Personalizing Learning for All Staff and Students – A Conversation with Eric Sheninger and Niki Slaugh

Digital Learning Today: Where Productivity Meets Innovation in the Classroom.

In this episode, Jeffrey Bradbury interviews Eric Sheninger and Nicki Slaugh, authors of the book 'Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners.' They discuss the importance of personalized learning and how to implement it in schools. They emphasize the need to identify each student as an individual and provide experiences that are engaging and challenging at their own level. They also highlight the significance of celebrating student wins and creating a culture of personalization. The conversation explores the concept of starting with your 'why' and empowering both students and staff. Eric and Nicki share their experiences and strategies for implementing personalized learning in their schools. The conversation focuses on the theme of personalization in education and the importance of creating a culture that meets the needs of all learners. Nikki Slaugh, a principal, shares her experiences in transforming her school to a personalized learning environment. She discusses the implementation of a mastery tracker and mastery minutes, which allow students to set goals and receive additional support as needed. The conversation also emphasizes the role of leadership in creating a culture of personalization, including providing time for collaboration and professional learning. The importance of feedback, accountability, and building relationships is highlighted. The journey of personalization is described as a continuous process of improvement and adaptation. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

In This Episode …

• Establishing a culture for personalization (risk-taking, collaboration, feedback, professional learning)
• Purposeful use of tech aligned to high-level thinking and relevance
• Use of high-agency strategies (voice, choice, path, pace, place)
• Data and AI-enhanced teaching & learning
• Establishment of relationships

Conversation Takeaways

• Personalized learning involves identifying each student as an individual and providing experiences that are engaging and challenging at their own level.
• Celebrating student wins is important for building confidence and creating a culture of personalization.
• Starting with your 'why' is crucial for both staff and students to understand the purpose and value of personalized learning.
• Empowering students and staff involves giving them voice, choice, and leadership opportunities in the learning process.
• Personalized learning is not about putting every student on a device, but about building relationships, relevance, and maximizing learning time.
• Removing points and grades can help shift the focus from accumulation to actual learning and mastery of skills.
• Effective implementation of personalized learning requires a shift in mindset, a focus on student agency, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Personalized learning is about unlocking the potential of every student and providing tiered supports to meet their individual needs.
• The role of leaders is to create a culture of personalization, lead by example, and provide support and resources for teachers to design personalized practices.
• Personalized learning is a journey that requires ongoing reflection, adaptation, and collaboration. Personalization in education involves creating a culture that meets the needs of all learners.
• Implementing tools like mastery trackers and mastery minutes can help students set goals and receive additional support as needed.
• Leadership plays a crucial role in creating a culture of personalization, including providing time for collaboration and professional learning.
• Feedback, accountability, and building relationships are essential components of personalization.
• The journey of personalization is a continuous process of improvement and adaptation.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Overview
• 04:24 The Importance of Personalized Learning
• 09:51 Starting with Your 'Why'
• 10:34 Celebrating Student Wins
• 17:21 Shifting Mindset and Culture in Schools
• 20:40 Creating a Culture of Personalization
• 22:54 The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Personalization
• 25:31 Empowering Students and Teachers
• 29:09 The Journey of Implementing Personalization
• 39:15 Embracing Your Why and Making an Impact

Check out Their Book on Amazon!

• Personalize: Meeting the needs of ALL Learners

About our Guest: Eric Sheninger

Eric Sheninger works with schools worldwide, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve learner outcomes. He is the founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy designed to provide personalized support to all educational systems. Before this, he was a teacher and the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership, his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implementation of several sustainable change initiatives that radically transformed the learning culture at his school while increasing achievement. His work focuses on innovative and practical ways educators can transform teaching, learning, and leadership. Through his work with thousands of schools, Eric has emerged as an innovative leader, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. His main focus is using research, evidence-based practices, and artificial intelligence (AI) to empower learners and educators.

Links of Interest

• Website: http://ericsheninger.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/E_Sheninger
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricCSheninger
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esheninger

About our Guest: Nicki Slaugh

Nicki Slaugh is an energetic, transformative leader in education, known for her visionary impact as a secondary principal. She has reshaped school culture by emphasizing personalized learning tailored to each student's unique needs and integrating technology strategically to enhance individual potential. Nicki's innovative methods, such as implementing proficiency scales, developing rubrics, engaging students, self-paced learning pathways, empower educators and students alike. Her advocacy for student autonomy and learner agency has gained widespread acclaim. With a career spanning over two decades, Nicki began as a classroom teacher for kindergarten through third grade before assuming roles as an instructional technology and curriculum coach for grades K-9. In her current position, she continues to inspire a lifelong passion for learning among her students and staff, driven by her unwavering commitment to educational excellence and innovation.

Links of Interest

• Website: https://www.nickislaugh.com/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/nickiatquest
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/principal_nickislaugh/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicki-slaugh-a396155b/

Follow Our Podcast And Subscribe

• View All Episodes
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify

Follow Our Host

• Jeff Bradbury | @JeffBradbury
• TeacherCast | @TeacherCast

Join Our PLN

Are you enjoying the TeacherCast Network, please share your thoughts with the world by commenting on Apple Podcasts today? I enjoy reading and sharing your comments on the podcast each week.

Let’s Work Together

• Host: Jeff Bradbury @TeacherCast | @JeffBradbury
• Email: [e-mail]
• Voice Mail: **http://www.TeacherCast.net/voicemail**
• YouTube: **http://www.TeacherCast.net/YouTube**
• iTunes: **http://www.TeacherCast.net/iTunes**

Check Out More TeacherCast Programming

• The Jeff Bradbury Show
• Ask The Tech Coach Podcast
• Digital Learning Today

Need A Presenter?

• Jeff Bradbury (@TeacherCast) is available as a Keynote Speaker, Presenter, or to Broadcast your conference LIVE!

For More Information: https://www.TeacherCast.net