Abstract
Personalized learning is here to stay and is being integrated into more and more public schools. Some research on the benefits of personalized learning has been conducted, and other research has been done demonstrating that this form of education will not benefit all students. Research on whether technology should be a form of personalized learning has also been conducted, and the new role that personalized learning will create for teachers has been examined. Personalized learning research is also being conducted on a smaller scale with teachers, and it will change the way professional development is delivered to educators. Despite all the new knowledge that has been gained, more research is required on this educational phenomenon. This chapter describes some of the current data available on personalized learning concerning both students and teachers.
TopResearch Studies
There have been numerous research studies conducted on the topic of PL. Some have researched the advantages and disadvantages of PL in comparison to the traditional classroom learning environment. Others have looked at a variety of models that can be incorporated into a PL program. Still others have looked at how teachers can use PL to gain knowledge for professional development. Regardless of the focus of the research, it is imperative that research is conducted so that the best research-based approaches can be discovered and incorporated in classrooms and online in order to give the student the very best educational opportunity possible. Below are highlights of numerous studies that were reviewed because of their examination of PL. Also included are these researchers’ suggestions for further study.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Teaching Models: Research-based strategy that has been used in multiple classrooms and proven over time to improve student academic success.
Empirical Research: Studies based on observations instead of theory or beliefs.
Learning Choices: Allowing students to determine how and what they want to learn based on the state academic standards.
Motivation: Acting or behaving a specific way based on outside factors such as competition or collaboration to accomplish a certain result.
Teacher Preparation: Professional development courses or classes offered to teachers to assist them with learning about PL.
Technology: Electronic resources, such as a handheld electronic device or a computer, a student uses to gain access to the information needed to complete the PL assignment.
Instructional Strategies: Research-based methods for instructing students.
Stakeholders: Community members, teachers, students, or anyone who has a personal stake in the school’s educational outcomes.