If you want to see the worst of what Personalized [sic] Learning can look like, let me take you straight to horse’s mouth. We’re not going to look at a critique, but at an actual sales pitch, and see how on the ground, Personalized [sic] Learning is about computer-delivered test prep. It is about extending the tyranny of the test via digitized instruction.

Here’s the pitch. At first glance it appears to be just another article at EdSurge– and it’s meant to– but in fact is what’s now called “sponsored content” aka “advertising meant to be mistaken for an actual legit article. “A Back-to-School, Personalized Learning Toolkit” is by Ryan Hagedorn, COO at Edmentum, where his career has been in marketing and sales (he earned a degree in marketing from Hofstra in 2004). Edmentume is, of course, a leading provider of online Learning Stuff, and the tool kit is ten pieces of PR materials. In their own presentation, these folks tell us what they think the main point, purpose, and strength of Personalized [sic] Learning is supposed to be.

Let’s look through the kit.

Source: CURMUDGUCATION: Personalized Digital Test Prep Lab Rats