 4) In this
Blendspace tile, you will review an article that explains the 5 key elements of learning. By
personalizing learning, it tailors to the students interests and capabilities. (See Blendspace Tile
7) This audio addresses how to begin personalized learning within the classroom. This audio
gives teachers the guidance on what and where is the best place to begin with the students.
In 2013, the article of Pros and Cons of Individualized Instruction discussed multiple
strengths and weaknesses regarding personalized learning. Closing the learning gap is one

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Running head: Personalized Learning As It Relates To The Classroom

strength of personalized learning. Personalized learning delivers material at a pace that caters to
each students interest and abilities. This helps bring the students to their highest personal level
of achievement (Green, 2013). Since the lessons are now being tailored to each students
abilities, they begin to gain more confidence within themselves. Greater engagement for teachers
and students is another strength of personalized learning. According to Green (2013), Teachers
have more opportunities to interact with students one on one with using individualized
instruction in their classroom. Another strength is students get to work at their own pace. Gifted
students may go ahead while students who are struggling can take their time. (See Blendspace
Tile 6) This quote states what education should look like for each student. Heres an example on
how personalized learning has improved students chances in graduating high school and getting
into a four year college. A charter school in San Jose, California, has a population of low income
and immigrant families whose chances of getting into a college were very slim. The school
switched to a college-preparatory curriculum and has been supporting teachers in differentiating
instruction more. Since doing this, standardized test scores have climbed and almost all seniors
received acceptance letters from colleges. The school also incorporated a blended math model to
help improve the students math scores or grades. The school then adapted a one on one tutoring
intervention that the students can come to at any time throughout the school day. Teachers are
now able to teach students in a personal way (Childress and Bensen, 2014).
There have also been arguments regarding personalized learning. Teachers require a lot
of time and resources to achieve individualized instruction for each student. Some believe this
extra preparation is too much for a teacher to handle. Another weakness is that teachers need to
adjust to a new paradigm. Green (2013) found that many teachers are questioning where they fit
in the modern classroom anymore. Since students in classrooms are growing in size, teachers

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Running head: Personalized Learning As It Relates To The Classroom

have limited time with each student which is why technology is becoming a teacher partner
within the classroom to help teachers spend more time with their students. Another weakness is
reconstructing the classroom. There have been significant investments in technology to make
individualized learning possible within the classroom. Also, classroom seating arrangements may
need to be more flexible, so that the teacher can work with individualized or small groups
(Green, 2013).
Stephen Laster (2013) stated that personalized technology has people believing that
robots are edging out educators. He explains that technology and teachers need to find the right
balance so we can do whats best for the students. However, teachers have been providing
personalized education for years using different strategies. By technology improving, this helps
the teacher provide instruction more efficiently which increases student engagement and
improves outcomes (Laster, 2013).
Even though there are controversies or arguments regarding personalized learning, there
are multiple educators who have seen their students gain academic progress. A teacher name
Valyncia Hawkins provided students a more flexible learning environment though a mix of
technologies and small group instruction. She arranged her room and placed some desks in the
corners for students who prefer quiet time or need one on one feedback, placed a small couch in
the room, and placed desks together so students can gather work on their laptops. She concluded
that now her students are more engaged and have fewer behavior issues (Phillips, 2014). (See
Blendspace Tile 3) This article provides the reader with the current example, but also with,
multiple other examples of how personalized learning improved academics at schools.

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Running head: Personalized Learning As It Relates To The Classroom

Walkington (2013) found that learning technology innovations allow for instructions to
be personalized to users actions and interests, to provide assistance when needed and present
instruction that is understandable, engaging, and situated in relevant and meaningful contexts.
She conducted a technology-based personalization intervention focusing on Algebra based on a
students personal interests. The study took place in a rural area in the northeastern United
States. The study took place within the CTA software environment. CTA is an ITS for Algebra I
that uses model-tracing approaches to individualize problem selection and knowledge-tracing
approaches to individualize hints and feedbacks. The students must negotiate different
representational formats using computational tools (Walkington, 2013). There were two units in
this study. The first once consisted of solving personalized problems based on a survey where the
students rated their level of interests. The second unit involved solving story problems that were
non personalized. When completing the second unit, the students would need to transfer the
skills they learned from personalized problems in the previous unit to more complex normal
problems. The result of this study was that personalization intervention used in the first unit
improved student accuracy and decreased response times. In the second unit, the students were
more accurate and faster at writing more complex expressions, suggesting transfer and
accelerated future learning. In conclusion, personalization systems should be designed to
leverage students interests in authentic and meaningful ways, creating systems that allow
learners to collaborate around complex open-ended tasks that are situated within and adapted to
their experiences.
Powell and Lines (2010) believed that students should get to know one another in a more
personal way can enhance learning. If students get to know one another in a more personalized
way, it can enhance learning. By structuring activities, the students can identify their own

