Individualised Instruction

Individualised Instruction

            Individualised instruction is a method of instruction in which content, instructional technology and pace of learning are based upon the abilities and interests of each individual learner. It refers to those classroom practices of teaching which recognize the uniqueness of each student learner and thus provide for adequate tutorial guidance, and other support services suited to bring about a wholesome development in the person (mind, body, and spirit).  It is about using teaching strategies that connect with individual student’s learning strategies. The ultimate goal is to provide a learning environment that will maximize the potential for student success. In this strategy the teacher shouldn’t always stick to the same pattern of teaching rather they should adapt new ways such as teaching through audio, video, field trip, etc. so that students have multiple options for taking in information and making sense of ideas. To differentiate or to individualize instruction is to recognize students varying background knowledge, readiness, language, preferences in learning, interests, and to react responsively. The intent of individualizing instruction is to maximize each student’s growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is, and assisting in the learning process. It provides the opportunity for students to learn at their own pace, in their own way, and be successful.

Purposes of individualised strategy

                                         Every student is an individual and a class of students is heterogeneous regarding background and prior knowledge of a subject. Self pacing helps to smoothing the initial inequalities in a group. Students can be diverted to complementary study packages remedial material, materials constructed for specific needs or study in small groups of two or three. Individualised learning includes a variety of practices that enables a student, on his own, to formulate problems, finding answers through systematic procedures of reference work, hypothesizing, experimenting , field work etc and evaluate one’s own progress and achievement.

Principles of Individualized Instruction Strategy.

1.     Make the students clear about the key points and generalization to make sure that all learners gain a powerful and strong understanding so that they can have a good foundation for their future learning. Teachers are encouraged to identify essential concepts and instructional focuses to ensure all learners understand.

2.    Use assessment as a teaching tool to extend versus merely measure instruction. Assessment should occur before, during, and following the instructional episode. The asessment carried out before and during can be incorporated into classroom practice; it provides information needed to adjust teaching and learning while they are happening. E.g. Observation, questioning strategies, self and peer assessment, student’s record keeping. The assessment carried out before and during instructional episode is called formative assessment. And the assessment evaluated after instruction is called summative assessment. It is carried out every few weeks, months, or chapter tests. E.g. End of unit or chapter tests, end of term or semester exams.

3.    Emphasize and stress more on critical and creative thinking while designing a lesson. Whatever task and activities that we provide to the students should be up to the student’s level and understanding, so that they can understand easily and will apply meaning. Instruction may require supports, additional motivation, varied tasks, materials, or equipment for different students in the classroom.

4.    Engaging all learners is essential. We should engage and make the students participate in class activities. For that teachers should develop their lesson to engage and motivate the students.

5.    Provide a balance between teacher-assigned and student-selected tasks. If there is a balance between the task and activities that are assigned by the teachers and the tasks selected by the students, the learning will be most favorable and desirable.

Advantages of Individualised instructions

Advantages for students

1.      It enables the students to proceed at their own pace through the study of each subject

2.      It permits the students to get an immediate response and greater sense of satisfaction

3.      It enables the students to understand better the structure of the subject he is studying

4.      It enables indepth study of a various aspects of the subject

5.      It enables a student to proceed in a subject as far as his ability will permit.

     Advantages for the Teachers

1.      It frees the teacher from teaching many of the routine basic skills of a subject

2.      It enables him to meet more accurately the instructional needs of each students

3.      It furnishes the teachers with diagnostic devices

4.      It allows him to spend more time with students who need the most help

5.      It enables the teachers to bring a structured carefully thought out programme to the students

6.      It helps the teachers to serve as a guide to the students activities

Disadvantages of  individualized instruction

1.      Time and effort in planning and developing materials to suit individual needs will be greater compared to a class centered instruction

2.      Appropriate resource materials may not be available

3.      Requires specialized skills to assess the needs of each students

4.      Requires individualized evaluation strategies

Types of individualized instruction

Individualised learning generally takes up some of the following forms-assignment work, laboratory work, reference reading, programmed learning, mastery learning, learning by Keller plan, learning through audio-visual aids and computer assisted instructions

1.      Keller plan: This strategy advocates the use of sequential set of self study units pursued by each student at his own pace

2.      Programmed Instruction: Programmed learning is a self instructional self corrective technique in which all the leaning material is presented to the learner stage by stage through sequentially arranged smaller units called frames.

3.      Computer assisted instruction: This type of instruction provides flexibility for individualizing the educational process. It makes use of computers in imparting education

4.      Mastery Learning: The underlying assumption of this approach is that most students can master a major portion of the syllabi if enough time is given

Conclusion

                        Individualised instruction comes in many forms, all of which seek to improve instruction in some way. It has the potential to improve instruction by varying the pace of instruction, the instructional method, and content. Most approaches allow for self pacing, yet variation in method and content are rare. If implemented properly individualized instruction proved to be a good method to improve students’ accomplishment substantially.