Personalized Learning Environments in Action
PLE Educator Reflections
Four SFUSD teachers describe what they've learned in the Personalized Learning Environment Pilot Program and how that connects to developing SFUSD's Graduate Profile skills with their students. Check out these PLE Educator Reflections here.
PLE in Action
Take a look at some PLE classrooms in action!
Why Personalized Learning ?
Under Vision 2025, SFUSD has identified 10 Big Shifts we want to realize over the next decade in order to equip our students with the 21st century skills, knowledge, and dispositions outlined in our Graduate Profile.
In SFUSD, we believe that personalized learning provides student-centered learning opportunities that are scaffolded, student-paced, adaptive, engaging, and flexible so that all students meet rigorous academic standards and effectively communicate, collaborate, create, and think critically as global citizens in preparation for college and career. Through personalized learning, students have agency, choice, and voice in their learning pathway.
Program Overview
To deepen PLE Educators understanding and usage of innovative instructional technology strategies in order to enable personalized learning and deeper learning (in literacy instruction). The PLE Program brings PLE Educators together throughout the school year to share, create and explore resources that support personalized learning design and implementation and access research to:
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Connect PLE mindsets to Deeper Learning core instructional priorities in Literacy
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Build capacity within school sites beyond PLE teachers
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Create a SFUSD video library of literacy video examples from PLE teachers using Gholdy Muhammad’s humanizing pedagogy HRL framework to
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Capture and share examples/best practices within and across schools sites
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Capture and share examples/best instructional practices for technology integration
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Capture and share strategies that allow educators to engage in the Deeper Learning framework and SFUSD Core priorities.
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Program Mission
Our cohort of K-5 Personalized Learning Environment Schools seeks to create models for technology-enabled, personalized learning environments that transform student learning across SFUSD that will benefit our African American/focal students and can eventually be scaled districtwide so that each and every SFUSD student can achieve the competencies of the Graduate Profile.
Program Goals
- To deepen understanding of innovative and effective teaching strategies for technology-enabled personalized learning, deeper learning and the graduate profile.
- To share examples and build capacity for technology-enabled learning within and across school sites.
- To explore the implementation of practices learning in the PLE PD and study the relationship between implementing PLE practices and student growth in literacy.
Program History
The Personalized Learning Environments Program started as a pilot program in 2018 with a cohort of 14 elementary schools and 48 teachers. Now entering our fifth year, we are continuing to add schools, teachers, literacy coaches, IRFs (Instructional Reform Facilitators), administrators to the program each year. Each school has a Digital Learning Cohort partner as a coach to better enable deeper learning using technology.
PLE Theory of Action
Implementation
If we... create the conditions and culture to empower educators as designers of technology-enabled personalized learning environments
Immediate Impact
Then.. educators will frequently implement lessons designed with personalized learning guiding principles
Short-term Impact
Thereby... changing conditions for learning and shifting mindsets of educators and students through reflective practice
Medium-term Impact
So that... educators and students have increased agency and ownership in their teaching & learning
Longer-term Impact
So that ultimately... every day we provide each and every student the quality instruction and equitable support required to thrive in the 21st century.
PLE Deliverabes and Compensation Model
Teachers will meet virtually every other month to learn ways to use technology to enable deeper learning. Teachers will have opportunities to share and learn from colleagues within and across school sites with the aim of leaving each session with practical strategies to implement in the classroom. Teachers will be compensated for their participation. Site Leads will support other PLE teachers at their site and build overall site capacity by sharing PLE strategies with their staff and admin. Admin are strongly encouraged to meet and connect with PLE Educators and PLE Site Leads to support equitable technology integration strategies across the site.
Please explore the resources below learn more about the requirements to participate in PLE
PLE Educators
Upon completion of deliverables listed below, Certificated Educators will receive $1000 stipend
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Meetings -Teachers can attend meetings live or watch meeting videos asynchronously. Professional learning from the meetings will be demonstrated through completion of the artifact (video or slide.)
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4 x Meetings for Teachers: October, December, February, April (90 minutes each)
- Alternate months - check-in with DLE Cohort Partners and Site Lead (Minimum 3x, more if wanted)
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- At least 2 PLE Design Cycles (Dec. and Apr.)
- unit/lesson plan
- highlighting tech-integration with deeper learning
- accompanying artifact(video recording, images or student work examples) highlighting tech-integration with literacy instruction
- Virtual Peer Observation:
- Share at least 2 recorded classroom videos( one including the use of technology and one without technology) with grade level colleagues to showcase best practices around the impact of technology integration in literacy instruction
- Virtual Peer Observation:
- Self reflection, Student Story & Reflection Artifacts:
- Contribute written or video recorded teacher reflection to highlight a teaching practice and student impact story connected to Deeper Learning core instructional priorities.
- unit/lesson plan
- Interview with researcher
Please Note: Digital Learning Team Cohort Support partners will be available to support you in this work.
PLE Site leads
Upon completion of deliverables listed below , PLE Site Lead Assignments will receive $1000 stipend.
- Co Facilitate 1 site pd
- Plan and Facilitate at least one site pd around PLE practices/technology Integration and highlight how there are connected to school site priorities
- Lead at least 3 PLE site team meetings
- Plan and Facilitate at least three PLE site team meetings around Technology integration/PLE practices and highlight how there are connected to school site priorities
- Interview with researcher
Please note: A PLE Educator can also be a Site Lead, they will have to complete the deliverables for both to receive compensation and Digital Learning Team Cohort Support partners will be available to support you in this work.
