Learner Profile
A learner profile is a document that allows a student to identify who they are, how they learn, and academic and social preferences they have.
The purpose of a learner profile for a student is to understand themself and how they learn. The purpose of a learner profile for a teacher is to understand how their students learn in order to plan instruction that meets their needs.
Each student has an up-to-date record of his/her individual strengths, needs, motivations and goals.
What should be included in a learner profile?
What do you want to know about a student?
What will help you know them as a person and as a learner?
Suggestions:
How do you continue to use learner profiles after they have been completed by students?
When students “own” their learner profiles it will create opportunities for them to use them in your classroom.
Strengths & Needs
How might we capture each student’s current level of mastery within each of the dimensions that we believe are essential for his/her success (e.g. academic standards, skills)? In what ways might we highlight a student’s gaps to draw attention to their individual needs?
Motivations
How might we support each student in understanding and articulating his/her interests and aspirations?
Goals
How might we support each student in setting personalized goals within each dimension that we believe is essential for his/her success? In what ways and how frequently might we ask students to reflect on their progress and adjust their goals accordingly?
Information & Feedback
In what ways and how frequently might we provide timely, actionable information and feedback to each student? How might we also provide that information to their teachers and families?
The purpose of a learner profile for a student is to understand themself and how they learn. The purpose of a learner profile for a teacher is to understand how their students learn in order to plan instruction that meets their needs.
Each student has an up-to-date record of his/her individual strengths, needs, motivations and goals.
What should be included in a learner profile?
What do you want to know about a student?
What will help you know them as a person and as a learner?
Suggestions:
- Home life: family involved, who they live, siblings, etc.
- Interests: hobbies, organized activities, likes/dislikes, etc.
- School history: test scores, confidence levels, past successes and challenges
How do you continue to use learner profiles after they have been completed by students?
When students “own” their learner profiles it will create opportunities for them to use them in your classroom.
- Create ownership of learner profiles with students by allowing students to be in the driver's seat during creation.
- Make learner profiles part of your daily routines.
- Keep learner profiles in an accessible place in your classroom or with student materials.
Strengths & Needs
How might we capture each student’s current level of mastery within each of the dimensions that we believe are essential for his/her success (e.g. academic standards, skills)? In what ways might we highlight a student’s gaps to draw attention to their individual needs?
Motivations
How might we support each student in understanding and articulating his/her interests and aspirations?
Goals
How might we support each student in setting personalized goals within each dimension that we believe is essential for his/her success? In what ways and how frequently might we ask students to reflect on their progress and adjust their goals accordingly?
Information & Feedback
In what ways and how frequently might we provide timely, actionable information and feedback to each student? How might we also provide that information to their teachers and families?
Examples
- Learner Profile (document from Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton)
- LFCS DRAFT Learner Profile Template: K-2 (slide deck)
- LFCS DRAFT Learner Profile Template: 3-5 (document)
- luedtlog000 first attempt at Learning Profile (website)
- luedtlog000 second attempt at Learning Profile (website)
Learner Profile Information Sources