The concept of personalization in learning appeals to many K-12 teachers and students weary of regimented, one-size-fits-all instruction. The in-vogue term personalization is used to refer to many different learning strategies and structures--from personal learning plans to greater student voice. Differentiation expert Carol Ann Tomlinson is…

This illustrative case explicates how one teacher supports student critical thinking by personalizing instruction during Morning Meeting. Sought after learning outcomes outlined in Common Core Standards are met as he purposefully anchors learning in student contributions. Through classroom discourse analysis we show how this teacher decided in the…

Discusses the dilemma posed by critics who want public secondary schools to forego specialization, fragmentation, and individualization and institute higher standards, better behavior, a narrower definition of what constitutes an education, and a heavy emphasis on communality. (Author/WD)

The article discusses the results of a study of the degree of individualized instruction available in five categories: student pacing, pretesting, remedial materials, optional units, and personalized instruction. (BP)

While the open education movements and educational technology are often seen as mutually hostile, the challenge in education for the future is to find ways to develop the full range of each individual's capacities and of doing so while putting control of the learning process as much as possible in the learner's hands: for educational technology,…

Explores how the middle school concept is designed to make two seemingly contradictory goals compatible, those of providing a common core curriculum while meeting individual needs. Suggests that, similar to team sports or musical groups, it is possible to allow students to exercise personalized choices of how to meet the common objectives of the…

This paper discusses the teaching approaches used in a basic composition course designed for educationally disadvantaged students. The course integrates three approaches: mastery teaching and learning; James Moffett's student-centered naturalistic curriculum; and Ken Macrorie's Third Way, which combines freedom and discipline in a writing…

The organic curriculum is an attempt to meet challenges to education in a systematic way instead of dealing with each as an isolated segment. It proposes to radically change the present secondary educational program in the direction of the learner-oriented curriculum. The objective of the program is to integrate academic training, occupational…

Article discusses the benefits of providing children with an educational environment that allows students to develop from their own motivation rather than at the direction of the teacher. (RK)

Contract learning is particularly suitable for teaching both the content and methodology of history in a college level, learner-centered, individualized format. Typically, a learning contract has three components. The first deals with the student's goals and objectives. The second component involves identification of the learning resources and…

This document describes the efforts of program administrators to implement an organic curriculum in the John Adams High School in Portland, Oregon. The chief program administrator coordinated efforts to develop individualized instructional materials, to revamp school organization, and to create a fully differentiated staff. Organic curriculum is a…

This document describes the efforts of program administrators to implement an organic curriculum in the elementary and secondary schools of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The chief program administrator coordinated curriculum design and implementation under the continuous progress plan, selected and evaluated instructional materials, and established…

New instructional time blocks and curriculum designs are suggested as alternatives to traditional school schedules with their fixed time periods for traditional course offerings. The rational for variable modular scheduling and the application of computer technology to school scheduling are presented. Applications of variable modular scheduling…

Discusses individualized teaching or focusing on each child's individual learning needs. Presents a brief history of individualized teaching from Socrates to Dewey. Suggests that, although individualized teaching is the most beneficial kind of instruction, time, resources, and experience show it to be nearly nonexistent in the classroom. Describes…

Profiles of 14 educational programs and products are presented which focus on competency- and goal-based education. Each report contains a description of the background, goals, and methods of the program or product, as well as the address of a contact person. The programs described are: (1) Project Write, designed to improve composition skills of…