People vs. 'Personalization'

Retaining the human element in the high-tech era of education

By Susan Sandler

It's an odd thing: For all the talk about "personalizing learning" these days, we don't often hear much about actual persons in the process. The prevailing definition of "personalization," ironically, seems to have more to do with what technology can offer than anything else. This approach, which I call Personalization 2.0, seems to emphasize data and customization, which is a good thing, but there is more to high-quality learning than creating the equivalent of a perfect iPod playlist.

It's a big change from the kind of personalization that Theodore R. Sizer, the late founder of the Coalition of Essential Schools, used to talk about—the kind I think of as Personalization 1.0. In his writings, Sizer emphasized that, for students to succeed, they must be personally known at school and have strong relationships with the people there.

While there are clear tensions between these two definitions, they are not diametrically opposed. Both versions seek to respond to the uniqueness of each student and to challenge...