Individualised instruction involves providing different tasks for each student and support at the individual level. It is based on the idea that all students have different needs, and that therefore an approach that is personally tailored â particularly in terms of the activities that students undertake and the pace at which they progress through the curriculum â will be more effective.
Various models of individualised instruction have been researched over the years in education, particularly in subjects like mathematics where students can have individual sets of activities which they complete, often largely independently. More recently, digital technologies have been employed to facilitate individual activities and feedback.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, individual learning or education plans (ILPs and IEPs) are often used to monitor and implement individualised instruction interventions.
1. Individualised instruction can be an effective approach to increasing student achievement. It can, however, be a challenging approach to implement given the increased requirements on the teacher to organise and monitor individual activities.
2. Studies of Individualised instruction with older students of secondary age tend to show higher effects. It may be that the impact is increased when students are more skilled at managing their own learning.
3. There is evidence that digital technology can be used effectively to provide individualised instruction. Many of these studies use digital technology alongside small group tuition, with teachers providing targeted instruction to the pupils that are not engaging with the technology.
4. Small group learning might be another promising approach to meeting differing learner needs without reducing the total amount of teaching time that students receive.
On average, individualised instruction approaches have an impact of 4 months' additional progress.
Behind this average, there is a large amount of variation. Some of this may be explained by the challenges of implementing the approach effectively, without diminishing engaged learning time. For classroom-based approaches, it appears that the role of the teacher may become more managerial, with the increased need for organising and monitoring learning activities leaving less time for high quality pedagogical interaction. Because of this, individualised instruction may be better used as a supplement to usual class teaching, rather than a replacement.
Some recent studies have used digital technology with diagnostic assessment and feedback to individualise instruction, and positive impacts on average. For example, technology may enable more immediate feedback on the individualised tasks (for more detail on the impact of feedback see here).
A small number of studies have examined including peer feedback as part of individualised instruction. The results in these studies are positive, on average.
Studies in secondary schools show higher effects (+4 months) than primary schools (+3 months). This may indicate that a level of independence and established self-regulation strategies are beneficial for individualised instruction to be effective.
Effects tend to be higher in science (+4 months) than mathematics or reading (+3 months).
A number of studies indicate that teaching assistants can support individualised approaches effectively.
Approaches using digital technology to individualise instruction show that they are as effective as those without technology.
Studies have been undertaken in 12 countries around the world with broadly similar effects.
Individualised instruction aims to improve outcomes through providing targeted support to students. In order to ensure that the approach is effective, schools should consider how they will provide:
In some studies, these elements have been provided through digital technology â for example, through intelligent tutoring systems that provide responsive feedback and assessment.
Individualised instruction interventions can be delivered through a range of models including independent learning, classroom-based activities supported by a teacher or teacher aide and the use of digital technologies which have been developed to support individual activities with assessment and feedback.
School leaders should consider how best to monitor approaches to ensure individualised instruction is implemented effectively. Ensuring individualised instruction activities are used to supplement (and not replace) high-quality teacher interaction is important. School leaders may also consider small group approaches to provide students with effective practice, monitored and supported by a teacher aide.
The average cost of individualised instruction is very low. The costs to schools are largely based on teacher professional development, training and the cost associated with digital resources and software for individualised approaches.
Adopting individualised instruction will also require a small amount of additional staff time compared with other approaches as interventions are largely delivered during lesson time.
Alongside time and cost, school leaders should consider how best to monitor approaches to ensure individualised instruction is implemented effectively. Ensuring individualised instruction activities are used to supplement (and not replace) high-quality teacher interaction is important. School leaders may also consider small group approaches to provide students with effective practice, monitored and supported by a teacher aide.
The security of the evidence around Individualised Instruction is rated as limited. 198 studies were identified that meet the inclusion criteria for the Toolkit. Overall, the topic lost three additional padlocks because:
As with any evidence review, the Toolkit summarises the average impact of approaches when researched in academic studies. It is important to consider your context and apply your professional judgement when implementing an approach in your setting.