About the i-Learn project

Kinderen en juffrouw met tablet in de klas

Digital personalised learning, the future

Groups of students in primary and secondary schools are increasingly heterogeneous, which  challenges the traditional teaching techniques. How do you ensure that your lessons are adapted to the level of each student? Digital personalized learning can be a solution to this problem. With the help of digital tools, it is possible to personalize the learning process of a student. As a teacher, you can adapt the content of your lessons to the level and pace of each student.

The i-Learn project developed an online portal where educational applications are easily accessible. Since we strove for an easy to use portal, the project also provided the necessary guidance and coaching for teachers. This was realized though a process of co-creation with Flemish schools and teachers.

Context

Our heterogeneous and multicultural society presents us with many challenges. This makes it increasingly difficult for teachers to use a teaching style that works for every student. Some children learn faster and need more challenges than others. One child may prefer to learn through play or in a group, another may prefer to work alone or with a friend.

 

Technology can help to cater to the different preferences and needs of each learner. Digital personalised learning allows for differentiation, challenging students and increasing their engagement. It can also give teachers a quicker insight into the learning processes of students and thus help them identify students with a risk of dropping out.

Personalised learning for each child is internationally recognised as an important element in the future of education. The importance of personalised learning has been emphasized by the European Commission in 2011. In recent years, several initiatives have emerged around personalisation. In Flemish education, however, the possibilities of digital tools are underused.

With the i-Learn project, the Flemish government wanted to focus on a responsible and sustainable use of technology to help teachers implement personalization in Flemish primary and secondary schools.

stapel boeken over training

What did we provide?

i-Learn created an online portal: i-Learn MyWay, where software providers plugged in their digital applications for personalised learning. The portal with applications was made available free of charge to all Flemish primary and secondary schools during the time span of the project.

Next tot that, i-Learn provided the necessary training and guidance for teachers free of charge via an online coaching module: i-Learn Academy on the one hand and the help of Individual coaches who offered tailored trainings on the other hand. These coaching- and training options gave teachers real time, hands-on information and tips to deploy these applications in their classrooms.

Approach

To map out the existing needs and wishes regarding educational technology, our program team conducted a literature study and a market analysis of what solutions existed at home and abroad. They also organised group discussions with educational actors. What digital learning environments do schools need? What technological and didactic characteristics do they need to have?

By means of market surveys, the team mapped out the opinions of experts in the field (educational software developers, training providers, guidance services, etc.). In the further implementation of the program the team developed or purchased technology that met these needs.

Through public tenders, we searched for the right partners for the development of the portal, the guidance of schools and teachers, and educational applications. Thanks to the input and feedback from the pilot schools and our co-pilots, we shaped the i-Learn portal. Disclaimer: Users of the i-Learn portal and tools are not obliged to provide feedback, but in case they do, this feedback is deemed to belong to the i-Learn partners who may use it freely and at their own discretion.