Many things are personal to us, and the way we learn is one of them. However, it becomes truly unique when the connection between the task and the learner is strengthened by relevance.
We achieve this connection by utilizing personalized learning strategies that correlate directly with our pedagogy, curriculum, and learning environment. It also translates to exploring endless possibilities, such as teachable moments, that appear before us every day to create informal learning opportunities.
The personalization of learning is one of the best practices to transform education for the better. Undoubtedly, it is a compelling method in classrooms to ensure meaningful learning. But, if you want to know how to apply it in your virtual or physical classrooms, here are the best personalized learning strategies you can’t go wrong with.
Top Personalized Learning Strategies
Modern technology has made personalized learning way easier and more effective than it was in the past.
Educators can use the following personalized learning strategies;
Allow Students To Demonstrate Knowledge
Personalized learning platforms work because each learner learns in their own unique way. Likewise, they may also want to display knowledge in their own way. For example, some learners may be good at proving themselves through exams and tests, while others may perform better with essays or projects.
The issue with standardized testing’s modern norm is that not all learners prove their learning best with exams. Tests are helpful tools, but educators must consider alternatives. For example, they can use essays, oral presentations, experiments, artwork, projects, or educational games to assess their knowledge retention and recall.
Use Ed-Tech
Personalized learning is one of the best options ever before because of technology and its key components. However, it’s challenging to keep track of the unique educational paths of every student on your own. Modern educational technology empowers you to dynamically track and manage the different learning experiences of your students.
Several types of ed-tech exist that help in personalized learning. Collaborative software aids in keeping track of students’ work. It also assists learners to work together on projects in small groups.
Different online and hybrid learning platforms enable live interactions between students and teachers. Learners can use such platforms (e.g., SimpliTaught) to keep track of lectures and other learning materials. Educators can utilize these platforms to keep tabs on students’ activities and their progress.
Flip Lecture & Work
Conventionally, learners listen to a lecture at a school or college and complete assignments at home. However, modern ed-tech has enabled us to invert this arrangement. Now, students can watch lectures at home or anywhere on their mobile devices and complete assignments at school or college.
This technique offers endless opportunities and advantages, such as students can pause, rewind, and watch the lesson at their speed. Moreover, they will be more engaged in learning, and class involvement will give them more opportunities to practice social skills. Besides, educators can take time to film and edit exceptional lectures that benefit students. It also saves them time as they can reuse these lectures year after year.
Enable Students To Choose Educational Content Format
Some students are visual learners, while others are auditory learners. Offering students the choice between listening to the text, reading it, or watching a video opens many possibilities for them.
This method also empowers learners with disabilities. For example, students with difficulty hearing, seeing, or other disabilities, can select the media format that best suits their learning needs.
The alternative, conventional technique is to force every learner to view the same content. Unfortunately, such an approach has the tendency to help some learners more than others.
Use Personalized Learning Playlists
A learning playlist is a collection of activities related to a particular subject or topic. Learners can select from various activities they want to pursue and complete them at their own speed. In addition, if educators assign points to each activity, students can achieve a minimum number of points by proving their work.
Activities in a playlist may include but are not limited to group collaboration, digital content, writing work, pair activities, and educational games.
This approach empowers learners to succeed where they do so naturally. Also, it makes things easier for teachers as they pursue personalized learning methods. Rather than creating new activities for every student, instructors can make a few activities for the entire class. Each learner can then forge their own path out of these activities.
Use Formative Assessments
Testing should not be just a technique to grade students. It must also be a form of learning, and students learn when assessments are utilized as learning tools.
Formative assessments enable you to use evaluation as learning. Some formative assessment methods may include discussion threads, peer-led quizzes, exit tickets, etc.
Such in-process evaluations are short and bite-sized activities that can be inserted into nearly any stage of the learning process. It keeps students alert and reflective of the learning material in the classroom. Moreover, it provides feedback for the instructors to assess the effectiveness of their teaching.
Let Students Teach
As any educator knows, a unique way to learn something is to teach it. When a learner teaches the class, learning occurs three times. Firstly, when students first learn the material. Secondly, when they teach the material, and finally, when other students learn the material from the student.
Such activities help strengthen classroom bonds and minimize the differences between instructors and learners. In addition, it offers students opportunities to explore their oratory and leadership skills.
Adapt Lessons To Students’ Experiences
Learners of any age or background bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Therefore, whenever their experiences are relevant to the subject material at hand, it is crucial to make it part of the class discussion.
Learners who relate the topic to their own lives will be more encouraged to learn about it. Additionally, discussing and sharing personal experiences helps students to strengthen their social skills.
Final Thoughts!
In conclusion, personalized learning strategies can aid learners in developing skills that improve knowledge retention and help them achieve their learning goals more effectively. By leveraging technology and innovative instructional methods, teachers can create a learning environment that is effective, engaging, and tailored to the individual needs of each student.
