In an increasingly technology-driven world, there’s a growing recognition that students need more advanced learning tactics. This knowledge is leading the development of new frameworks like personalized and project-based learning. In a survey conducted [1], results found that over 90% of districts find personalized learning a top priority for technology usage in K-12, followed by digital content and curriculum.
Personalized Learning
In a custom learning system, students receive help and instructions as needed. A few studies have found that schools using some form of personalized learning performed better [2]. “Personalized Learning” can be explained as the use of software to allow each student to proceed through a pre-determined body of knowledge at their own pace or a whole new way of doing school where students set their own goals.
1:1 learning has proven to be the most effective by research like Bloom’s Taxonomy, however in classroom settings where the number of students outweighs the number of available instructors adopting new software serves as a good solution. Adaptive software not only helps elicit higher student achievement, but personalized content and assessments can also help manage individual learning paths of over 100 students.
Skills-based Learning
In efforts to bridge the gap between current skill sets and the next generation of employees, K-12 schools are adopting an innovative approach that is ideal for technology integration called project-based learning [3].
PBL, a form of personalized learning, is helping bridge this gap by utilizing real-world topics and authentic experiences. Schools are tapping into programs that teach content and 21st-century skills like informed decision-making — doing so by developing innate learning motivation amongst learners.
Project-based learning, combined with technology, is believed to be one of the most significant ways to authentically engage students in their academics and help them gain exposure to real-world topics.
Researchers have found that after seven months of receiving project-based learning, students improved by .18 standard deviation in math and .14 standard deviation in science relative to the standard-instruction students [4].
A recent study [5], provided results that only 13% of parents say it’s crucial for their child to do well on standardized tests. 59% say it’s vital for their children to work on a project with real-world applications. 51% report, it’s essential for their children to come up with their ideas about how to solve problems.
K-12 Schools Need Better Technology
Research finds that 69 percent of educators say today’s primary and secondary curricula don’t emphasize creative problem-solving enough. They also suggest simple steps to alleviate this problem, including more professional development, increased budget for technology, and tech access prioritized for underprivileged students [5].
This research also discovered that with two-thirds of teachers—65 percent—use digital tools every day, and about 53 percent say they would like to use technology more often. With only about a quarter of teachers who said they had much information about the effectiveness of the digital tools they use.
Amesite Inc. Announces Partnership with K-12 Partner
In response to these gaps in education, Amesite has developed customized online learning solutions that utilize AI technologies, including machine learning and natural language processing. We deliver cost-effective, cloud-based digital educational products that greatly enhance and improve the learning experience of students.
Amesite’s online platform includes customized user messaging and tracking, as well as seamless integration of current events into traditional course materials, creating a more meaningful experience for both students and instructors alike.
Our first official partnership with one of the largest counties in Michigan, the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD), will focus on the Washtenaw Alliance for Virtual Education (WAVE) program, a free public high school program for students in the Washtenaw County school districts.
To learn more about Amesite and available collaborations please click here: https://amesite.com/k12/
Resources
[1]: https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/08/13/personalized-learning-top-priority-for-tech-usage-in-k12.aspx
[2]: https://www.npr.org/2018/11/16/657895964/the-future-of-learning-well-it-s-personal
[3]: https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2019/11/how-project-based-learning-helping-students-build-21st-century-skills-perfcon
[4]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2019/10/29/new-strong-evidence-for-problem-based-learning/#55fbc9c66ab8
[5]: https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/09/18/digital-learning-tools-are-everywhere-but-gauging.html
