5 reasons why families choose SelfDesign Learning Community

At SelfDesign, we offer a flexible, personalized approach to learning.

“We offer B.C. families choice,” says SelfDesign Learning Community Principal Catherine Dinim. “SelfDesign provides first-choice quality educational programs and services that are inclusive, supportive, accessible to those we serve, regardless of income level, personal or spiritual beliefs, or degree of need. Our approach to learning provides children and families with opportunities and support that are tailored specifically to each learner. We also offer more flexibility than most schools can in how learners might approach their learning.”

We recognize that brick-and-mortar schools may not work for every child and family. The regular school environment may not meet the needs of a child or their family, and families and children may also struggle with how other online schools work.

In surveys and conversations with our learners’ families, they have shared with us some of the many reasons why they have sought out our program. Here are five of the most frequently mentioned reasons why families choose SelfDesign Learning Community for their children.

1. We provide an accepting and inclusive learning environment

We believe in the safety, acceptance and inclusion of all learners in regards to ability, learning style, culture, race, personal or spiritual beliefs, and gender identity and expression.

“SelfDesign is committed to creating and providing a curriculum, learning events and oﬀerings that are designed right from the start with every single one of our learners in mind,” says Education Program Team Lead Janice Green.

Our inclusive, learner-centered approach to learning provides room for all learners. Acceptance and support for all facets of diversity is woven into every aspect of our organization and programs, and we work hard to create a supportive and safe learning environment for all of our learners and families.

“Inclusion isn’t a destination; it’s a lifelong journey,” Nikki says. “Every day at SelfDesign, we seek out new, meaningful ways to include all our learners, families, educators and contractors – in all of their diversity and variety – into our community and to make them feel welcome, recognized and accepted for who they are and that they belong.”

2. Our program is structured flexibly

Our program is flexible and focuses on each learner’s own interests and passions, providing opportunities for more learning out of doors, in the home and in the community. It also allows learners to engage in hands-on and experiential activities regularly – even daily.

In addition, some of our learners are athletes or artists whose schedules are devoted primarily to training to help them become the best in their chosen fields. SelfDesign not only allows learners such as Mara, Téa and Izabel to aspire to become the best in their fields by providing flexibility in timing, choice and location, it supports them on their learning journeys.

“There is no way I would have been able to train the way I was training or stay in New York if it hadn’t been for SelfDesign,” says Mara, who interned with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City while she was enrolled with SelfDesign Learning Community. “When you’re in the studio from midday until 9 or 10 o’clock most nights, it’s challenging to fit school work and all the other things you have to do around that.”

Our B.C. certified educators work to develop personalized learning plans that allow learners to explore their interests and follow their passions as they work towards completing their schooling. Then, throughout the year, our educators support them on that path by suggesting resources and ways to incorporate their professional-level training into their learning projects.

“When you think about personalized education – and SelfDesign really is a model of personalized education – if you hold the learner at the centre, then who they are directs everything,” says SelfDesign Chief Learning Officer Nikki Kenyon. “Who they are is who they are, and all of our work is to support them in being and exploring who they are. We’re just holding them here and saying, ‘This is you. We see you. What do you need?’”

3. Our program allows families to adventure, explore and travel with their children – and to integrate that exploration as part of their child’s education

A SelfDesign, we believe that learning happens everywhere. We have families who live in remote areas in British Columbia where attending a regular brick-and-mortar school would mean daily commutes of several hours on winding mountain roads. By enrolling their children in our kindergarten to grade 12 program, SelfDesign Learning Community, their kids have the full support of a B.C. certified educator and full access to excellent and innovative learning resources, opportunities and support at home and in their own communities.

We also have learners who learn while travelling with their families or who spend a few months each year outside of B.C. Our program can be done online from anywhere, but we are a full-time program that spans the full learning year. Enrolled families who plan to travel need to be able to access our learning platform while they are away or make a clear plan to meet our program agreements.

“I loved the freedom of coming up with learning topics as we traveled in order to gain more from the experience itself,” says Sophie, Class of 2019. “For example, I wrote essays while I was in Cuba about the Cuban Revolution. My learning consultant, Tracey, gave weekly reflections on what I was learning and gave me resources and book recommendations that were supportive of the direction I was able to determine myself.”

SelfDesign learners like Sophie, Hannah and Mara travel, explore and live abroad, keep up with their schoolwork, and achieve their B.C. Certificates of Graduation.

4. Our program honours and values families’ beliefs and philosophies, which may not align with the approach or philosophy found in brick-and-mortar schools

Families may want to try a different path that emphasizes different traditions or values. At SelfDesign, we believe in the acceptance and inclusion of all learners in regard to culture, race, personal or spiritual beliefs, and gender identity and expression.

Our B.C. certified educators work with learners and families to build the positive, caring, connected relationships that are at the heart of any learning journey. We honour and value families’ involvement in their children’s learning, and we walk alongside every one of our learners and their families on this learning journey. We are committed to furthering our own, our learners’ and their families’ journeys towards reconciliation by integrating Indigenous culture and perspectives into everyday learning.

Part of our educators’ job is to support families as they hone in on why they chose self-directed learning for their child and help them stay true to their intentions and values while they focus on supporting the learners.

“I wouldn’t be in the same spot if it wasn’t for the fact that SelfDesign allowed me to really focus on my specific skills, passions and interests,” says Sierra, from our Class of 2020. “I’m so grateful that SelfDesign provided me with the support I needed to be able to really learn those core things – like math, science and English – through project-based learning on the farm.”

5. We support and integrate learners who have learning challenges in our program

At SelfDesign Learning Community, we work to help every child participate fully in their learning. Our role is to find ways to support and help the learner and family achieve the child’s own learning goals.

We currently support about 900 learners with special needs each learning year. Our inclusive kindergarten to Grade 12 program provides equal access to opportunities for all learners, including specific services to support learners of all ages with special needs and help them to maximize their learning opportunities.

The learner’s educator, along with their learning team, creates an Individual Education Plan for each child requiring additional support, which goes above and beyond a regular learning plan. This learner-centred plan is supported by our Support Services to identify and support the unique individual needs of learners as diverse as Thomas, Kaitlin, Marty, Matt and Olivia. Under the plan, learners have access to specialists who provide a wide array of services, including, for example, psychological counselling, and occupational, behavioural, speech, and art or music therapy.

Learners follow a modified, adapted or combined learning program, as determined by their educator and learning team. In grades 10 to 12, they can choose between two different paths of completion – a B.C. Certificate of Graduation or a School Completion Certificate.

Our highly personalized and learner-centred approach makes this possible, says Support Education Services Team Coordinator Corinne Metcalfe.

“We focus on where the learner is at, and then we build upon that,” she says. “We are able to individualize the support we provide, which can be challenging in a public school setting.”

Learn how we support and include learners of all abilities, skills and interests

Learn more about SelfDesign Learning Community

Learn how we support and include learners of all abilities, skills and interests

5 reasons why families choose SelfDesign Learning Community