What is Personalisation by Pieces?
A brief history
After fifteen years of research and application, the Personalisation by Pieces framework was published in November 2006. It sets out clear definitions of personalisation and particularly the more challenging 'P-route' which empowers learners to take a greater role in their own learning.
In May 2008 after a year of trials in primary schools, secondary schools and FE colleges, PbyP web tools based on the PLTS (Personal Learning and Thinking Skills ) were launched. Every Secondary school in England was sent a poster showing how we had described progression through a set of 'Skills ladders'. So far these have been adopted by 1 in 40 English Secondary schools and more are contacting us each month.
In October 2008 PbyP for the Early Years and Foundation Stage was launched. This set of 13 skills ladders match the EYFS scales, written in language accessible to very young children. (With video for those not yet reading.) The dedicated PbyP Foundations part of the PbyP website provides the space and tools for teachers to store, record and assess evidence for each child's Profile. Peer assessment is central to PbyP and for the Foundations site we have a specifically designed fully teacher-managed form of peer assessment.
The Rose Review of Primary education in England, published in May 2009, proposed a learning framework designed to develop a wide range of skills and competencies in children from a young age with an emphasis on "promoting a stronger focus on curriculum progression". The Essentials for Life skills are explained in more detail in our article on The Rose Review.
What is PbyP?
PbyP is a website (www.pbyp.co.uk ) and suite of online tools for accurately assessing learner's competencies such as their ability to work in a team, be creative and research. Any competency can be added to the PbyP framework but most schools have chosen the PLTS, functional skills or Key skills. PbyP is used by learners of all ages because each skill ladder has been designed on 9 steps of progression from beginner to professional. The starting point on the skills ladders is set individually for each learner.A licence provides each learnerwith their own Profile, e-portfolio and secure login to access these from home and school.
For children under 7, there is a separate part of the PbyP site and set of ladders called PbyP Foundations. Transistion from Foundations to general PbyP is smooth because the same structure of ladders and online tools are used.
A PbyP licence provides every learner with their own skills Profile and e-portfolio and secure login to access and add to these from home and school. Included in the licence is PbyP Mobile which gives acces to their Profile and portfolio and a slimmed down version of the website from mobile phones. Each learner sets their own targets and submits their own evidence. This degree of control has really inspired the 8000 children involved who tend to submit one piece a week on average and mostly from outside school.
What is revolutionary about PbyP is that most of the assessment is actually carried out by learners who are sent work anonymously between schools. Learners who have 'qualified' in one level of a skill then become an assessor for it and, remarkably, assess with incredible accuracy.
What others have said about PbyP
"A revolutionary tool which opens the door to a new pedagogical paradigm.”
Carole Whitty Deputy president of the NAHT.
“At last personalisation has a national and identifiable pedagogy"
David Worlock founder of EPS.
"You have to work as a team and I think that will help people in later life", "It is giving children trust and freedom", "It's just a really good idea"
Quotes from children involved in case studies and online forums evaluating PbyP.
"Dan has come up with an assessment framework for key skills.. that, amazingly, appears flawless and starts out from peer assessment among students. It has the potential to take a huge burden from teachers... it's radical and, initially (until you “get it”) complex. From that light-bulb moment it's exciting and the potential is massive for those sensible enough to take the first step.... The structure is transparent, gets student buy-in for their school work and holds tremendous promise throughout the curriculum. It appears that Dan has come up with something truly original and worked through"
Merlin John, former editor of TES online and currently writing for The Guardian
"It makes explicit for students the abstract learning concepts which many schools are now trying to raise the profile of. The under-pinning philosophy of peer and self-assessment is the key to future success in personalised learning and this scheme is the best example of a clearly worked through strategy that I've come across.'"
Ray Tarleton, headteacher of South Dartmoor Community College and national co-ordinator of the National College of School Leadership network
"At last, the end of the personalisation Groundhog day"
"This looks great!....It’s like the holy grail of learning really!... I find stuff like this really inspiring!"
Conference delegates and Teachers involved in PbyP
Read more on how Personalisation by Pieces is being used in schools .
Find out more about PbyP
For more information please subscribe to this newsletter, call us on 01223 463757 or email us at . To visit the Personalisation by Pieces website direct go to www.pbyp.co.uk . Here you can read more about how PbyP works, register for a free demonstration or sign up your school and learners for PbyP licences.