SelfDesign Learning Community

For more information:

Learning Consultants

SelfDesign Learning Consultants 2010-2011 View Their Bios Note: Please check back after July 1st for up to date bios of new and returning Learning Consultants.

This is a recent photo (August 2008) of our Learning Consultant Community.
SelfDesign now has approximately 100 Learning Consultants all BC Certified Teachers from all over BC ready to work with you and your family.

What is a Learning Consultant?

In 1983, Brent Cameron coined the term Learning Consultant to emphasize the importance of learning rather than teaching. Inspired by his daughter’s amazing demonstration of natural learning as she learned to talk and navigate in the world, he set out to found an educational model based on learning.

Many teachers and parents think that learning is driven by teaching and instruction. This is true of only one kind of learning out of (at least) eight significant modes of learning (or intelligences) identified in our SelfDesign work. We also recognize that learning arises in each of us as a biological and social imperative, i.e. as something we do naturally and lifelong. Learning Consultants believe that when we work with children as the designers and managers of their own learning, we are helping to bring forth a kind of authenticity and genius in each child.

All SelfDesign learning consultants are BC-certified teachers who are familiar with holistic, child-centred learning and have a deep and personal ethic of respecting the rights of children to design their own learning path as influenced by their own enthusiasm to learn. They are comfortable in thinking beyond the box of conventional schooling and providing support and guidance to learning families in innovative strategies that help learners achieve self-designed learning goals. Learning consultants are also familiar with, and comfortable in an online environment in which they are required to read information, create and post documents, and interact meaningfully with learners and parents and their learning consultant peers. Some technology troubleshooting skills are also helpful. Our online environment offers the opportunity for learning consultants to work from home and during the hours of their choosing.

Learning Consultant job description-at-a-glance

- work with up to 30 learners and their families via the internet and the SelfDesign 'Village of Conversations',
- travel to, and meet with learners and their families at least once during the year (preferably during September and October) to review and discuss learning plan, establish relationship with family and answer questions
- interact and correspond online with learners using SelfDesign customized forms; correspondence will involve helping answer learning queries and responding to weekly learning logs and learning-reflection reports filed by parents and/or learners who are completing their own reports,
- respond timely to learning reports and queries posted by learners, and queries from SelfDesign administrative team,
- interact and correspond online with Learning Consultant colleagues via the SelfDesign Village
(optional: work as online mentor offering specialized expertise in the SelfDesign Village)
- provide summary reports on learners 3 times during the year.
- work cooperatively with SelfDesign administrative team in resolving any job-related conflict that may arise

September 2002 meeting of Learning Consultants to launch SelfDesign Learning Community

Job Training and Support

We are planning and scheduling a training and orientation workshop, during the summer.
SelfDesign will be providing ongoing support for learning consultants throughout the year.

Learning consultants working in SelfDesign will be asked to include a short biography (2-3 paragraphs) that outlines your educational philosophy, interests, mentoring abilities and how you would like to support learners.

Matching Learning Consultants with Learners

We support learners and families enrolled in SelfDesign to choose their Learning Consultant based on mutual interests. We have posted all of the LC bios above so that families can choose a consultant that matches their interest and learning style. Conversely, our Learning Consultants may also choose learners and families with whom they wish to work. The mutual choosing and the development of a collaborative relationship is fundamental to an open and supportive learning relationship.

Learning Consultant Collaboratory, August 2007