By Jami Metcalf Personalized Learning is a strategy that is in the process of being implemented into the high schools of the Fairbanks Northstar Borough. It started in elementary schools in 2016 and moved into middle schools last year. This year it was introduced to high schools. The school district spent $1.6 million on the program in the last three years. Also in the last few years the district has cut classes, teachers, and other important factors at West Valley. Personalized Learning is supposed to allow students to move at their own pace and work with peers, which will give more time between teachers and students who need extra help. Heather Johnson, principal of West Valley, says that with PL, “Bigger classes are managed differently because there are different stations and centers set up.” which allows students to learn how they want to, in an effort to use their skills to their advantage. The district has decided to invest in PL because, as Mel Hadaway, Director of Teaching and Learning, says, “We haven’t seen success in students, so we have to change something.” Because there are so many methods to PL there isn’t one certain way to know if it is effective and beneficial to students. Many students still don’t know what Personalized Learning is, so it seems the money wasn’t spent in the best interest of students. The money was spent on training for staff, yet some teachers are still unsure of how to implement Personalized Learning because there are so many different strategies and methods that could be used. As Sarah Gillam, West Valley Principal says that, “every teacher will interpret PL differently.” Hadaway explained that, “the ‘what’ isn’t changing it’s the ‘why’ and the ‘how’.” Teachers are still going to teach the way they feel most comfortable. Forcing them to change would be the same as forcing students to adapt to teaching methods for various classes and teachers. Hadaway also thinks that, “All teachers should do what’s best for students, even if that means changing preferred methods.” A large part of PL will include technology and Heather Johnson, West Valley Assistant Principal, says one main concern for using technology is that it will, “further isolate students”. There is also nation-wide concern about the connection between increased technology use and rates of depression and suicide among teens. This approach, which increases technology use, is dangerous and schools need to be careful about how technology is being used in the classroom. The money could’ve been spent on other things that students and staff could benefit from. Since Personalized Learning is more of an approach and a method, why couldn’t it be done without paying Ed Elements a large sum of money? I agree that something needs to change in the classroom but it could be done in a cheaper and more effective way.
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