By Hannah, former SelfDesign learner (commenced January 2020) Learners in SelfDesign’s kindergarten to grade 9 program grow up knowing that our voices and opinions matter and are an integral part of our learning experience. It’s only natural to carry that [...]
Olivia, now 19 years-old, commenced from SelfDesign® with the Adult Dogwood Diploma, after having started her journey with SelfDesign in Grade 1. She is already a successful artist, teaching art out of her home studio and having her work featured in Vancouver’s Undercovered Art Festival in November 2019.
SelfDesign® Family Services strives to be “a steward of compassion and understanding within the SelfDesign community offering support to learners, families, Learning Consultants, mentors and contractors.” Given this, we are excited to be working with a group of keen grade 10–12 learners to launch SelfDesign’s own Gender Sexual Orientation Alliance (GSA).
In the traditional classroom setting, teachers have always used tests, grades and reports to assess learning. If those three words make you quiver, you’ll be relieved to learn about an alternative model that SelfDesign® uses that assesses learning through observing and about our learner-led philosophy that goes hand-in-hand with supporting a learner’s curiosities.
At SelfDesign®, at the core of our Kindergarten to Grade 12 online learning school, is the belief that learning happens all the time, and the learner is always at centre. Learning stems from curiosity and each individual learner’s passion and interests, whether that's at home engaging with family during game night, or connecting with nature in an old-growth cedar forest... Learning happens everywhere.
Online learning at SelfDesign® is a diverse, engaging, personal experience that draws on resources far and near, in person and virtually to support learners’ individual learning journeys. We put learners at the centre of their own learning experience and allow them to determine the pathway towards meeting the required BC Ministry of Education competencies.
At SelfDesign®, passions are important and in every moment, children are encouraged to explore their interests. It’s not something that has to wait for after school or weekends, it’s a part of each and every day. Learn more about personalized learning at SelfDesign, and how our model encourages individuality and nurtures each learner’s passions, interests and skills.
This fall, many schools are incorporating online and remote learning into their offerings, and many families are seeking to support their school-aged children in the new learning environment. To help both navigate this new reality, SelfDesign® has collaborated with Cognia, the world’s largest education improvement organization, to share our expertise in building meaningful relationships with learners online.
SelfDesign® Family Services provides resources and supports to help learners and families when events or situations interfere with learning. Within Family Services, members of the Contact Assistance Team – referred to as CAT – are experienced in working with learners in kindergarten to grade 12, including learners who receive Support Education services.
As part of its commitment to furthering reconciliation and intercultural understanding and respect, SelfDesign® became a member of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack foundation’s Legacy School network in 2019, joining a community of more than 1,600 legacy schools across Canada and linking to funding, educational resources and opportunities that advance reconciliation.
