Learning Playlists
What is a Learning Playlist?
What is a Learning Playlist?
Learning playlists are a sequence of resources and/or activities for students to complete independently or in groups. Learning Playlists can be differentiated by offering alternative pathways for learning based on student performance. They can also be personalized by offering a variety of choices for students to accomplish instructional or assessment goals.
Learning playlists are a sequence of resources and/or activities for students to complete independently or in groups. Learning Playlists can be differentiated by offering alternative pathways for learning based on student performance. They can also be personalized by offering a variety of choices for students to accomplish instructional or assessment goals.
Source: Education Elements
Content Examples
Content Examples
What is the Purpose of a Playlist?
What is the Purpose of a Playlist?
When we ask students to complete multi-faceted independent activities, a playlist serves as guidance and sequencing without real-time teacher actions. This allows the teacher to direct students without having to be present, thus freeing the teacher to work 1:1 or with small groups of students, manage behavioral challenges, observe and respond to academic blockers, offer tech support, and so much more.
When we ask students to complete multi-faceted independent activities, a playlist serves as guidance and sequencing without real-time teacher actions. This allows the teacher to direct students without having to be present, thus freeing the teacher to work 1:1 or with small groups of students, manage behavioral challenges, observe and respond to academic blockers, offer tech support, and so much more.
With playlists, the responsibility for executing the learning plan shifts: Students are given the unit (lesson ,activity, etc) plan, including access to all the lessons ahead of time. With the learning plan in hand, students work through the lesson and assignments at their own pace.
With playlists, the responsibility for executing the learning plan shifts: Students are given the unit (lesson ,activity, etc) plan, including access to all the lessons ahead of time. With the learning plan in hand, students work through the lesson and assignments at their own pace.
Not all playlists are personalized; they can be assigned the same way to all students. To personalize, teachers implementing playlists in conjunction with personalized learning strategies to target specific student interests, skills, and needs.
Not all playlists are personalized; they can be assigned the same way to all students. To personalize, teachers implementing playlists in conjunction with personalized learning strategies to target specific student interests, skills, and needs.
Source: Education Elements
How Do I Build A Personalized Playlist?
How Do I Build A Personalized Playlist?
1. Gather the resources and activities students should explore/complete
1. Gather the resources and activities students should explore/complete
- Use your summative assessment as your guide: what do students need to know/know how to do?
- Use your summative assessment as your guide: what do students need to know/know how to do?
- Consider having multiple options for the same topic or skill so students can exercise choice. For example, if I want students to explore themes in literature, I might offer multiple inputs on a variety of topics or at a variety of Lexile levels.
- Consider having multiple options for the same topic or skill so students can exercise choice. For example, if I want students to explore themes in literature, I might offer multiple inputs on a variety of topics or at a variety of Lexile levels.
2. Sequence the resources & activities in a logical way
2. Sequence the resources & activities in a logical way
- Progression suggestions: steps to task completion, DOK level, scope & sequence from your existing curriculum
- Progression suggestions: steps to task completion, DOK level, scope & sequence from your existing curriculum
3. Layer personalized learning strategies to ensure each student’s needs are met
3. Layer personalized learning strategies to ensure each student’s needs are met
- Pull small groups to target students with similar gaps in their knowledge while the rest of the class has work time on the playlist
- Pull small groups to target students with similar gaps in their knowledge while the rest of the class has work time on the playlist
- Ask students to set goals for playlist completion. Build in reflection time for students to think about their progress (and likely report progress to the teacher).
- Ask students to set goals for playlist completion. Build in reflection time for students to think about their progress (and likely report progress to the teacher).
- Add adaptive digital content as a resource on your playlist
- Add adaptive digital content as a resource on your playlist
4. Determine if any of these variables apply:
4. Determine if any of these variables apply:
- Format: will the resources and activities in your playlist be digital, printed, or a combination of both?
- Format: will the resources and activities in your playlist be digital, printed, or a combination of both?
- Student choice: where might students be able to make a choice from multiple resources/activities?
- Student choice: where might students be able to make a choice from multiple resources/activities?
Consider a “Must do/May do” approach
What prompts can you include to help students make the best choice for themselves? Is there a data point they can reference from a recent formative assessment or self-reflection to drive the decision?
