Why I Probably Won't Use Personalized Learning

This may not be a popular statement, but I don't know how much - if any - I'm going to try to personalize the learning for my students this upcoming semester. I know of the benefits we've read about and heard about in the videos.  But personalized learning goes against my approach to teaching.  I like what comes from the camaraderie and collectivity of the classroom setting, and believe that learning is strengthened as we try to learn as a group (I'm included in the group, by the way). Some people want to move ahead, so they will help others who lag behind a bit (and as we know, we also learn when we teach!). Although I usually try to keep in mind what career goals or even course goals my students have, I usually don't personalize the curriculum based on those goals (I just keep those goals in mind as I have individual discussions with them through the semester).  

I am fully on board with blending the learning more this semester, but I can't quite buy into the personalization of the learning.  That is because there are certain things I think are absolutely important each students gets  even if they don't quite get the material. Some of those things include gains in critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, self-confidence, writing, and presentation skills. The best way for me to facilitate this is to look at my class as a team (that I coach and guide) rather than as a collection of individuals. 

Again, this may not be the most popular way to go.  But I believe in it because I think there's power in the collectivity enabled by a classroom setting. I just can't subscribe to dismembering that collectivity in favor of personalized learning - at least not at this time.