Stimulating a Gradual and Progressive Shift to Personalize Learning for All: There is Magic in the Middle
Turk, Dr. Autumn R
Turk, Dr. Autumn R
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Abstract
This essay contends that personalized professional learning can support the shift towards a culture of personalized learning at the middle school level, with the potential to make a district-wide impact. If you have ever worked in a middle school, you would agree there is a sense magic and contagious energy within middle school students. Middle school is often an overlooked and untapped resource when considering efforts to transform school and district culture. Middle school students start to develop passions and a voice for advocacy, making agency a powerful accelerator when students channel their collective energy towards a shared vision for change. This past year has placed tremendous pressures on our educators, school leaders, students, and parents; yet, it has also offered us a remarkable opportunity to re-imagine our educational system by focusing on a more personalized approach to learning for both our students and adults. Educators have re-entered the learner’s seat with an immediate urgency to enhance their instructional practices so they may engage students in learning and manage their classrooms in new and nontraditional learning environments. The result of this shift has yielded many benefits, such as the use of technology for learning and curation of digital curriculum resources; however, it has also created a renewed need to focus on the efficacy and professional learning of educators. Rising concerns with equity, learning loss, and mental health have added additional pressure for school leaders, teachers, and support staff. Therefore, there is a need to reimagine our vision for the future of education and strategically plan flexible pathways to make our vision a reality. A vision for embedding ongoing personalized coaching within professional learning communities can improve teacher efficacy, enhance collaborative data analysis and lesson planning, and transform school culture to maximize personalized learning for all students.
Description
Dr. Autumn R. Turk currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Development at Burrell School District. She has previously served as a middle school assistant principal, upper elementary assistant principal, academic intervention specialist, and first grade teacher. Dr. Turk would like to show appreciation for the work of the researchers who laid the foundation for this paper, as well as the tremendous support she has received from her family, friends, and colleagues within the Burrell and Point Park communities. Dr. Turk completed her dissertation research and doctorate degree through Point Park University, a master's degree in School Leadership from the University of Pittsburgh, and a bachelor of science degree in Elementary and Special Education from Clarion University.
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Date
2021-12-31