If there is one thing I know about school districts, it is that each is unique with its own strengths, challenges, goals, political context and quirky qualities. But if there is another thing I have learned, it is that despite the differences, there are things that hold true.
Nearly 100 districts, 300 schools, 5,000 teachers and 300,000 students later, the team at Education Elements has used what we’ve learned to identify six things to avoid when designing and implementing personalized learning, as well as four elements every personalized learning environment should include. This list may change as districts evolve, but for the foreseeable future, using these tips can help make personalized learning a success.
Six Risks To Avoid
I am glad to report I’ve never seen a district make all these mistakes, but most districts make at least a few. Each risk is a trap easy to fall into, but also easy to avoid if you know how. We created this list when League of Innovative Schools district Fulton County Schools asked us what they needed to do to succeed, and we hope it can help others.
- Risk #1: Lack of Clear Vision, Narrative, and Rationale: Without a clear vision, there’s no shared understanding of what team members are doing nor why they are doing it, and it’s harder to identify and celebrate early successes. Buy-in and a “north star” is crucial.
- Risk #2: Curricular and Instructional Misalignment: Personalized learning is about shifting pedagogy and thinking about curriculum and instruction differently. But, that needs to be made clear; otherwise, it becomes more about compliance than real change.
- Risk #3: Failure to Build Capacity at District and School Level: A few shining stars are not enough for a successful district roll-out. Build capacity across all roles at the district so that when people (consultants, vendors, teachers, leaders, etc.) leave, the knowledge is still embedded.
- Risk #4: Starting with the Wrong Schools: Start with schools that are ready for personalized learning, and give them enough support so that everyone can succeed from the start and excite others to follow in their footsteps.
- Risk #5: Under-communication with Stakeholders: You can’t communicate enough. Everyone in your community (students, teachers, parents, board members, etc.) was a student once and has an idea of what school looks like. You are about to change that, and you must explain why and how in a way that everyone understands and embraces.
- Risk #6: Selecting the Wrong Devices: Often one of the first mistakes a district can make, the wrong device can lead to problems with deployment, restrict the digital content providers you choose, and/or generate negative media coverage. It is one of the most tangible decisions you will make, so it’s also one that can receive some of the most scrutiny.
All these risks got you scared? Please, don’t be! The good news is they are all avoidable. For more on how to avoid each one, download the full infographic here....
This article originally appeared on Digital Promise. Read the full article here.
