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Personalized Learning

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Personalized learning refers to a broad set of strategies intended to make each student's educational experience responsive to his or her talents, interests, and needs. RAND's study of personalized learning for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation produced a series of publications from 2014 though 2017 that represents the largest and most rigorous body of research on personalized learning to date. Several related projects are underway.

Commentary
How Well Are Students Taking Ownership of Learning Online?
The Measuring and Improving Student-Centered Learning Toolkit lets high school leaders and teachers gather information about the extent to which student-centered learning is happening remotely now, and plan for improvements to student-centered learning in the future.
Jun 8, 2020
Report
High School Teachers' Perceptions and Use of Personalized Learning
Technology-facilitated personalized learning approaches have become increasingly common in K–12 schools across the United States. How are high school teachers using personal learning practices? And which supports and resources do they need to use them effectively?
Aug 10, 2020

Explore Personalized Learning

Journal Article
Pods in Action: Hyde Park Neighborhood Club
This case study describes Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, a pandemic-era learning pod in Chicago, IL. This case study is part of an effort by the Center for Reinventing Public Education to capture lessons learned from pandemic-era schooling.
Jul 1, 2022
Journal Article
Pods in Action: Community Works
This case study describes Community Works, a pandemic-era learning pod in New Orleans, LA. This case study is part of an effort by the Center for Reinventing Public Education to capture lessons learned from pandemic-era schooling.
Jul 1, 2022
Journal Article
Pods in Action: Neighborhood North
This case study describes Neighborhood North, a pandemic-era learning pod in Beaver Falls, PA. This case study is part of an effort by the Center for Reinventing Public Education to capture lessons learned from pandemic-era schooling.
Jul 1, 2022
Journal Article
Use of Personalized Learning Platforms in One Pandemic-Era Microschool: A Case Study
The many pandemic-era uses of personalized learning platforms can provide insight into how they might affect students' academic, social, and emotional outcomes. This report discusses one example: the Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy (SNUMA).
Jul 1, 2022
Report
Social and Emotional Learning In Schools Nationally and in the Collaborating Districts Initiative: Selected Findings from the American Teacher Panel and American School Leader Panel Surveys
This report presents survey results examining whether school districts' participation in the Collaborating Districts Initiative has resulted in more frequent implementation of social and emotional learning practices than in comparable districts.
Jun 15, 2022
Journal Article
Peer Assisted Learning Strategies - UK: Evaluation Report
Peer Assisted Learning Strategies UK (PALS-UK) is a whole-class, structured peer tutoring intervention aiming to improve pupils' reading comprehension, oral reading fluency, and overall reading attainment.
Mar 15, 2022
Report
How Social and Emotional Learning Works in Innovative Schools
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is critical for preparing students for college and career success. Opportunity by Design high schools provide a unique perspective on what implementation of integrated, schoolwide SEL can look like when it is a core design feature from school inception.
Dec 14, 2021
Journal Article
Independent Analysis of the Relationship Between Sparx Maths and Maths Outcomes: Key Findings and Technical Report
This research project is an independent evaluation of Sparx Maths and EdTech programme, aiming to improve mathematics outcomes for secondary school pupils.
Feb 16, 2021
Report
Building and Sustaining Innovative High Schools: Findings from the Opportunity by Design Study
The Opportunity by Design initiative gave support to small schools of choice to adopt a set of design principles intended to prepare students for college and careers. This final report describes the methods and findings of the five-year study.
Dec 17, 2020
Research Brief
Designing and Sustaining Innovative High Schools: Successes, Challenges, and Student Outcomes
In a five-year study, high schools adopted a set of design principles intended to prepare students for college and careers.
Dec 17, 2020
Research Brief
Ensuring That the Measuring and Improving Student-Centered Learning Toolkit Is Easy to Use and Produces Accurate, Meaningful Results
This research brief summarizes the validity, reliability, and usability of the Measuring and Improving Student-Centered Learning Toolkit, which was developed to help high schools assess the extent of student-centered learning in their schools.
Jun 8, 2020
Report
Evidence on the Validity, Reliability, and Usability of the Measuring and Improving Student-Centered Learning (MISCL) Toolkit: Key Takeaways and Lessons on Developing Tools for School Improvement
This report summarizes a study on the validity, reliability, and usability of the Measuring and Improving Student-Centered Learning Toolkit, which was developed to help high schools measure the extent of student-centered learning in classrooms.
Jun 8, 2020
Blog
COVID-19's Effects on Mental Health, Food Access, and Education: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on COVID-19 and mental health, food security challenges during the pandemic, supporting children while schools are closed, and more.
Apr 3, 2020
Commentary
Online Doesn't Have to Mean Impersonal
Children's needs extend beyond the purely academic. It is important that their social and emotional well-being is supported as instruction moves online during the COVID-19 pandemic. A whole-child view of what students need could benefit them now more than ever.
Apr 2, 2020
Journal Article
Implementing an Adaptive Intelligent Tutoring System as an Instructional Supplement
This article studies the implementation of ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) in a blended-learning model. This is the first rigorous experimental evaluation of ALEKS in K–12 in-school settings, and the first to gather extensive implementation data.
Mar 10, 2020
Commentary
Research Rigor Is Undermined by Translating Into Years of Learning
The research field increasingly recognizes that we need metrics that everyone can understand. Translating the result into years of learning has become a popular approach, but this metric has major flaws. There are better options.
Jul 5, 2019
Report
Implementation and Outcomes of the Appalachian Renaissance Initiative in Eastern Kentucky Schools
The Appalachian Renaissance Initiative provided principals, teachers, and students in rural Eastern Kentucky with opportunities to support and improve teaching and learning. This evaluation examines its implementation and outcomes.
Jan 3, 2019
Report
Strategies for Implementing Personalized Learning While Evidence and Resources Are Underdeveloped
This Perspective draws on theory, learning science principles, and the limited research that exists to offer strategic guidance on the design of personalized learning models for primary and secondary education.
Oct 2, 2018

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RAND Topic:
Personalized Learning

Topic Synonyms:
Personalizing Learning

Research conducted by

RAND Education and Labor

Researcher Spotlight

Lindsay Daugherty

Senior Policy Researcher

Lindsay Daugherty is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation who specializes in education and workforce policy, with a particular focus on research that helps to improve the economic circumstances of individuals through increased access to and success in postsecondary education and…
John F. Pane

Senior Scientist

John F. Pane is a senior scientist at the RAND Corporation. He studies the implementation and effectiveness of innovations in education, focusing on education technology, personalized/competency-based learning, math, and science. His expertise includes the application of experimental and…

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