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Should we be thinking about moving toward Personalized Learning Plans (PLP)?

Leigh Choate
Jan 24, 2021
3 min read

As we muddle our way through distance learning during the 2020-2021 school year, we have our sights set on what is to come in the next school year so that we can move forward and leave the mess of this pandemic behind us.

One of the most recent buzz words to pop up is the concept of the Personalized Learning Plan, or PLP. Yes, another acronym to add to the list. However this really is an interesting idea that we all should take a moment to stop and ponder.

So what is a PLP and why do we care? A PLP is, according to the U.S. Department of Education is “a formalized process that involves high school students setting learning goals based on personal, academic and career interest with the close support of school personnel or other individuals that can include teachers, school counselors, and parents”(Fulton, J.). The reason that we care is because of the "competition of differentiated instruction, common core, learning differences and standardized tests and how these conflicting ideas coexist within an educational setting"(Fulton,K.). With all of these competing concepts, it is no wonder that education is going in multiple directions. Wouldn't it be nice if it was all geared specifically to students and gave them some power in deciding what they learn based on their own pace and style of learning?

By working together with students to create a PLP we are working on “instruction in which the pace of learning and the instructional approach are optimized for the needs of each learner. Learning objectives, instructional approaches, and instructional content (and its sequencing) all may vary based on learner needs. In addition, learning activities are meaningful and relevant to learners, driven by their interests, and often self-initiated”(Fulton,J.).

The problem is, how do we even go about doing this when there are so many students per class that teachers are already overwhelmed? EdSurge suggests that there are ten steps to creating a PLP which allows students to grow by empowering them to take an active role in their learning and development (EdSurge). These steps include both the teacher and the student. A few examples or steps are, "conferencing with students, setting goals and redefining areas of focus" (EdSurge). Some of the models that have been used are described in detail as "schools that use learner profiles, schools that use personalized learning paths, schools that use competency-based progression, and schools using flexible learning environments"(Moren, A.).

Another concern might be that this would take away the value or need for an IEP plan or a 504 and as Moren states in her online article, Personalized Learning Plans do not take the place of intervention programs (Moren,A.). In this instance, if a student did have an intervention plan, they would end up also having a PLP.

This really does away with the "one size fits all approach to education and the teacher isn't leading all students through the same lessons. Instead, the teacher guides each student on an individualized journey. The what, when, where and how of learning is tailored to meet each student’s strengths, skills, needs and interests (Moren, A.). It is not a secret to educators that students learn more and retain information better when they are invested and interested in what they are learning. I think it is time to look into updating and putting our focus into our students and their learning at what works best for each student individually instead of the whole group so that we are honoring that students "learn skills in different ways and at different paces" and the PLP model does just that (Moren,A.).

EdSurge. 2018, September 25. https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-09-25-10-steps-to-creating-personalized-learning-plans-for-students-infographic

Fulton, J. 2019, March 28. Classcraft. https://www.classcraft.com/resources/blog/what-is-personal-learning/

Moren, A. Personalized Learning Plan: What you need to know. https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-childs-school/instructional-strategies/personalized-learning-what-you-need-to-know