Fresno Unified School District
PLI - Personalized Learning and Innovation
The Personalized Learning Initiative (PLI) initially began with the recognition that system-wide access to and engagement in the intentional use of technology within instruction and student task were inconsistent across Fresno Unified School District. This seemingly tech-centric challenge led to a foundationally instructional approach built upon engaging student and teacher strengths and from intra-district teacher collaborations to design and implement blended instructional models that highly engage students and impact the classroom experience.
The goals of PLI are to build rich learning experiences from students’ tremendous strengths and assets and engage equitable education with every student through personalized and blended learning both in and beyond the classroom. The initiative advances student-centered learning focused on #AsYetImagined futures with competencies, content mastery and agency. If the shift to digital changes student readiness, then so should our models for student preparation. PLi pedagogy is about high-quality instruction with the intentional use of technology, structures to engage rich tasks and collaboration while honoring and activating student voice.
What teaching practices are common within PLI classrooms? This document provides a quick snapshot into the teaching practices and resources used within PLI classrooms.
PLI Criteria for Success
In addition to the blended learning models, another critical component of PLI is a balanced blend of whole group instruction, targeted small group instruction, collaborative tasks, independent practice, and reflection. In a collaborative effort with our partners at Education Elements, our PLI Teacher Advisory Committee and our PLI Lead Team, we created a CFS (Criteria for Success) document for conducting each of these instructional components. Click the image below to access the complete document.
The term Blended Learning refers to the practice of blending both face-to-face and online instruction. Within our PLI structure, we aim to blend the use of analog (paper, pencil) and digital tools. While there are a variety of blended learning models developed in this area, we have found that the two most suitable models for our system include the Rotation and Flex models. The video to the left provides a detailed look at these two models.
Blended Learning Best Practices in FUSD
The graphic below provides a guide to help teachers integrate blended learning into their instruction. It calls out the guiding frameworks and integrated digital tools provided by our district. In addition, it highlights the critical elements for success and the flexible considerations.
Example Blended Learning Models
PLI Classroom Videos
These videos highlight actual classroom footage of techno-pedagogy, blended learning models and other aspects of personalized learning. You will find examples from various grade levels and at various school sites. The videos can be accessed on Microsoft Stream at the link below and will require a district login.
Getting Started with Personalized Learning
Taking the time to implement these tactics and establish rules and routines during the first quarter of school will allow students to become the center of their learning experiences. This document was created by the FUSD PLI team and our partners at Education Elements to bring you a matrix of tactics, and resources for each. These ideas can be tailored to fit the needs of the learners at your school.
Technology Tutorials
Learn the most commonly used digital tools to support personalized learning. Additionally, you can view this matrix to see the common tools and use cases for each.
Microsoft Class Teams
Your main hub for conducting learning in a digital space.
Microsoft Forms
The perfect tool for collecting feedback or assessing students.
Immersive Reader
Reach all students with this inclusive tool that provides translation and playback features.
Microsoft Stream and Screen Recording
Create instructional videos and host them on the district Stream video platform.
Video Tutorials on Fresno EdTech
Find more great tutorials on the district EdTech YouTube channel.
PLi Guiding Frameworks
Grounded in FUSD Frameworks
Instructional Practice Guides – Best Practices for High Quality Instruction
Graduate Profile – Student competencies (soft skills) for college- and career-readiness
Technology Scope and Sequence – Technology Standards for Students
California ELA/ELD Framework – English Language Development
Global and National Frameworks
21st Century Learning Design – Develop 21st century skills using digital technologies
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Student Voice, Choice and Ownership – U.S. Office of Educational Technology
TPaCK – Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge
SAMR – Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition
Gradual Release of Responsibility
Pli Data and Research
In an effort to accurately measure the impact of the Personalized Learning Initiative, we created data teams made up of district staff and outside partners. Our partnerships with Microsoft. Digital Promise and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt have allowed us to collect data around the use of digital tools and measure the impact it is having on academic achievement and online collaboration. The data findings linked below provide comparisons between PLI and Non-PLI teachers and students.
Data
- Kwantum Analytics LAMP Key Insights – 2020
- Board Presentation for 3-Year PLI Update – January 2020
- Personalized Learning Maximizes Student Potential – 2018
- Advancing Achievement and Equity: Growing evidence from the FUSD Personalized Learning Initiative -2018
- Fresno Unified, the Futures Challenge, and 21C Learning Design – June 2017
Research
Situatedness and Variations in Student Adoption of Technology Practices: Towards a Critical Techno-Pedagogy
Philip G. Neufeld, Henry D. Delcore
Journal of Information Technology Education Research; Volume 17, 2018
Enabling Analytics for Improvement: Lessons from Year 2 of Fresno’s Personalized Learning Initiative
Langworthy, Maria; Means, Barbara; Neufeld, Philip; Peters, Vanessa, et. al. (2018)
Advancing achievement and equity: Growing evidence from the Fresno Unified School District Personalized Learning Initiative
Langworthy, Maria; Means, Barbara; Neufeld, Philip; et. al. (2018)
Articles
Personalized learning initiative sets Fresno students and teachers up for success
Microsoft Education Team, June 2020
Fresno Professionals Shifting Practices Towards Personalized Learning
Education Week, by Tom Vander Ark, June 2018
Personalized Learning, Teachers Unleashed, and a Learning Analytics Partnership: The Story of Fresno Unified
Ed Surge, by Maria Langworthy, September 2018