Institute for Personalized Learning

The heart of our model is composed of four elements that place the learner at the center and focus on the development of empowered learners. These core elements guide the development of an Empowered Learner at the center and focus on the aspirational graduate of our educational systems.

Explore This Layer

Click the dropdowns below to compare the legacy and learner-centered mindsets of the Essential Foundation elements, and explore resources that support each one.

Competency-Based Progress

Learner progress and advancement is based on demonstrated competency in pre-defined, agreed-upon learning targets aligned to standards.

Move from legacy practice where students advance through grade levels based on seat time and credits to learner-centered practice where learners progress and advance based on demonstrated competency in pre-defined, agreed-upon learning targets aligned to standards.

Resources to support your practice:

Proficiency-Based Learning: A Roadmap for Educators
Source: Great Schools Partnership

An Introduction to K-12 Competency-Based Education
Source: Aurora Institute

Are You Putting Learners First? Here are 8 Ways to Check Yourself
Source: Getting Smart

Customized Learning Paths

Learners are actively involved in what they learn, how they learn it, and how they demonstrate understanding. The unique path is based on the learner's individual readiness, strengths, needs and goals.

Move from legacy practice where all students follow virtually the same prescribed learning path to learner-centered practice where learners are actively involved in what they learn, how they learn it, and how they demonstrate understanding. The unique path is based on the learner's individual readiness, strengths, needs and goals.

Resources to support your practice:

What are customized learning paths?
Source: i4PL

Making Sense of Learning Pathways
Source: KnowledgeWorks

Learner Agency

Learners take on an active role in the learning process. They have the power and ownership over their own learning path and the results of their choices.

Move from legacy practice where students passively receive the content of a lesson or unit to learner-centered practice where learners take on an active role in the learning process. They have the power and ownership over their own learning path and the results of their choices.

Resources to support your practice:

What Do You Mean When You Say “Student Agency”?
Source: Education Reimagined

Student-Centered Learning: Building Agency and Engagement
Source: Edutopia

Learner Profile

Comprehensive, data-rich learner profiles convey a deep understanding of the learner and are used to plan a customized learning path and instructional strategies. They are dynamic, real-time, learner-owned and managed.

Move from legacy practice where little is known about or applied to leverage each student’s strengths, readiness and learning modalities to learner-centered practice where comprehensive, data-rich learner profiles convey a deep understanding of the learner and are used to plan a customized learning path and instructional strategies. They are dynamic, real-time, learner-owned and managed.

Resources to support your practice:

Four Dimensions of the Learner Profile
Source: i4PL

Learner Profiles: What are they, why are they important and how can you get started co-creating them?
Source: KnowledgeWorks

5 Ways Learner Profiles Can Promote Competency-Based Education
Source: Getting Smart