Develop an individualized learner profile to guide and track professional learning
Develop and utilize individualized learner profiles to map each educator’s mastered competencies, understand their ongoing needs, and identify aligned supports
Challenge: Each educator has specific needs, just as students. In order to personalize supports and professional learning, educators and their coaches need a central place to understand ongoing learning and progress.
Details: Learner profiles can look very different, but they all essentially aim to create a comprehensive snapshot of the learner’s skills, interests, and growth areas to determine personalized supports. In the context of educator learner profiles, they support personalized coaching and professional development. Educators partner with their coaches and leaders to use these as ongoing, non-evaluative tools to inform coaching moves and professional learning activities (sessions, courses, conferences, independent study, etc.). Educator learner profiles may include the following elements about educators:
- Basic information
- Personal interests
- Learning preferences
- Competency map
- Current focuses and professional goals
- Evidence of learning
Examples
- Dallas Independent School District creates Learner Profiles for every educator in their personalized learning schools, using these profiles to personalize professional learning.
Teacher Actions:
- Fill out and customize information on the Learner Profile.
- Keep Learner Profile updated with ongoing learning progress and focus areas.
Leader Actions:
- Design personalized coaching and professional learning activities around each educator’s Learner Profile.
- Support educators in identifying, tracking, and reflecting on professional growth within the Learner Profile.
Technological Supports:
- Store the Learner Profile on a shared document or platform (optional).
- Facilitate connections between Learner Profiles and professional learning activities, such as coaching, professional learning communities, online modules and courses, etc.