Personalized learning

Personalised Learning is the tailoring of pedagogy, curriculum and learning support to meet the needs and aspirations of individual learners.

Personalised learning is a hot topic within the debate on education taking place in the UK at present (2006). Estelle Morris was the first minister for education to really push a personalized learning agenda and (when referred to as personalising learning), Professor David Hargreaves

Personalisation differs from differentiation in that it affords the learner a degree of choice about what is learned, when it is learned and how it is learned. This does not mean unlimited choice, since learners will still have targets to be met. However, it gives learners the opportunity to learn in ways that suit their individual learning styles. Thus dialogue is a central element to personalisation. One example of this style of learning is demonstrated by learning logs which support children's development of thinking and learning skills.

Also central is the process of assessment, i.e. sharing with learners the overall aims of the learning and giving learners clear criteria by which success in learning may be judged. Learners embarking on a learning journey need a clear map and some obvious signposts! This also forms part of the dialogue with the learner.

Whilst personalised learning may happen in traditional learning establishments such as schools and colleges, it embraces learning that happens anywhere, for example in the home, in the community - anywhere. Personalised learning can happen in partnership with other learners, for example learners working together in a group to study a particular topic.

ICT and Communications technology can be a powerful tool for personalised learning as it allows learners access to research and information, and provides a mechanism for communication, debate, and recording learning achievements.

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