Jagged profiles concept of learner variability¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article adopts Todd Rose's concept of "jagged profiles," which the paper describes as recognizing "that each learner has distinctly different strengths and areas of growth or variability." This concept underpins the Learner Models in the LPS initiative: rather than treating a learner as uniformly high, low, or average, the profile approach expects an uneven pattern of factors across learners. The Models combine these profiles with content area factors to create a rich understanding of each learner for personalizing teaching and product design.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Requires identifying which factors research shows affect learning and vary among learners

Constraints¶

• As presented here, the concept is a framing idea adopted from Rose's work, not an empirically validated model in this article

Target Learners¶

• All learners in increasingly diverse classrooms

Target Learning Objectives¶

• Accurate positioning of each learner's strengths and growth areas to guide personalization

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Jagged profile: learner characteristics that guide learning capacity cannot be described by one-dimensional values like IQ or standardized test scores
• Learner Positioning Systems and Learner Models framework
• Learner variability and jagged profiles as the foundation for personalized learning
• Learner Positioning System (LPS): a GPS-like system positioning each learner with a learner profile, learning map, and resource bank

Examples¶

• Leveraging Strengths to Address Learning Differences
• Creating a Strengths-Based Culture

Key Sources¶

• Research and the Promise of Personalized Learning. (2015). Digital Promise Global, Making Learning Personal for All series. https://global.digitalpromise.org