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Special Report

Personalized Learning 2016

The Next Generation
October 19, 2016
The push to design teaching and learning around students’ distinctive academic needs, and even their personal interests, is no longer only happening in pockets of experimentation around the country. This trend has now entered the K-12 mainstream and its expansion is quickening. But the challenges ahead for the next generation of personalized learning initiatives are significant. The research evidence to support comprehensive personalized learning is thin, the approach requires big investments in educational technology, and educators must be committed to transforming how they teach for it to work.
  • Ed-Tech Policy From the Editor: A Critical Look at the Evolution, and Future, of Personalized Learning
    Personalized learning is not sweeping through schools, as some would have you believe. But the trend has now entered the K-12 mainstream, and its expansion is quickening.
    Kevin Bushweller, October 18, 2016
    1 min read
    From left to right, English/language arts teachers June Eccleston, Elizabeth Robinson, Deborah Swigart, and Lance Shields sit with Kellee Iverson, a personalized learning coach, to finalize lesson plans during a “What I Need” day at Luella Middle School.
    From left to right, English/language arts teachers June Eccleston, Elizabeth Robinson, Deborah Swigart, and Lance Shields sit with Kellee Iverson, a personalized learning coach, to finalize lesson plans during a “What I Need” day at Luella Middle School.
    Maura Friedman for ܹ̳
    Assessment Students Pinpoint Their Academic Needs in Georgia District
    The Henry County, Ga., school system refashioned its personalized learning strategy after determining the original plan was overly fixated on the use of technology.
    Sean Cavanagh, October 18, 2016
    10 min read
    Classroom Technology Personalized Learning: What Does the Research Say?
    The U.S. Department of Education has given half a billion dollars to districts that embrace the trend, but little research exists on its impact.
    Benjamin Herold, October 18, 2016
    8 min read
    Classroom Technology Eighth Graders Use Web App to Identify Their Character Strengths
    The students said the results that the web app Happify generated for each of them confirmed some thoughts they had about themselves.
    Alexa J. Henry, October 18, 2016
    2 min read
    Amity Elementary School 5th grade teacher Melissa McNutt, center, works with Emma Sizemore on the Happify app during a “character education” lesson at the Cincinnati-area school.
    Amity Elementary School 5th grade teacher Melissa McNutt, center, works with Emma Sizemore on the Happify app during a “character education” lesson at the Cincinnati-area school.
    Pat McDonogh for ܹ̳
    Student Well-Being Online Gaming Platform Aims to Teach Social and Emotional Skills
    But the idea that digital tools can benefit students’ social-emotional development is controversial, with critics claiming children are already spending too much time online.
    Alexa J. Henry, October 18, 2016
    9 min read
    Classroom Technology RFPs Reveal District, State Priorities
    Interest in pursuing 'personalized learning'—however schools choose to define it—is evident in the language found in the requests for proposals and other solicitations put forward by K-12 systems around the country in recent years.
    October 18, 2016
    Classroom Technology Numbers to Watch
    We look at the proliferation of devices in U.S. classrooms that open the possibilities to personalization, and we give a snapshot of how one diverse school district is tracking its personalized learning initiatives.
    October 18, 2016
    Joe Jaszewski for ܹ̳-File
    <i>2010:</i> When he was principal of Notus High School in Idaho, Benjamin Merrill created the "Pirate Academy," which allowed students at the rural school to take a wide range of high school classes online. He now feels that a balance between online-only and face-to-face classes is best.
    Joe Jaszewski for ܹ̳-File
    Personalized Learning Checking Up on Personalized Learning Pioneers
    The trend to individualize education has evolved at a gradual pace, as shown by a look back at some stories from several years ago.
    , October 18, 2016
    6 min read
    Andrew Calkins, the deputy director of the Next Generation Learning Challenges, has seen a wide variety of personalized learning approaches in schools around the country.
    Andrew Calkins, the deputy director of the Next Generation Learning Challenges, has seen a wide variety of personalized learning approaches in schools around the country.
    Photo by Gretchen Ertl for ܹ̳
    Personalized Learning Q&A Q&A: Lessons Learned From Next Generation Learning Challenges
    The deputy director of the NGLC talks about how personalized learning has evolved and what looms ahead for districts pursuing this approach.
    , October 18, 2016
    5 min read
    Buzzwords in the Marketplace
    Buzzwords in the Marketplace
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    Personalized Learning 'Red Flags' to Look for When Evaluating Personalized Learning Products
    Educators are asking tougher questions to sort the real personalized learning potential from the empty promises of some ed-tech products and services.
    Michele Molnar, October 18, 2016
    6 min read
    Classroom Technology Data Dive
    The evolution of personalized learning in recent years has led to a growing body of data from school systems that have had initiatives in place for at least a few years.
    October 18, 2016