Customized Learning

Defining customized learning

Customized learning allows students to determine when, where, and how they will demonstrate that they learned something. This student-centered approach to education allows students to take ownership of their learning. They are empowered to take charge of their education, which better helps them recognize the relevance of their learning to the real world.

Customized learning embraces every student’s differences, their unique talents, and learning styles. With the flexibility to meet the needs of all students, an 8th grade student who excels in more rigorous courses can take a course at a higher level, a student with dyslexia can use our built-in readers to learn through listening, a student with a passion for health science can take career-focused courses in preparation for a future career in the field.

The benefits of customized learning on students

Customized learning lifts the barrier of time in education. Students can learn at a flexible pace, not having to wait for others to catch up. Students can take as much time to master their material until they feel confident that they comprehend each main concept. Students can finish their course faster than they would in a traditional classroom setting and even graduate early. A student who is struggling in a specific subject can modify their pace so that they can have more time to learn, instead of sliding by without total comprehension.

Customized learning is personal. The academic experience is meant to work for the individual student. Instructors are focused on forming and sticking to a plan that works best for the student. Academic expectations are set individually, and schedules and deadlines coincide with students’ learning needs and styles.

Customized learning and curriculum

At VLACS, learning is competency-based, which means students don’t move on to the next step in the curriculum until they reach competency in the steps before. This is what allows for customization. This system focuses on equipping the students with the skills they need to succeed, so learning may look different depending on student needs. Students work with their instructor to determine how they will reach competency, and how they will demonstrate it. These various learning pathways include traditional coursework, a project that puts students in a professional setting to complete a task or solve a problem, or a hands-on experience like an internship, service learning, travel, or independent learning that aligns with the competencies in their course.

Customized learning and relationships

Customized learning relies on one-on-one support with instructors. From the time a student crafts their academic plan to the time they complete each competency in their course, the one-on-one support allows the student to thrive. Students meet with their instructors frequently to ensure that they are on the path to success and to get help along the way. Instructors are available during office hours or by appointment. Success means more than just completing coursework at VLACS. Students must feel valued, supported, and motivated to succeed. This is achieved through relationships, coursework, and work in real-world settings that help build social capital and make critical connections that prepare them for life after graduation.

Customized learning and life skills

Customized learning improves students’ communication skills, enhances their creativity, and allows students to become problem solvers. Because of the importance of relationships in customized learning, students learn to communicate effectively and consistently in order to ensure their needs are being met. Customized learning encourages students to learn through experiences, like internships or job shadows. These experiences put students in situations where they will need to learn how to communicate with professionals in a real-world setting. There are limitless opportunities for a student to demonstrate their learning, allowing them to get creative with their education and think outside of the box and solve problems creatively. Customized learning also encourages students to be self-motivated. The flexibility of customized learning encourages independence, which requires students to stay motivated to stay on track.