Although we were first introduced to the Three Ps from our work supporting BlendEd teachers, we believe that the concept of student choice in PATH, PACE, & PLACE can apply to any type of course interested in providing personalized learning opportunities for their students. In Season 1, Episode 15, hosts Shanna Piggott and Victoria Lobb discuss ways to personalize learning for students by modifying path, pace, and/or place for your students.
Questions to Consider about Path
- What do students need to “do” to learn and demonstrate mastery of the skill or content?
- Are there opportunities to provide student choice in the content, the learning activities, or the product they use to demonstrate their learning?
- Is it necessary for every student to do the same thing in the same order?
- What role will formative assessment results play in determining the path students take?
Questions to Consider about Pace?
- How much time is available for students to learn and demonstrate mastery?
- Will students set their own goals for when things will be worked on and completed?
- Will students have time to relearn and revise?
- In what ways can students extend their learning if they attain mastery more quickly?
Questions to Consider about Place?
- Are there ways to create flexible spaces within your classroom?
- Do students need to do your work in your class?
- What do the students need you there for?
- What experiences could also work as flipped experiences?
Personalizing the learning experience is a great way to motivate and engage students, however, it does come with a whole set of challenges. It may take time to build the positive relationships and trust with your students that makes personalized learning effective and efficient. Stay transparent with your students about the goals of the personalized experiences and encourage them to reflect on their own learning.
The idea of creating and managing a variety of learning experiences for your students may seem overwhelming. Take advantage of the plethora of digital resources available as you get started and build up your library of choice options over time. Check out our next episode (S1 E16) for more specific strategies and tools for providing personalized learning experiences for your students.
