Individual Learning Plans

Over the past two and a half years I've run Adventure Learning in my classroom. Adventure Learning is based on the concept of Google's 20% Time. A blog link with my journey so far can be found on the right hand side. Adventure Learning is completely student driven, students develop their creative and critical thinking skills, ability to work collaboratively and self manage. They learn how to effectively come up with innovative ideas, ask meaningful questions, plan, create, reflect and share. All skills that are important attributes of a lifelong learner. We're often told that we're preparing our students for jobs that don't even exist yet. I am constantly asking myself how I can ensure that I'm preparing my students for their future in the best possible way? How can I effectively provide students with the same autonomy in their day to day learning, that they're given during Adventure Learning? 

Over the past term I've been doing a lot of research around individual learning plans. The real gems are hidden in the blogs of teachers that have trialed individual learning plans in their own classrooms. I've also had a number of professional discussions with these teachers via email and Twitter. 

As I continued to read, questions started to spark in my mind e.g. why do all children have to learn the same thing at the same time? Some learners learn best in the morning, some learn better in the afternoon. How can I cater for this? How is precious learning time often wasted in the classroom? Do we need to spend time on the mat introducing the next lesson after each break? What do the students truly have ownership of when it comes to their learning? 

I think if teachers were to answer these questions honestly they'd find some surprises. I know I did when reflecting on some of them. When reflecting I often try to imagine what it would be like to be an 8 year old learner in my own classroom. For me, it puts things into perspective. 



So what do I expect individual learning plans might look like in our classroom?

I have a idea of what it might look like, but intend on co-constructing this new type of learning with my students over the first couple of weeks in Term 3. I'm hoping that by doing this I will get more buy in from my students and that they will feel as though they have more ownership. Here is a rough breakdown of what the individual learning plans might look like and how they may work. Please note that I only plan to run this programme from Monday to Thursday as we do Adventure Learning on a Friday.


Individual Learning Plans

I plan to allocate time on a Friday afternoon for the children to construct their timetable for the following week. Their timetable will be made up of class activities, workshops, independent learning time, splash sessions, lunch time activities and a student learning conference time. These will then be displayed on the classroom wall. Each child will also be given a photocopy to put into their book. For some children activities such as Spring into Maths and the Friends for Life Programme will also be part of their weekly timetable. Each student will also have a list of activities they must complete within the week. This list and their weekly timetable will help to make up their individual learning plan. 


Class Activities 

I'm well aware that there will still be some activities that we will need to do together as a whole class e.g. school assembly, P.E, art workshops and syndicate club afternoons. There will also be times when I need the whole class together for a writing workshop or for inquiry. These sessions will make up our class activities. 


Workshops

Workshops will consist of group meetings that each student must attend during the week e.g. guided reading, maths etc. These will all be listed on my weekly timetable so the students know which ones they need to slot into their own timetable. Initially I will run these workshops, but as the term progresses I plan to provide more opportunities for students to be the 'expert'. 


Splash Sessions

These will be mini lessons based on the students' current learning needs e.g. how to write using paragraphs. The splash sessions will be optional and therefore students will be able to choose to opt in or out when planning their timetable for the following week. 


Independent Activities 

These will be individualised to best meet the needs of each student. The independent activities must be completed within the weekly time frame. 


Student learning conferences, reflections and student accountability

At some stage throughout the week each student will be expected to post a reflection of their week's learning onto their blog. I plan on spending some considerable time modelling and scaffolding Room 2 through this. Students will also block themselves in for a conference time once a week. The purpose of this is to check their books/blog and to provide them with individual feedback. It also provides an opportunity for each student to speak with me one on one and discuss any challenges or concerns they may be having, as well as to set new learning goals when needed. Having a weekly student conference and the expectation that a blog reflection is completed also ensures that students are accountable for their learning. 


Things to give further consideration to... 

• How to ensure that students have ownership of this change in their learning?
• Do we need a timetable for laptops, iPads, iPods to ensure that these are available for students when needed?
• Creating a classroom notice board for timetables etc. 
• What activities need to be class activities?
• What should be included in the list of activities that must be completed within the week?
• How to decide when class activities should take place e.g. P.E, library time? Use a Google Form to gain student voice around this topic?
• How can I best scaffold and support my students with such a huge shift in thinking?
• The students have regular input into how our classroom environment is set up and already sit where they need to for different activities. However; I think it will be important to reflect on this again at the start of Term 3. Are we happy with our current learning spaces? Do they meet the needs of the learners in Room 2? This is something that I feel the students need to decide, not me. 

I'm not exactly sure how the first day of Term 3 will look, but I imagine that it will start off something like this... 

Thank you to all of the teachers that have shared ideas with me via email and Twitter. I really do appreciate it. Off to 'It's a Learners' World' next week so am looking forward to connecting with other teachers and coming away with some fresh ideas about individual learning plans, student voice and personalised learning.