Differentiation, individualization and personalization: What they mean, and where they’re headed

Differentiation, individualization and personalization: What they mean, and where they’re headed
2017/08/01
Mostly we read about 'what they mean' and a lost less about 'where they're headed', but as a template to distinguish between these three concepts this post will do as well as any.

• Differentiation: "The teacher drives instruction and adjusts lessons that are best suited for each particular group."
• Individualization: "The teacher still drives instruction – but, unlike differentiation, an individualized lesson is designed to accommodate the particular needs for an individual learner."
• Personalization: "The teacher is no longer the sole driver of instruction – each learner now collaborates with the teacher to drive his or her learning."

What distinguishes different types of personalization are the elements the student can control or influence. More...