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Customized Learner Pathways

Creating common pathways for academic progress that can be customized for individual students

Context

Learner Pathways are the backbone of the personalized learning model at Locust Grove. Teachers design these self-paced, choice-based Learner Pathways with a variety of learning tasks for each unit. Learner Pathways are created as templates that can be leveraged throughout the school and modified by teachers and students based on need. Students generally take 3 to 6 weeks to complete pathways for each unit, depending on the number of skills and student pace. The tasks vary in format, including online content and intervention tools, paper-based practice, group collaboration, and performance tasks. Tasks are also organized along a progression of rigor using Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels, which indicates to students the complexity of each task. Teachers and students have aligned tasks and learning expectations around the scoring criteria rubric from competencies and following DOK system:

Each unit is preceded by a pretest, where students have the opportunity to show what they already know. Based on demonstrated mastery and areas of growth on the pretest and in other assessments, teachers and students will conference to design each Learner Pathway and determine the tasks students can skip, allowing students to find the right entry point. Teachers also support students with learning disabilities by incorporating IEP goals and accommodations in Learner Pathways. When students complete their Learner Pathways, they then take a posttest to assess mastery and growth of their learning targets.

Learner Pathways are often housed online in Google Classroom, making it possible for teachers to access and monitor student progress. Teachers often check student progress during 1:1 conferencing, at the end of class, and at the end of each week. Some teachers also embed checkpoints into Learner Pathways, ensuring students check in with teachers and prove mastery before moving forward.

Students primarily work on tasks within their Learner Pathways in class, allowing teachers to circulate and support students or pull students for 1:1 conferencing and small group instruction, especially for students struggling to make progress. Students also have the option to take their laptops home to work on their Learner Pathways outside of school. Additionally, progress on Learner Pathways often determines classroom seating, as students working on the same task have the option to sit next to other classmates and collaborate on the task.

Student Does

  • Chooses learning tasks to complete first and how best to learn -- individually, collaboratively, at home, etc.
  • Tracks progress and completion of tasks on Learner Pathway.

Teacher Does

  • Designs Learner Pathways based on competencies, performance indicators, and learning targets.
  • Customizes pathways for each student based on pretest mastery and other forms of data.
  • Monitors student progress through Learner Pathways, giving additional supports through 1:1 conferences and small group instruction based on need.

Technology Does

  • Houses Learner Pathways on Google Classroom.
  • Facilitates access to student progress on Learner Pathways.

Strategy Resources


Structured Student Choice at Locust Grove Middle School

At Locust Grove, students have several ways to direct their learning and choose how to... Learn More

Locust Grove Sample Learner Pathway - 8th Science Unit 1

Students at Locust Grove Middle School work on personalized learner pathways that are designed with... Learn More

Barbara Blackburn's DOK Analysis & Planning

Teachers at Locust Grove Middle School use Dr. Barbara Blackburn's DOK tools to both analyze... Learn More

Locust Grove DOK LASW Protocol

Locust Grove Middle School uses this protocol to analyze student work with performance tasks and... Learn More

Locust Grove Webb's DOK Task Analysis Protocol

Locust Grove Middle School uses this protocol to analyze and develop the Depth of Knowledge... Learn More