Learn4Life celebrates Personalized Learning Month to recognize, promote and support the practice of teaching students the way each learns best
LOS ANGELES, August 9, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Can tomorrow’s workforce be effectively trained by yesterday’s school model? If you ask teachers, parents and students, the answer is a resounding no, according to surveys by One Poll1 and Talker Research2 on behalf of Learn4Life high schools, in time for Personalized Learning Month in August.
Sixty-five percent of high school seniors surveyed said they wish they had spent more time exploring subjects that excited them. Giving students time to pursue their passions increases their overall engagement and may better prepare them for the various paths they take after graduation—which is important since only 22 percent of seniors felt “very well prepared” for their next step after graduation.
And parents agree: Less than half of parents surveyed (43 percent) believe their child will be ready for the “real world” after graduation. Perhaps that’s why only half of high school graduates plan to attend a four-year college or university.
86 percent of teachers surveyed believe in personalized learning, with 27 percent saying it should start in high school. The traditional classroom model appears to need a change, with the majority (67 percent) preferring fewer than 20 students and 51 percent feeling unsure about their ability to influence their students’ performance in a traditional classroom with large groups.
Learn4Life, a network of over 80 public high schools, developed a teaching model 22 years ago that focuses on individualized instruction combined with flexible schedules, trauma-resilient methods, and job-ready training.
“Most students who come to us are behind in achievement because they were not successful at their previous school. Not everyone is comfortable in a large classroom listening to a teacher lecture,” explains Shellie Hanes, principal. “First, we do a thorough assessment to determine their learning style, where they need help, and whether their goal is to graduate early, catch up, go to college, or enter the workforce after high school. Then we work with them to develop a learning plan.”
August is the month of personalized learningto encourage changes in the structure of our classrooms and promote more collaboration and one-on-one instruction with students.
52 percent of teachers believe that personalized learning in schools brings benefits, such as individual attention and the ability to respond to students’ needs. 47 percent believe it creates a more exciting and interactive learning experience.
“The more we tailor what and how we teach to the individual student, the more they learn,” Hanes added. “And that’s true regardless of the student’s ability level – from highly gifted to those with special needs. We can do this in any classroom setting.”
Visit PersonalizedLearningMonth.com to learn more.
About Learn4Life
Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public high schools that provide students with personalized learning, career training, and life skills. Each school is locally managed, tuition-free, and offers students the flexibility and personalized attention they need to succeed. We serve over 59,000 students in a year-round program, helping them prepare for a future after high school. For more information, visit www.learn4life.org.
1 This random double opt-in survey of 2,000 high school teachers was commissioned by Learn4Life between April 5 and April 19, 2023. It was conducted by market research firm OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and are corporate members of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
2 This random, double opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans – 1,000 parents of public high school students and 1,000 public high school graduates (ages 18 and 19) – was commissioned by Learn4Life between June 17 and June 27, 2024. It was conducted by market research firm Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
View original version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240809133393/en/
Contacts
Ann Abajian, Learn4Life
(559) 903-7893
[email protected]