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Running head: Personalized Learning As It Relates To The Classroom

learning styles through an inventory. Powell and Lines (2010) also stated that learning about and
developing appreciation of diversity will have an impact far beyond the college experience. They
also stated that students should be provided time to reflect on their personal contributions to a
project which reveals their strengths as well as those areas they need to develop. Students are
empowered in the learning process when they discover that their own background and
experiences give them a unique perspective and a unique approach to the material (Powell and
Lines 2010). Powell and Lines (2010) found that by utilizing the students connections and
diversity, this can enhance their learning within the classroom environment.
Personalized learning is an interesting topic to me and it connects with my job description
in some way or form. By conducting the role as the Staffing Specialist at my job, I am
responsible for making sure the teachers are differentiating instruction for the ESE students such
as students with disabilities and for the students who are gifted. Each of these students learn in a
different way and by personalizing their learning, help them gain academic progress. Abbott
(2015) stated that students may create and maintain personal learning plans or portfolios. Each
one of the gifted students at my school maintains a gifted portfolio. (See Blendspace Tile 8) This
link shows an example of a gifted portfolio maintained by one of the students. These students
will keep and maintain these portfolios throughout their educational careers. This is a reliable
source because the students in my school get excited to add to their portfolio. They enjoy being
able to choose what they want to place into the portfolio.
I believe personalized learning should be used within the classroom. Based on the
research Ive found, personalized learning has had a positive academic effect on students
compared to the current system. (See Blendspace Tile 5) This tile compares the current system
and the personalized learning system regarding education. This gives us a clear look at the

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Running head: Personalized Learning As It Relates To The Classroom

differences between these two systems. I believe students should have a voice to increase their
level of choice and personal responsibility. This can keep the students engaged throughout
activities because it is catered to what interests them. I am currently not teaching within a
classroom however, when my role is back within the classroom, I will make sure to recognize
that each student learns and groups information in different ways. I will incorporate personalized
learning within my classroom and let my students have a voice in their educational career. (See
Blendspace Tile 1) This video gives a look at the vision of personalized learning in the future.
Its exciting to see the students using new forms of technology and being able to collaborate
together using these technologies to complete assignments or projects. The knowledge that I
have gained from researching this topic will be brought with me into my own classroom into the
future.

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Running head: Personalized Learning As It Relates To The Classroom

References
Laster, S. (2013). The Uncomfortable Truth About Personalized Learning.
Knowingly, Inc. Retrieved https://gigaom.com/2013/09/02/the-uncomfortable-truthabout-personalized-learning/
Abbot, S. (2014). Personalized Learning.
The Glossary of Education Reform. http://edglossary.org/personalized-learning/
Childress, S., Bensen, S. (2014). Personalized Learning for Every Student Every Day.
Kappan Magazine, V95 N8.
Green, N. (2013). Pros and Cons of Individualized Learning.
DreamBox Learning. http://www.dreambox.com/blog/pros-cons-individualizedinstruction
Wyman, P. (2013). Personalized Learning and the Technology Debate.
Microsoft Educator Network.
https://www.educatornetwork.com/HotTopics/personalizedlearning/technologydebate
Phillips, V. (2014). 4 Examples of Personalized Learning in K-12 Education.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2014/11/4Examples-of-Personalized-Learning-K12-Education#.VfbwmhHBzRY
Walkington, C. (2013). Using Adaptive Learning Technologies to Personalize Instruction to
Student Interests: The Impact of Relevant Contexts on Performance and Learning Outcomes.
American Psychological Association, Vol. 105, No. 4, 932-945
Powell, J., Lines, J. (2010). Make Learning Personal.
American College Personnel Association and Wiley Periodicals, inc. doi:
10.1002/abc.20018