Annotation In K-12 education's growing movement of competency-based education and personalized learning, both contradictory and overlapping definitions come up around these two terms. To clear up this confusion, A Handbook for Personalized Competency-Based Education by Robert J. Marzano, Jennifer S. Norford, Michelle Finn, and Douglas Finn III and contributors Rebecca Mestaz and Roberta Selleck delves into the components of a personalized competency-based education system. It reckons with the need to establish shared meanings for these terms, resulting in an inclusive definition of the terms, which the authors call personalized competency-based education (PCBE), and a clear implementation approach for a PCBE system. Once that term is in place, this handbook explores considerations, approaches, and strategies that educators should survey as they design PCBE systems that can help ensure students' content mastery.

Competency-Based Education introduces educators to a new model for anytime, anywhere schooling and provides tools and curriculum resources for redesigning the traditional structures of K–12 schools. Based on pioneering work across multiple states, the book shows how educators can design central elements of competency-based education—including performance tasks, personal learning plans, and grading systems—to meet the needs and interests of all students. Rose L. Colby provides critical tools for creating these elements in collaborative teams and engaging stakeholders such as educators, parents, and community members. The book incorporates case studies and voices from the field, and examines the variety of competency models that schools have adopted, highlighting the benefits for students. Competency-Based Education provides a much-needed resource at a time when states, districts, and schools are working to implement competency-based models and experimenting with new accountability systems that include evidence of learning beyond standardized tests.

The roadmap for your school’s CBE journey! The one-size-fits-all instructional and assessment practices of the past no longer equitably meet the needs of all students. Competency-based education (CBE) has emerged not only as an innovation in education, but as a true transformation of the approaches to how we traditionally "do" school. In Deeper Competency-Based Learning, the authors share best practices from their experiences implementing CBE across states, districts, and schools. Leaving no stone unturned, readers are guided step-by-step through CBE implementation and validation phases, beginning with defining your WHY and collaborative development of the competencies describing deeper learning. The CBE readiness tools and reflections inside will help your team: Build the foundation for organizational shifts by examining policies, leadership, culture, and professional learning Dig in to shifts in teaching and learning structures by addressing rigorous learning goals, competency-based assessment, evidence-based grading, and body of evidence validation Take a deep dive into the shift to student-centered classrooms through personalized instructional strategies that change mindsets regarding teacher-student roles, responsibilities, and classroom culture Discover how your students can demonstrate deeper learning of academic content and develop personal success skills by maximizing time, place, and pace of learning with this roadmap for your CBE journey.

In this powerful new book, James Rickabaugh, former superintendent and current director of the Institute for Personalized Learning (IPL), presents the groundbreaking results of the Institute’s half-decade of research, development, and practice: a simple but powerful model for personalizing students’ learning experiences by building their levels of commitment, ownership, and independence. Tried and rigorously tested in urban, suburban, and rural districts--and in different academic and economic settings--the IPL model has been proven to enhance student engagement and achievement at all levels. Rickabaugh provides principals and other top-level leaders with * Step-by-step guidance for implementing the model; * A detailed overview of the research and work behind the model’s development; * A complete introduction to the heart of the model—a comprehensive, multi-layered framework centered on the three core components of learner profiles, customized learning paths, and proficiency-based progress; * Tools and activities for assessing and adjusting the model to meet the specific needs of students and staff; * Strategies for increasing and reinforcing enthusiasm for the change process among everyone involved, from the classroom to the greater community; and * An abundance of real-life examples and reflections from students, teachers, principals, and superintendents whose schools have flourished in record time and with minimal additional funding or resources. Tapping the Power of Personalized Learning offers a blueprint that dramatically improves student outcomes and prepares today’s learners to meet life’s challenges in college and beyond.

Foreword by Chris Sturgis Shifting to a competency-based curriculum allows educators to revolutionize education by replacing traditional, ineffective systems with a personalized, learner-centered approach. Throughout the resource, the authors explore how the components of PLCs promote the principles of competency-based education and share real-world examples from practitioners who have made the transition to learner-centered teaching. Each chapter ends with reflection questions readers can answer to apply their own learning progression. By reading this book, K-12 administrators, school leaders, and teacher leaders will: - Evaluate the qualities of true competency-based schools and the flaws in traditional schooling. - Consider the foundational role that PLCs have in establishing the competency-based approach and promoting learning for all. - Gain tips for successfully implementing student-centered practices for learning competencies and performance assessment and grading. - Explore real school experiences that highlight the processes and challenges involved in moving from traditional to competency-based school structures - Access reproducible school-design rubrics appropriate for the five design principles of competency-based learning. Contents: Introduction Chapter 1: Understanding the Components of an Effective Competency-Based Learning System Chapter 2: Building the Foundation of a Competency-Based Learning System Through PLCs Chapter 3: Developing Competencies and Progressions to Guide Learning Chapter 4: Changing to Competency-Friendly Grading Practices Chapter 5: Creating and Implementing Competency-Friendly Performance Assessments Chapter 6: Responding When Students Need Intervention and Extension Chapter 7: Sustaining the Change Process References and Resources Index

A tremendous amount of money is being steered toward personalized learning (PL) initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels, and it is important to understand the return on the investment in students’ futures. It is only through rigorous discussions that educators and policymakers will be able to determine if PL is a passing fad or if it possesses the staying power necessary to show a positive impact on student achievement. Evaluation of Principles and Best Practices in Personalized Learning is a critical scholarly publication that explores the modern push for schools to implement PL environments and the continuing research to understand the best strategies and implementation methods for personalizing education. It seeks to begin creating a standardized language and standardized approach to the PL initiative and to investigate the implications it has on the educational system. Additionally, this book adds to the professional discussion of PL by looking at both the advantages and disadvantages of PL, the teacher’s role in PL, creating a PL program to scale, the role of technology and PL, the special education population and PL, emerging research on PL, and case studies involving PL. Featuring research on a wide range of topics such as blended learning, preservice teachers, and special education, this book is ideal for teachers, administrators, academicians, policymakers, researchers, and students.

The recent passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) presents new opportunities and greater flexibility in efforts to personalize learning for all children. The Handbook on Personalized Learning for States, Districts, and Schools provides insight and guidance on maximizing that new flexibility. Produced by the Center on Innovations in Learning (CIL), one of seven national content centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education, this volume suggests how teachers can enhance personalized learning by cultivating relationships with students and their families to better understand a child’s learning and motivation. Personalized learning also encourages the development of students’ metacognitive, social, and emotional competencies, thereby fostering students’ self?direction in their own education, one aimed at mastery of knowledge and skills and readiness for career and college. Chapters address topics across the landscape of personalized learning, including co?designing instruction and learning pathways with students; variation in the time, place, and pace of learning, including flipped and blended classrooms; and using technology to manage and analyze the learning process. The Handbook’s chapters include Action Principles to guide states, districts, and schools in personalizing learning.