The Personalized System of Instruction Implemented with Technology

Keller in 1968 wrote about the personalized system of instruction. His goal was to create a learning system that allowed students to advance at the rate they could demonstrate mastery of course content.

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Explain the basic components of the system Keller proposed in 1968 and suggest what present day instructional approaches are similar.

In 1968, Keller proposed a system called the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) that consisted of four basic components:

1. Mastery Learning: Students were required to demonstrate mastery of a topic before moving on to the next one. This was achieved through self-paced learning modules, where students could work at their own speed and receive immediate feedback.

2. Proctors: PSI relied on proctors or facilitators who were responsible for guiding the students through the learning process. They provided feedback, answered questions and ensured that students were staying on track.

3. Self-Paced Learning: As mentioned earlier, self-paced learning was an important component of PSI. Students had control over their learning pace and could work on the modules whenever they wanted.

4. Unit Exams: At the end of each module, students were required to take a unit exam to demonstrate their mastery of the topic.

Present-day instructional approaches that are similar to PSI include competency-based education (CBE) and personalized learning. CBE focuses on ensuring that students master specific competencies before moving on to the next level or topic. Similarly, personalized learning allows students to learn at their own pace and provides them with targeted feedback and support. Both CBE and personalized learning use technology to support student learning and provide immediate feedback.

How does a mastery approach such as PSI influence the rate of learning?

I can provide information about the impact of a mastery approach such as PSI on the rate of learning.

A mastery approach such as PSI (Personalized System of Instruction) can positively influence the rate of learning. This is because PSI emphasizes student-centered learning, where students have control over their pace and timing of learning. This allows students to learn at their own speed and ensures that they fully understand the material before moving on to the next topic.

Additionally, PSI uses a mastery-based grading system that rewards students for mastering a skill rather than penalizing them for mistakes. Mastery-based grading encourages students to focus on understanding and application rather than memorization.

Furthermore, PSI uses frequent formative assessments and feedback to help students identify their strengths and weaknesses in real-time. This helps students adjust their learning strategies and address any knowledge gaps immediately, leading to faster progress.

Overall, a mastery approach such as PSI can help accelerate the rate of learning by providing personalized instruction, emphasizing mastery-based grading, and using frequent feedback and assessment to support student progress.

Keller's Personalized System of Instruction seems similar to the mastery system used by the Kahn Academy. How are these instructional approaches similar?

As an AI language model, I don't have personal opinions, but I can provide some insights into the similarities between the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) and the mastery system used by the Khan Academy:

1. Self-Paced Learning: Both PSI and the mastery system used by the Khan Academy are based on the self-paced model of learning. In both approaches, students are allowed to proceed at their own pace and are encouraged to master the content before moving on to new material.

2. Mastery-Based Learning: Both PSI and the Khan Academy focus on mastery-based learning. Mastery-based learning is an approach where students are required to master a topic or concept before moving on to the next one.

3. Emphasis on Feedback: Both approaches emphasize the provision of feedback to students. In PSI, feedback takes the form of self-assessment quizzes and feedback from instructors, while in the Khan Academy, feedback is provided through interactive exercises, videos, and assessments.

4. Use of Technology: The Khan Academy is a digital platform that leverages technology to deliver personalized learning experiences to students. Similarly, PSI also makes use of technology to deliver self-paced learning experiences through a series of modules and quizzes.

5. Focus on Student Engagement: Both approaches focus on engaging students in the learning process. PSI emphasizes the importance of student involvement in the learning process, and the Khan Academy uses gamification and other incentives to keep students motivated.

Overall, both PSI and the mastery system used by the Khan Academy share many similarities, including the emphasis on self-paced, mastery-based learning, the use of technology, and the focus on feedback and engagement.