What Is Personalized Learning And Why Is It So Controversial? 5 Questions Answered

Story Source: Center for Digital Education ~ Go to Original Article

The term “personalized learning” is becoming more common. Indeed, 39 states mention personalized learning in their school improvement plans, as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Not only are states legislating personalized learning, but philanthropists are funding it and, in some cases, families are pushing back against it. Penny Bishop, a researcher who focuses on learning environments, answers five questions about personalized learning. Her edited answers are below.

As one education writer observed, the term has been used to describe “everything from supplemental software programs to whole-school redesigns.” In its most basic form, the goal of personalization is to customize learning to an individual student’s needs by giving the student greater control of the learning. What students are given control over, however, varies based on the type of personalized learning environment…………………………