PLE Site Administrators (Principals and AP)
Our ask is that PLE Administrators (Site Admin who have PLE Educators/Site Leads)
- Review PLE Monthly Newsletters to stay up-to date with PLE Happenings throughout the school year
- 2 x Meetings for Admins: 1:1 check-in with DLE Cohort Partners and Site Lead - Sep/Oct and Feb/Mar (more if wanted) -- Principal, AP
- Support and co- facilitate with PLE site lead to provide on site pd/planning
- Plan and Facilitate at least one site pd around PLE practices and highlight how there are connected to school site priorities
- Highlighting how they are embedding tech integration into coaching cycles
- Participate in PLE Research
- Participate in our Stanford research partnership by responding to a survey
Please Note: Digital Learning Team Cohort Support partners will be available to support you in this work.
PLE and Stanford Research Partnership
Since the beginning of the PLE program in 2018, we have been researching and documenting our work through a partnership with Stanford. To continue the research we need everyones participation.
This year we are asking
- All PLE participants to participate in our Stanford research partnership by responding to at least 2 surveys
Additional Research Interview
- Teachers may participate in an additional research interview with Stanford researchers for an additional stipend of $140.
Literacy Coaches
- Last year we invited literacy coaches to participate in our PLE research meetings to advise us on analyzing teacher growth in using digital tools for literacy instruction. We will be reaching out PLE Sites in the next weeks to see if their Literacy coach would be interested in participating this year. If you are interested a Literacy Coach and are interested in participating please Email Devalin Jackson, PLE Program Lead at jacksond1@sfusd.edu for more details. (Lit Coach Stipend: $1000)
- To learn more about that partnership and recent publications please check out these resources
What schools already participate in PLE?
Cohort 1 |
Cohort 2 |
Cohort 3 |
Cohort 4 |
Cohort 5 |
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2022-23 PLE Meeting Objectives, Recording and Slides
Slidedeck and recordings from the 2022-2023 school year
PLE Meeting - October 6, 2022
Meeting #1 Objectives:
- Explore the interrelatedness of the Deeper Learning Framework and the Personalized Learning Environments Program
- Understand the scope of the PLE program, research and next steps
- Collaborate and share ideas with fellow PLE Educators
- Develop strategies to bring PLE practices into your classroom/school site.
- Connect with school site/cohort PLE team to foster site capacity around PLE practices
PLE Meeting- December 6, 2022
Meeting #2 Objectives
- Explore and make meaning around empathy interviews to be able to inform teaching practices
- Understand how digital learning resources can support a learning environment that honors the student experience
- Collaborate and Connect with grade level/ job alike educators to foster alignment across sites around PLE practices
- Develop resources to bring PLE practices into your classroom/school site.
PLE Meeting - February 6, 2023
Meeting # 3 Objectives:
- Explore digital learning resources to use in your classroom/school site.
- Collaborate and Connect with grade level/ job alike educators to foster alignment across sites around PLE practices
- Develop understanding on how digital learning resources can support a learning environment that honors the student experience
PLE Meeting- April 6, 2023
Coming Soon !
Other Resources and Artifacts
PLE Home Group Agendas | Student Empathy Interview Resources | Other Resources |
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[PLE] Home Group Nov. Meeting | PLE Student Empathy Interview Guide | PLE Calendar of the Year |
[PLE] Home Group Jan. Meeting | Student Empathy Interview- Lower Elem (google form) | PLE in Action Video |
[PLE] Home Group Mar. Meeting | Student Empathy Interview - Upper Elem/Middle (google form) |
2021-22 PLC Meeting Objectives, Recordings and Slides
Slidedeck and recordings from the 2021-2022 school year
PLE Meeting - October 26, 2021
Objectives:
Explore the Deeper Learning framework with a focus on Equitable Access & Demand strategies.
Collaborate and share ideas with grade level colleagues.
Understand the scope of the PLE program, research and next steps for teacher deliverables
PLE Meeting -December 2, 2021
Objectives:
Explore the Deeper Learning framework with a focus on Assessment for Learning strategies.
Collaborate and share ideas with grade level colleagues.
Understand the next steps for teacher PLE deliverables.
PLE Meeting - February 8, 2022
Objectives:
Explore the Deeper Learning framework with a focus on Collaboration strategies.
Collaborate and share ideas with grade level colleagues.
Understand the next steps for teacher PLE deliverables.
PLE Meeting -April 7, 2022
Objectives:
Explore the Deeper Learning framework with a focus on Inquiry strategies.
Collaborate and share ideas with grade level colleagues.
Understand the next steps for teacher PLE deliverables.
Other Resources and Artifacts
2020-21 PLC Meeting Objectives, Recordings and Slides
Slidedeck and recordings from the 2020-2021 school year
PLE Meeting - November 2, 2020
Objectives:
Share successes and challenges in distance learning
Brainstorm ideas for enhancing Seesaw math activities to use in your classroom
Discuss strategies for assessment and feedback
Understand action items and next steps for PLE deliverables
PLE Meeting - January 25, 2021
Objectives:
Brainstorm ways to increase student engagement and feedback
Discuss strategies for making thinking visible
Understand action items and next steps for PLE deliverables
PLE Meeting -March 22, 2021
Objectives:
Reflect on other teacher’s classroom examples
Discuss takeaways from peer observations
Share ideas for hybrid learning and return to school
Other Resources and Artifacts
Personalized learning Environments Program Leaders






This page was last updated on March 14, 2023