{"id":1894,"date":"2014-09-26T14:33:55","date_gmt":"2014-09-26T18:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/?p=1894"},"modified":"2022-04-14T14:50:13","modified_gmt":"2022-04-14T18:50:13","slug":"44-ways-personalized-learning-plans-are-taking-off-in-vermont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/44-ways-personalized-learning-plans-are-taking-off-in-vermont\/","title":{"rendered":"4 ways personalized learning plans are taking off in Vermont"},"content":{"rendered":"

Educators are embracing digital tools for planning and sharing<\/h2>\n

\"4<\/a>Personalized learning plans, or PLPs, are non-traditional pathways by which students can navigate from entrance to graduation in a way that’s personally meaningful. By studying topics they’re passionate about, students continue to stay engaged; by collaborating on the plans with educators and family, students’ passions can be translated into real-world learning that oftentimes exceeds standards for learning.<\/p>\n

But where do digital tools fit into this conversation?<\/p>\n

With all schools in Vermont being required to begin implementing PLPs for grades 7-9 by 2015,\u00a0 let’s take a look at 4 ways personalized learning plans are already taking off in Vermont.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. The VT Agency of Education’s PLP online toolbox<\/h3>\n

\"4<\/a>Under a mandate from the Vermont legislature, the Vermont Agency of Education has spent the past year working on implementation recommendations so that all schools can provide students with PLPs. The Agency of Education’s workgroup consisted of education leaders from around the state, including Tarrant Institute director Penny Bishop<\/a>. Educators, students and parents can all find clear and customized resources and online in the Agency of Education’s digital toolbox for PLPs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Among the resources is a self-assessment questionnaire<\/a> for schools to use prior to committing to a PLP implementation, a sample PLP template<\/a> and a timeline of expectations for implementation<\/a> (pdf0.<\/p>\n

2. e-portfolios: Evernote, Google Sites, Hapara and more!<\/h3>\n

As students follow PLPs, the need for e-portfolios, digital records of the learning they’ve accomplished, are attaining an increasing importance. Last year, educators from Harwood Union Middle School presented at Etti iPad Boston on their school-wide implementation of Evernote for e-portfolios<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And earlier this week, Tarrant Institute professional development coordinator Susan Hennessey had a chance to do a Google Hangout on PLPs and differentiation with a class of pre-service educators at Castleton State College. She took them on a tour of Schoology and Hapara’s Teacher Dashboard, while explaining the pedagogy behind support for personalized learning plans.<\/p>\n