Six Myths About Personalized Learning

Learn4Life High Schools shares what every parent needs to know

There is an increasing demand for personalized learning from students, parents and many educators. From Stanford University and the Rand Corporation, to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, study after study shows that teaching each child in the way they learn best results in better attendance, increased student engagement and lower dropout rates.

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Students being taught in a personalized learning model of one-on-one and small group instruction

With personalized education, students advance as they master a subject, rather than how much time is spent sitting in a classroom being lectured on the same material and at the same speed as everyone else. Students can progress faster in subjects they’re good at and get extra help when they need more time on a specific lesson.

“Plus, children learn in different ways. Some are visual learners; others are auditory. Some like to ask a lot of questions, others prefer to search on their own for a solution or want to collaborate with peers,” said Shellie Hanes, superintendent at Learn4Life, a network of 80+ public charter high schools that has provided personalized learning for 24 years. “We’ve proven that it’s possible to customize a student’s instruction. Personalized learning is not a trend…it’s the future and it’s how we are going to create career-ready young people.”

Hanes points out there are a lot of myths about personalized learning, such as:

Myth #1 – Personalized learning widens the achievement gap among students from low-income households and those of color. Truth: It’s often the vulnerable, underserved kids who have fallen through the cracks in traditional school and need a personalized approach. They tend to flourish when teachers demonstrate an interest and help them reach their goals, says Hanes.

Myth #2 – Lack of standardized curriculum if students choose their own plan of study. Truth: All schools must follow the guidelines of their state DOE and local district. Personalized instruction includes all the core subjects, and when combined with relevant electives and job training pathways, students are far more engaged and motivated.

Myth #3 – It’s too hard to implement in a classroom. Truth: Teachers need the support from strong leadership that supports personalized learning and trains teachers to evolve from lecturers to learning facilitators. It doesn’t create more work for teachers – just different work.

Myth #4 – Students working independently might lose social interaction. Truth: Personalized learning doesn’t mean only working alone. It offers a rich blend of working independently, collaborating with other students and forming groups of common interests.

Myth #5 – It’s too unfocused and lacks structure. Truth: Just the opposite. Personalized learning is highly structured. Each student has an education plan with goals they know and work toward. It is competency-based progression, and teachers utilize data to inform the best ways for their students to advance.

Myth #6 – Schools say it costs too much to implement. Truth: There will be initial startup costs, such as training staff, but the costs are not prohibitive and are similar to the launch of any new school. Instead, what is the cost of not evolving into a better way of teaching students?

“We need to decide which we want in our schools – tradition or innovation? The old-school model simply doesn’t work with Gen Z students,” said Hanes. “Learn4Life has proven that it is possible to provide personalized learning in a way that engages students, develops critical thinking and boosts self-confidence.”

For more information about Learn4Life and its personalized learning model, visit https://learn4life.org/about/personalized-learning-approach/.

About Learn4Life

Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public high schools that provide students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 64,000 students through a year-round program, we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit www.learn4life.org.

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"Personalized learning is not a trend…it’s the future and it’s how we are going to create career-ready young people.”