Amidst the dynamic evolution of modern education, customizing instruction to match the individual needs and learning preferences of students holds immense potential for improving educational outcomes. In this context, personalized learning emerges as a transformative approach. In the following interview, Dr. Sandhya Venkatesh, Principal, Mount Litera Zee School, Mormugao, Goa, offers insights into its significance and transformative impact.
What do you think is the significance of ‘Personalized Learning’? How do you envision it transforming the educational landscape within educational institutions?
Personalized Learning is the need of the hour, as we have learned a very important lesson during Covid 19. Today’s teachers cannot follow the policy which was followed 15 years back. We cannot adhere to the theory of “one size fits all”, as the needs are varied. We have to focus on developing every student or creating a plan for every student based on their skills and interests. We need to make sure that the academic standards are not compromised when we are making such a plan for students.
Personalized Learning will not and cannot replace special education, but it is a forward-thinking approach to general education with an individual plan. The aim is to make the students responsible for their progress, as the plan will be made in collaboration with them. These plans are made with consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the students.
I believe Personalized Learning will transform the education system. This transformation will be possible only if accommodation, support, and learning strategies are integral parts of the process. Through personalized learning, we will be transforming our classroom from being teacher-centric to student-centric. All students will embrace this change as each will learn at their own pace.
Mount Litera Zee School, Mormugao, Goa
What specific strategies could educational institutions employ to ensure that personalized learning effectively addresses the diverse needs and learning styles of students? Give any example from your school.
Educational institutions can use various strategies based on their requirement. They can prepare the personalized learning program based on three parameters:
a) Learning plan based on the student’s profile: where they can prepare the plan based on the specific needs of the student. A schedule also has to be made keeping in mind their strength and progress, which should then be directed to achieve goals set for them. The profile of every student has to be maintained to keep track of progress. If the plan does not work, then the teacher has to make changes so that the student benefits from the same.
b) Schools can also make a personalized plan or learning path for students and prepare the student’s schedule based on their progress, which is monitored and updated as per the requirement for the student’s benefit. The school can plan project-based learning by creating small groups of students. Teachers can also conduct one-on-one teaching to help these students.
c) Some schools also work on competency-based programs. Students have different abilities and capabilities; hence, the school should prepare programs based on ‘competencies’ so as to enable students to analyze their skills. Teachers have to support each student to achieve mastery over their skills. It has to be a continuous learning process.
In my school, we do make personalized programs for students with learning difficulties to help them achieve the desired goal. We have an example of a student, whom I will not name, who was unable to answer long questions, and we helped him pass his Class XII board exams. This year too, we have helped 3 students with a personalized plan and helped them appear for the Class X Board Exams 2024.
Where do you see the role of technology in facilitating personalized learning experiences, and how could one ensure its integration into educational programs? Give any example from your school.
As a learner-centred approach, technology-facilitated personalized learning has received increasing attention in the field of education. However, it is not clear whether technology-facilitated personalized learning is effective for both learning achievements and learning perceptions. Many studies have been proposed and conducted but the result has not shown a very clear indication that personalized learning has helped students.
The research in this field has indicated a moderate effect on learners with the implementation of personalized learning. Firstly, studies have demonstrated that technology-facilitated personalized learning was more effective than traditional learning, as evidenced by comprehensive meta-analysis. Secondly, research has found that learning methods and personalized learning software could initiate and maximize the impact of technology-facilitated personalized learning. Thirdly, research has proposed a design framework for technology-facilitated personalized learning to effectively implement personalized learning. These studies aim to assist learners and have been conducted abroad. In India, there is still considerable progress to be made in this regard.
Technology can facilitate personalized learning effectively when utilized appropriately. It is essential to develop a personalized learning strategy with the aid of technology to achieve favourable outcomes. Any plan lacking proper planning and a clear roadmap is bound to fail. Therefore in our school, we ensure proper tracking to monitor and evaluate the students’ progress.
Students of Mount Litera Zee School, Mormugao, Goa
How do you believe personalized learning can benefit students compared to traditional teaching methods?
The teacher plays the most important role in a traditional learning setup. The instructor takes centre stage and guides the whole class simultaneously. There is some interaction with students, but not much because only bright and extroverted students receive the most attention. There is less collaboration between the teacher and students.
In personalized learning, the teacher remains important but can be delegated to the fringe, especially in an online course. Students receive a customized course where the content is personalized to suit their learning preferences and aptitudes. The teacher’s services are required when students need support. This support is not as necessary as in a traditional classroom setting because the students receive their course materials in digital forms, such as videos and digital content. There is less workload on the teacher in this setup. However, this does not diminish the importance of the teacher. Rather, it improves the learning experience of the students because now the teacher does not have to explain the basic details and can focus on solving the specific issues of each student.
How do you feel teachers and educators can be aligned with ‘personalized learning’ teaching methods and receive the necessary training and support to implement them effectively?
It is crucial to align teachers and educators with personalized learning teaching methods for the benefit of students. Training programs can be conducted for better results, providing a clear implementation roadmap. Hand – holding and support for teachers and educators can aid in effective implementation. A clear and precise training plan should be prepared to yield optimal results. Training should be conducted quarterly for better teacher understanding.
How can educators effectively assess student progress and performance in the personalized learning environment?
Personalized learning does not depend on ‘fixed-term assessment’. As in personalized learning, the performance is checked regularly. In fact, it can be checked after every lesson. Since, many of the assessments are done automatically with the help of software tools, making the assessment process quick and easy. Assessment can also be done, to check the progress and performance of the students, with the help of tools developed by educators. This ongoing assessment, in personalized learning, is useful in customizing the educational content to suit the student’s learning requirements and pace. A teacher can dedicate more attention to students who are having difficulties understanding a lesson or specific content.
