In attempting to determine what role personalized learning plays in special education, currently and in the future, I would argue that they are one in the same. Or, at the very least, I would assert that these two educational constructs, are intrinsically linked by several undeniable commonalities. If in looking closely at each of our students, to identify each of their unique goals and strengths in our quest to provide more personalized learning opportunities for that individual, are we not also then, providing a sort of “special education?”
On that note, special educator, and Ph.d. Shari Butler arrives at this same idea in her online article, when she states “There is a great deal of discussion about personalized learning but what is it? Wikipedia defines it as “the tailoring of pedagogy, curriculum and learning environments to meet the needs and aspirations of individual learners. Typically technology is used to facilitate personalized learning environments.” I’ve heard others refer to it as “competency-based learning,” “adaptive learning,” “student centered learning” and “individualized learning.” While all of the aforementioned strategies support personalized learning, isn’t personalized learning a pedagogical philosophy that is not unlike special education?” (Butler, 2013)
In specialized learning, a teacher becomes the facilitator of student (or learner) directed learning rather than someone who stands at the head of class and lectures. In the specialized learning environment, students (or learners) are offered several different ways and paths to achieve and demonstrate learning based on individual abilities, strengths, needs and goals. Differentiation is incorporated automatically by inclusiveness of all students in whatever their capabilities, to participate in those learning opportunities, interact, and collaborate with one another. - Assessment is ideally focused on analyzing and evaluating information, rather than just memorizing facts.
But hmm…According to Wikipedia, “special education is the practice of educating students with special needs in a way that addresses their individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings, and other interventions designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and community than would be available if the student were only given access to a typical classroom education.” (Wikipedia, 2014) …Doesn’t it sound like we are talking about the same thing here?
So why is that? I believe it is because all special education is delivered on the basis of “individualized education plans” (or IEPs), meaning, that special education is reliant specialized learning principles in order to be carried out. And specialized learning is thus, a part of special education.
Okay, but then, if they are not completely the same thing, then how are they different? One primary difference is that in special education, an RTI (or response to intervention multilevel instruction method of evaluation for individual students) focuses on weaknesses and issues that might be wrong with children, and to what degree, in order to determine what interventions may or may not be needed to create the IEP for a child who has special needs.
In stark contrast, a personalized learning variation of the RTI model for assessment of individualized educational needs, aims at targeting instead, the strengths and goals of each AND EVERY learner. “The teacher uses interventions based on the learning goals right from the beginning of the learning process. The teacher designs learning strategies identified through the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) lens so interventions that may be needed can be identified earlier. When teachers understand each learner using their UDL lens and their strengths, interests, passions, standards, then learners take responsibility for their learning so they can acquire the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their future. Teachers and learners work together so learners receive additional support before they fail. Failure is no longer an option under a Personalized Learning Environment.” (PersonalizeLearning, 2013)
This is how I see the intersection of personalized learning and special education today: Two very similar, inter-dependent (almost the same) ideations, with the same desired outcome, but entirely different initial approaches in getting there…In tomorrow’s world, I hope to see a more “inclusive-inclusive” classroom that ‘flips the script’ on all that we know, because what we know (regarding special needs, as well as traditional learners, and traditional classrooms), is that what we have going on currently, is not yet working for us. I think if pioneers in the educational world are innovative and team up with one another towards progress in this specific target area, then the future intersections of personalized learning and special education, will be that they do in fact merge into one - to create a super classroom experience for every child learner.
I think the future holds promise that eventually, we will see all of our global learners, as “special needs” in that each one requires a special education plan based on their own individual strengths, gifts, dreams, goals, and abilities. And we will find a way, to assess and deliver those needs, with focus on fairer guidelines, in which the concentration of content, will be on learning: processing and analyzing information - not just memorization of the data - but what that data means! We will find a way to flip around classrooms, utilize technology, engage students from diverse settings, into group collaboration, and see each child as full of potential, not limitations.
RESOURCES
Personalized Learning and Special Education. (2013) Pearson Research & Innovation Network. Shari Butler. Retrieved on June 5, 2014, from http://researchnetwork.pearson.com/nextgen-learning-and-assessment/personalized-learning-special-education
What Personalized Learning Really Means for Modern Teachers. (2013) Edudemic: Connecting Education & Technology. Jennifer Kelly. Retrieved on June 5, 2014, from http://www.edudemic.com/personalized-learning-for-teachers/
Revolutionizing Education with Personalized Learning: Jeremy Friedberg. (2012). TEDxYouth. YouTube. Retrieved June 5, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC-zBsc1w-c
Special Education. Wkipedia: The Free Ecyclopedia. (Last modified May 21, 2014) Retrieved on June 5, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_education
RTI in a Personalized Learning Environment. (2013) Personalize Learning: Transform Learning for All Learners. Retrieved on June 5, 2014, from http://www.personalizelearning.com/2013/05/rti-in-personalized-learning-environment.html
One Child At A Time: Custom Learning in The Digital Age. (2013) American Radio Works. Emily Hanford and Stephen Smith. Retrieved on June 5, 2014, from http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/personalized-learning/
No comments:
Post a Comment