What is Playlist Learning?

When a dear friend of mine asked me to run our 2-day new faculty orientation, I decided to create a program that not only welcomed new faculty members but also modeled effective teaching practices. Part of that involved intentionally showcasing the "practice of teaching"—meaning I experimented with new strategies and reflected on my own professional development throughout the process.

One strategy I implemented was the PLAYLIST. In an educational context, a playlist is a series of learning activities that students can work through independently, at their own pace, while still being held accountable to the overarching learning objectives. Each task or activity is intentionally sequenced to guide students from one concept to the next, allowing them to take ownership of their learning.

Slide sent to new faculty before our first meting introducing the playlist teaching protocol.

Playlists promote student autonomy by giving learners more control over how and when they engage with the material. For younger students, playlists can be structured with clear steps, visuals, and embedded video instructions to ensure clarity. For older students, playlists offer more flexibility, including options or project-based activities that tie into larger goals.

Playlists also free up time for one-on-one or small group conferences. Students feel empowered when they can work at their own pace, and playlists allow teachers to assess progress in more individualized ways.

In the case of the new faculty orientation, using playlists allowed me to gauge the incoming faculty’s attitudes and ideas. It provided an opportunity to dive directly into content, identify patterns, and engage with pedagogy immediately.

Examples of faculty responses from the activity for The Science of Learning.