Blog Post 1
What is Personalized Learning?
There are lots of ways to explain personalized learning, but I like to think of it as a self-directed, evolving network of people and resources you both learn from and contribute to. Rather than being confined to a set curriculum or a single teacher, personalized learning comes alive through the connections you make, the conversations you have, and the knowledge you share along the way. For me, it’s very similar to how I’ve learned during co-op placements, gaining knowledge from colleagues, projects, and real-world problem solving while also sharing and using my own skills.
My Experience
One class that really stood out, HINF 470 (Trends in Health Informatics), felt like a true personalized learning experience because we had control over nearly every aspect of the project. We were able to choose our own topic, and my group decided to focus on 3D printing of accessibility tools. From there, we explored different sources to learn about the technology, which meant each of us brought our own perspectives and research to the table. We were able to choose any format to showcase our learnings as long as it was a collection, and we ended up creating video vlogs, a brochure, and a demo video for our 3D printed tools. That freedom made the project unique not just to each group, but to each individual student, since we could all lean into our own interests and strengths.
Youtube as a Learning Tool for Excel
During one of my co-op terms, I worked with large Excel datasets and needed to extract and organize data into our own spreadsheets for analysis. At the time, my Excel skills were limited, so I turned to YouTube as a learning resource. It was extremely helpful because it was a video format. I could pause, rewatch, and follow along at my own pace, which can be difficult in a traditional classroom setting. Watching someone demonstrate the steps I was trying to complete made the concepts much easier to understand than just reading instructions. Another advantage was that, unlike Microsoft’s official courses, it was completely free, making it an accessible and flexible learning option.
YouTube and many other platforms like TikTok, Facebook, X, and Instagram all offer ways of supporting our learning. In my case it helped me with Excel but there have been lots of times where I would refer to these platforms for study guides on certain concepts, educational tools that can be useful, organization tips for school, and many more. These platforms all offered a personal feel to their teachings and that is what really keeps me engaged.
Benefits and Challenges
What really works for me is how easy it is to find exactly what I need. Instead of scrolling through pages of instructions or waiting for a class, I can jump right into a tutorial and try it out myself. Seeing the steps in real time makes it stick better, and I can immediately apply what I learned to my own projects or assignments.
Of course, there are challenges too. There are so many videos that it’s easy to get lost, and not every tutorial is accurate or beginner-friendly. Some assume knowledge I don’t have yet, and others go off-topic. In addition, some videos promoted by the platform’s algorithm can be harmful, so it’s always important to be aware of what you’re watching.
To make it work for me in my Excel example, I:
• Stuck to creators I trusted who explained things clearly.
• Used videos as a guide for learning a skill, not as the only source.
• Followed along in my own Excel while watching, then practiced again afterward to make sure I really remembered.
Closing Notes
One last thing I wanted to share was this Ted talk about how Social Media can be used to educational advantages. More specifically this speaker shares their personal experience with social media, explaining how they first left Facebook because it felt overwhelming, but later returned to connect with others and learn through online communities. They point out that while social media can sometimes be distracting or even harmful, it can also be a powerful tool for learning, connecting with different perspectives, and growing personally and professionally.
This connects to our learnings because it shows how we can use social media thoughtfully to learn, connect, and grow. I look forward to being able to create my own PLN in the future and learn from this course to apply it in the field of Health Informatics.
Thanks for reading my post!
– Serena Lalani 😃
Prompts Used:
How do you define personalized learning? Share an example of how your own learning has (or hasn’t) been personalized?
Reflect on a time when social media supported your learning. What worked well, and what challenges came with it?
References:
Freepik. (2024, September 11). Facebook x Instagram YouTube TikTok editorial vector Vinnitsa Ukraine. Freepik. https://www.freepik.com/premium-vector/facebook-x-instagram-youtube-tiktok-editorial-vector-vinnitsa-ukraine-september-11-2024_135078525.htm
TEDx Talks. (2018, March 30). Making social media work to your educational advantage | Enilda Romero-Hall | TEDxUTampa [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzzFvN9enmY