The world has changed substantially in the last 100 years, and education has changed as well! Ensuring our children are fully prepared for tomorrow calls for adjustments in lesson planning, instruction, and educational pathways. “One-size-fits-all” education may have been sufficient at one point in time. It’s not now. Today, a personalized learning approach that uses technology in the classroom to pace instruction to match students’ needs and tailor learning to their interests works—for both learners and teachers. Keep reading to learn about some of the key benefits of personalized learning!
Higher Student Engagement
Rather than passively receiving and reiterating information, students in 21st century personalized learning environments take an active role in their education and contribute to their own learning. They can work with teachers to set learning goals for themselves, and can work toward them through blended learning, combining face-to-face interaction with their teacher and the use of education technology.
Increased Student Independence
Technology also gives students the opportunity to independently seek out resources beyond those offered at school. Fifteen percent of students in Grades 6 through 12 said they have either informally tutored other students online or found an expert to help them with their own questions. While collaboration is nothing new in American schools, the expanded use of technology brings it to an entirely new level
Better Time Allocation for Teachers
The “sage on the stage” is being replaced by “the guide on the side”—and that’s a good thing. Educational technology can help contribute to the task of primary instruction, allowing teachers to act as guides and facilitators of learning rather than lecturers. The fusing of technology and education allows teachers to foster a more collaborative environment and cultivates student engagement by offering new collaboration opportunities that paper-and-pencil lessons limit.
Personalized learning can seem intimidating at first glance–what do you mean teachers will plan different paths for each student? With the right resources, personalized learning can offer each student tailored support on their unique educational journeys and save teachers precious time so they can focus on the skills each student needs to sharpen to succeed.
