Personalised Learning: How it works, Implementation, Benefits and Challenges
Not too long ago, classrooms looked the same for every child. Students were expected to memorise chapters, recite facts, and score well by repeating textbook lines word for word. The focus was on uniformity rather than understanding. But things are changing, and much of that shift has been driven by two powerful forces: technology and educational reform.
With the National Education Policy 2020 pushing for inclusive, flexible, and student-focused learning, schools across India are beginning to move away from one-size-fits-all teaching. At the same time, AI-powered tools are helping teachers track learning gaps, offer real-time feedback, and personalise lessons in ways that simply weren’t possible before.
Personalised learning is at the heart of this shift. It’s about recognising that every student is different. Some understand ideas better with visuals, others through discussion. Some need more time, while others race ahead. A personalised approach gives each child the space and support to learn in their own way, at their own pace.
What is Personalised Learning?
Personalised learning is a teaching method where the instruction, pace, and content are adapted to suit each student’s learning style, interests, and academic level. Instead of treating every student the same, it focuses on what works best for each learner. This could mean changing how a concept is explained, offering different types of assignments, or giving more time to practise a skill.
The idea is to help students learn more deeply by connecting the material to what they already know and how they prefer to learn. Schools that adopt personalised learning strategies have seen real results as well. On average, attendance improves by 12% and dropout rates drop by 15%. This shows that when students feel supported in a way that makes sense to them, they stay more involved in their education.
How Does Personalised Learning Work?
There isn’t just one way to personalise learning. Schools implement it in different forms depending on what their students need and the resources they have. And the results are promising. 76% of teachers believe personalised learning boosts student engagement and academic performance. Here’s how schools make it happen:
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Learner Profiles
Many schools now maintain learner profiles which are detailed records that go far beyond a regular report card. These profiles include each student’s strengths, struggles, interests, learning preferences, and goals. Teachers update them regularly, using observations, assessments, and conversations with students and parents.
Learner profiles help teachers make smart decisions. For example, if a student learns better through visuals, the teacher might include more videos and diagrams in their lessons. These profiles also encourage students to reflect on their own learning, track their growth, and make changes when something isn’t working.
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Personalised Learning Paths
In many schools, students follow their own learning path. This path changes depending on how they are doing and what they are interested in.
For instance, a student who’s interested in science might get extra lab sessions or projects, while another who’s strong in writing might dive deeper into storytelling and essays. These learning paths often include a mix of group projects, solo assignments, and one-on-one support, all chosen to fit the student’s needs.
Even though each path is different, teachers stay involved and keep an eye on progress. If a student starts to fall behind in one subject, extra help is given to make sure they stay on track.
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Competency-Based Progression
In a competency-based system, students move forward only when they’ve mastered a specific skill or concept. The focus here is on what the student knows, not just on passing a test.
Students are told clearly what they need to learn and are given different ways to show their understanding. A student might write a report, build a project, or even apply the concept in a real-world situation.
They might work on several competencies at the same time and move on as soon as they’ve nailed one. Teachers provide support wherever needed, ensuring students don’t get left behind. The idea is to make learning continuous, flexible, and meaningful.
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Flexible Learning Environments
Personalised learning also involves changing the actual learning space. Instead of sticking to the traditional classroom layout, some schools arrange rooms based on learning activities.
For example, there might be a space for group projects, a quiet corner for solo study, and a zone for one-on-one teaching. Timetables can also be adjusted to give more time for small group sessions or focused practice.
These changes are not always easy to make, especially in schools with limited resources. But when done well, they help create a space where students feel comfortable, supported, and more in control of their learning.
Benefits of Personalised Learning
Personalised learning can completely change how students experience education. Research shows that students in personalised learning setups score up to 30 percent higher on standardised tests than those in traditional classrooms. Let’s take a closer look at what makes personalised learning so impactful:
- Increases Student Engagement
- Increased Productivity & Motivation
- Allow Students to Learn at Their Own Pace
- Ensure Better Results
- Hones Students’ Self Advocacy Skills
- It Works With Different Learning Styles
- It Builds Critical Thinking Skills
- It Changes How Teachers Teach
One of the most significant benefits of personalised learning is that it helps educators improve student engagement. Students feel more interested in the lessons if they are connected to their experiences. Extramarks Smart Class Plus equips your classroom with interactive learning aids – to help improve student engagement and attention span.
Students are intrinsically motivated to learn only when they enjoy learning. Tailoring the learning process to their strengths and knowledge makes the new concepts relatable and meaningful for all the students. Extramarks School Solutions offers engaging content mapped to the school curriculum for all students.
Personalised learning allows learners to set the pace and learn more when they excel at a subject and take more time if they struggle to understand a concept. Extramarks offers students unlimited practice questions and doubt-solving in every topic to help them strengthen their understanding.
At the end of the day, students, parents, and educators all want better results through a robust learning process. Personalised learning ensures that students pursue concepts until they are memorable and actionable, leading to better performance. The diagnose, learn, practice, test and evaluate methodology followed by Extramarks helps students get a personalised and holistic learning experience for the best results.
