What is Individualized
Instruction??
Individualized
Instruction brings personalized instruction to the classroom by tailoring
instruction to meet the needs of each individual student. The key idea behind Individualized
Instruction is that learners will not only be able to better understand the
materials that are being presented, but that they will be able to remember the
information for much longer. When developing an individualized instruction
program, it is important to assess student’s prior knowledge so that the
teacher can build on the skills that are already developed.
Pros according to
Nigel Green (2013):
- Helps to close the learning gap- Persistence in difficult topic areas while moving at a ‘just right’ pace through areas in which the student excels is the way to close learning gaps, and bring everyone to their highest personal level of achievement.
- Builds confidence in each student- As students gradually build comprehension and mastery of more complicated material, they gain the self-assurance that they have the skills they need to be successful.
- Greater engagement between the student and teacher-Instead of standing in the front of the classroom and explaining new concepts, stopping to pause as students (hopefully) calmly and patiently raise their hands, teachers have more opportunities to interact with students one-on-one when using individualized instruction in their classrooms.
- Students work at their own pace- One of the greatest strengths of individualized instruction is that it gives students the opportunity to work at different paces and on different areas without affecting the learning of their peers.
Cons according to
Green (2013):
- Extra preparation-If the school isn’t using an intelligent adaptive learning system that collects student data to achieve personalized learning outcomes, teachers will need to thoroughly research the academic history of each student and the ways he or she learns best.
- Teachers need to adjust to a new paradigm- The use of technology is designed to free the teacher to spend more time with individuals or small groups while the remainder of the class is enabled to work at their own pace with the program.
- Restructuring the classroom- Classroom structures may need to be adjusted to accommodate individualized learning – in other words, instead of the traditional rows of desks facing the blackboard, classroom seating arrangements may need to be more flexible, so that the teacher can work with individuals or small groups while the majority of students work independently with a personalized learning software program.
Instructional Model /
General Characteristics
Individualized
instruction is rooted in the constructivism theory because it is learner
focused, learner understanding, knowledge is instructed individually, learning
is developmental, social interaction is an important part of learning new
concepts, and it allows for differences in learner backgrounds and experiences.
It says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the
world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. To do
this, we must ask questions, explore, and assess what we know.
Ways to Individualize
Instruction
There are many
ways to change the elements of the curriculum to ensure learning from all
students but I would like to concentrate on the three that have been drilled
into my head over my 13 years in education:
- Content is best described as the knowledge, skills and attitudes that we want the children to learn. It is important to realize that the students need to be pre-tested so the teacher can identify the strengths and weaknesses of each student. While planning content it is important to remember that some students may take quite a while to complete an assignment while others may speed through it and will need more work to complete.
- You can also individualize the process which means that the educator is varying the learning activities to provide appropriate and alternative methods for students to explore what is being taught.
- Lastly, the teacher can individualize the product which means that students working below grade level may have reduced expectations, while students above grade level may be asked to produce work that requires more advanced thinking.
How does
Individualized Instruction look in the Classroom?
A classroom set
up to teach every learner will have a small group area, individual learning
areas, centers that allow for hands-on
learning experiences, a library to explore different concepts, classroom
computers, and a way to make sure the teacher knows whether or not she is
needed. In my classroom, I have stop signs that each child can put up so I know
if they need my help. As soon as I am able, I get over to the children to try
to resolve any problems or answer any questions. A good classroom set up will also have work
available for those children that complete assignments quickly. It will also have
a very clear discipline system in place along with expectations. Students will
know what to do and how to do it and what to do if there is a problem that
arises so that the classroom is under control and not allowing students to run
amuck and not learn.
Relevant Links
Practical Examples
In my experience,
it is best to actually see instruction as it is happening rather than reading a
list of how I would teach a lesson. Please review the following videos to truly
understand the idea of individualized instruction.
·
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd6QiXUlV64
In this video, the teacher is working with one student and going through the
steps of adding math problems with the student.
·
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSeSaGwJk1A
In this video, the teacher is using technology to individualize his student’s
instruction.
·
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=derUjqnlEzs
This video shows individualized instruction, planning, and building community
relationships in a low income area. I love how these teachers, parents, and
students are working together in the best interest of the kids!
References
Equitytutors.com. retrieved on August 12, 2016
Green, N. (2013, September 06). Pros and cons of individualized instruction - DreamBox Learning. Retrieved August 14, 2016, from http://www.dreambox.com/blog/pros-cons-individualized-instruction
http://istc301jan2011fuller.wikispaces.com/Constructivism. retrieved on August 10, 2016
http://fy11pd4ets.pbworks.com/w/page/27944266/Constructivism. retrieved on August 12, 2016
http://www.readingrockets.org/sites/default/files/atoz_differentiated.jpg. retrieved on August 14, 2016
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