- Incremental checkpoints: a playlist might include pit stops (formative assessments) where students must demonstrate mastery before moving on to the next section of the playlist.
- Incremental checkpoints: a playlist might include pit stops (formative assessments) where students must demonstrate mastery before moving on to the next section of the playlist.
This strategy is highly effective in preventing failures on summative assessments
Checkpoints can be formal quizzes, informal conversations with the teacher, labs - any sort of pulse check to prove to the student and teacher that the student is ready to move on.
- Points accumulation: assign point values to playlist items if the sequence is less critical. Challenge students to accumulate a minimum number of points, and let each student determine his/her path to doing so.
- Points accumulation: assign point values to playlist items if the sequence is less critical. Challenge students to accumulate a minimum number of points, and let each student determine his/her path to doing so.
- Minimum pace: is there a cadence that students should keep in order to stay on track? Consider collaboratively building a target timeline with students (or subgroups of students) for the first playlist you introduce. Then, gradually release the responsibility to students to manage their own time.
- Minimum pace: is there a cadence that students should keep in order to stay on track? Consider collaboratively building a target timeline with students (or subgroups of students) for the first playlist you introduce. Then, gradually release the responsibility to students to manage their own time.
Source: Education Elements
Click here to view Literacy Daily's guide to building a Learning Playlist with examples
Click here to view Literacy Daily's guide to building a Learning Playlist with examples
Click here to view Kara Knollmeyer's guide to building a Learning Playlist with examples
Click here to view Kara Knollmeyer's guide to building a Learning Playlist with examples
Self-Paced and Differentiated
Self-Paced and Differentiated
Learning with Playlists
Learning with Playlists
Tools for Creating Learning Playlists
Tools for Creating Learning Playlists
Hyperdocs:
Hyperdocs:
HyperDocs, a transformative, interactive Google Doc replacing the worksheet method of delivering instruction, is the ultimate change agent in the blended learning classroom. With strong educational philosophies built into each one, HyperDocs have the potential to shift the way you instruct with technology. They are created by teachers and given to students to engage, educate, and inspire learning.
HyperDocs, a transformative, interactive Google Doc replacing the worksheet method of delivering instruction, is the ultimate change agent in the blended learning classroom. With strong educational philosophies built into each one, HyperDocs have the potential to shift the way you instruct with technology. They are created by teachers and given to students to engage, educate, and inspire learning.
Click here to view a website with more information about building playlists using Hyperdocs.
Click here to view a website with more information about building playlists using Hyperdocs.
GoFormative:
GoFormative:
GoFormative is an interactive digital worksheet creator. Teachers can make any worksheet into a digital interactive by uploading it to the GoFormative website and identifying interactive areas. Teachers can monitor student progress in real time.
GoFormative is an interactive digital worksheet creator. Teachers can make any worksheet into a digital interactive by uploading it to the GoFormative website and identifying interactive areas. Teachers can monitor student progress in real time.
Google Docs:
Google Docs:
Google Docs can be considered the easiest tool for creating learning playlists. Teachers use the word processing features of Google Docs to create the direction page for students. Then items can be linked out using the hyperlinks. You can keep it simple with directions and links or you can use templates for different organization.
Google Docs can be considered the easiest tool for creating learning playlists. Teachers use the word processing features of Google Docs to create the direction page for students. Then items can be linked out using the hyperlinks. You can keep it simple with directions and links or you can use templates for different organization.
Google Sites:
Google Sites:
Google Sites is incredibly versatile when it comes to creating learning playlists as it allows you to embed outside websites, interactives, and resources. The possibilities are practically endless.
Google Sites is incredibly versatile when it comes to creating learning playlists as it allows you to embed outside websites, interactives, and resources. The possibilities are practically endless.
Google Slides:
Google Slides:
Similarly to Google Docs, Google Slides can be used to create interactive learning playlists using hyperlinks. In addition to linking to outsides resources, you can embed outside videos and resources, as well as linking to other slides in the presentation. Linking to other slides in a presentation allows you to direct students to different resources based on what they click.
Similarly to Google Docs, Google Slides can be used to create interactive learning playlists using hyperlinks. In addition to linking to outsides resources, you can embed outside videos and resources, as well as linking to other slides in the presentation. Linking to other slides in a presentation allows you to direct students to different resources based on what they click.