Personalised learning gives children a certain degree of autonomy over their education. They take responsibility to learn more and speak more openly about their challenges. Extramarks School Solutions include detailed and personalised feedback to allow students to voice their opinions.
Not all students learn the same way. Some understand best through visuals, others prefer listening, and some need hands-on activities to really get the concept. Personalised learning respects these differences. It gives students resources and tasks that match how they learn best. This not only makes lessons more engaging but also helps them understand things more clearly and remember them longer.
Instead of just memorising facts, personalised learning focuses on helping students think deeply. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make connections, and solve real-world problems. This method builds strong thinking skills that go beyond the classroom and are useful in everyday life. It teaches students how to think, not just what to think.
Personalised learning doesn’t remove the teacher’s role. It reshapes it. Instead of just delivering lessons, teachers become mentors and guides. They support students one-on-one, help them explore their interests, and make learning more meaningful. This shift creates a more positive and inspiring classroom environment.
Challenges of Personalised Learning
Most educators strive to create the most conducive and customisable learning environment for their students. However, moving from a traditional education method to personalised learning has some challenges. Here’s a look –
1. Challenge: Allowing students to learn at their own pace while ensuring they meet grade-level requirements
Solution: Create a flexible framework that combines personalised learning with grade-level requirements. Use assessments to track progress and allow students to move ahead when they’re ready.
2. Challenge: Integrating data in the school’s IT systems.
Solution: Invest in a user-friendly Learning Management System (LMS) that can easily connect with other school systems. This makes it easier to collect and analyse student data for personalised learning.
3. Challenge: Conducting teacher training for personalised learning.
Solution: Train teachers with workshops and resources to help them use personalised learning methods effectively. Encourage teachers to learn from each other through peer support.
4. Challenge: Timely development and deployment of personalised learning plans.
Solution: Establish a clear process for creating and implementing personalised learning plans. Provide teachers with tools and templates, and use technology to speed up the process.
5. Challenge: Monitoring and evaluation of personalised learning.
Solution: Set up a system to regularly check if personalised learning is working. Collect data on student progress, engagement, and feedback from all involved, and use this information to improve the approach.
How Can Educators Implement Personalised Learning?
Switching to personalised learning doesn’t have to happen overnight. It’s a gradual process. As suggested in NEP 2020, educators can start by using technology, adaptive learning tools, and flexible assessments that meet each student’s needs.
One important benefit you’ll notice is a big jump in student motivation. In personalised learning environments, about 75 percent of students feel engaged with their studies. In traditional classrooms, that number drops to just 30 percent. That alone makes it worth trying.
If you’re planning to bring personalised learning into your school, here are a few practical steps you can begin with:
- Embrace EdTech
- Revise Evaluation Techniques
- Change the Seating Arrangement
- Leverage Online Lectures
- Use Personalised Learning Playlists
- Benefit from Multi-Format Content
- Utilise Formative Assessment
- Understanding the Four Learning Styles
Leverage modern edtech resources such as Extramarks School Solutions to dynamically track and manage the personalised learning experiences of all your students.
Experiment with different evaluation methods. Some students are comfortable proving their newly learned skills in a pen-and-paper test. Others may do better with projects, presentations, and experiments instead.
Flexible seating arrangements help students work together and discuss their thoughts in the classroom. Instead of rows and columns, try the horseshoe seating arrangement or a circle cluster for better interaction.
Make all lectures available online to enable students to pause, rewind, and watch the lecture at their own pace. Include assignments to help students practice the application of the concepts they learn.
Make personalised learning playlists wherein students can choose the activities they wish to pursue and complete them at their own pace.
Offer different formats of educational content. Extramarks Learning App offer multiple formats like videos, detailed presentations, and flowcharts. It allows students to choose the format that suits their intelligence and learning style.
Adopt a constructive assessment method that uses the assessment as a learning method. The Extramarks Assessment Centre makes creating, administering, and evaluating tests hassle-free for teachers. It also helps track student progress with comprehensive analytics and learning suggestions based on the student’s performance.
Visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing—helps you tailor your teaching methods to meet diverse student needs.
Learn more about Different Types of Learning Styles.
How Extramarks Can Support Personalised Learning in Your School
If you’re looking for a platform to help you put all of this into practice, Extramarks can be a great choice. Here’s how it helps schools bring personalised learning to life:
- Custom Batches & Mentorship: Students are grouped based on learning levels and interests, with one-on-one mentorship that gives them the guidance they need.
- Interactive, Gamified Content: Lessons are designed to match different learning preferences, keeping students interested and involved.
- Performance Analytics: Teachers can easily track where students are doing well and where they need help, and adjust their teaching accordingly.
- Smart Assessment Tools: These tools help identify which areas students struggle with, so support can be given exactly where it’s needed.
With these features, Extramarks helps schools build a strong foundation for personalised learning.
Bring Personalised Learning to Life with Extramarks
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Technology is critical to the success of modern educational institutions. As school leaders and educators, it is essential to leverage the best in edtech to enable personalised learning in your school. The best strategy would be to partner with expert organisations like Extramarks to start your journey from a traditional to a personalised learning approach.
Last Updated on June 30, 2025
