Seven in 10 high school teachers agree that a one-size-fits-all education, with the same curriculum and teaching methods for all students, is a thing of the past.<br /><br />The traditional classroom model seems to require a shift as the majority (67%) prefers to have fewer than 20 students in a classroom, according to a survey of 2,000 high school teachers.<br /><br />Over half (51%) feel uncertain about their ability to impact their students' performance in a traditional large-group classroom setting. <br /><br />According to the survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Learn4Life, most high school teachers (86%) are familiar with personalized learning, an alternative to traditional group learning that aims to customize learning for each student's strengths, needs, skills and interests.<br /><br />Seventy-eight percent of high school teachers reported being able to identify the learning styles, challenges and goals of each of their students, while 22% were unsure.<br /><br />However, when it comes to creating personalized learning plans for each student, almost one-third of teachers expressed uncertainty about their ability to do so.<br /><br />Teachers have identified several obstacles to providing personalized education, including limited access to technology and resources to support personalized learning (44%), administrative policies and procedures that restrict teacher flexibility in instruction (43%) and a lack of training and professional development in personalized education strategies (41%).<br /><br />Personalized learning is believed by 53% to mitigate behavioral issues in the classroom. Moreover, teachers see it as a way to reduce anxiety and stress (50%), improve educational outcomes (51%), boost engagement (49%) and enhance creativity (51%).<br /><br />Among the teachers, 86% believe in personalized learning, with 27% believing it should start in high school. <br /><br />Ninety-two percent of teachers described their ideal classroom. For design, 24% said they preferred a more collaborative design with tables or desks in groups to facilitate and 21% said they’d want a space that allows flexibility for small group work and one-on-one instruction. <br /><br />“In our rapidly changing world where every service is becoming increasingly individualized, the days of a teacher lecturing in front of a classroom are becoming obsolete,” said Shellie Hanes, Learn4Life superintendent of schools. “We need to change up the structure of our classrooms for more collaboration and one-on-one teaching with our students.”<br /><br />If schools incorporate personalized learning, 52% of teachers believe it will provide benefits such as individualized attention and accommodations to meet the needs of students, while 47% believe it will create a more engaging and interactive learning experience. <br /><br />Additionally, 59% believe it can help students build positive relationships with their teachers and peers, ultimately reducing conflicts and negative behavior.
