SelfDesign employs the innovative Universal Design for Learning framework to provide learners with choice and flexibility in how they access material, engage with it and show what they know.
Although many families spend much of their time learning at home and in their community, when SelfDesign learners do use technology for learning, we take their online safety very seriously.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we talked to SelfDesign Counsellor Franya Jedwab about what she does as part of the Family Services team. Having been a SelfDesign parent, Franya understands what is involved in learning at home and in the community, and draws on that to help support learners and families as a counsellor.
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 through our high school years. But in 2019/20, we took it a step further. In October 2020, learners in grades [...]
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.
SelfDesign® provided the tools for learner Maia, to write and publish her first novel on Amazon! Maia credits this tremendous accomplishment to her work ethic, drive and persistence to succeed in her craft. According to Maia, this achievement also wouldn't have been possible without the support of her learning consultants and learning specialists in grades 10–12.
In this interview, we talk to Family Services’ team lead Clarissa Tufts. She oversees the team’s direction and day-to-day operations, and works with the clinical counsellor, guidance counsellors and members of the contact assistance team who provide support to learners, families, educators and other members of the SelfDesign community.
The overall vision for reconciliation and learning at SelfDesign® is to integrate and weave Indigenous education and mainstream education seamlessly together so that learner, families, educators and contractors automatically consider both the Canadian Indigenous and the national or international perspectives, ways of knowing and being, and ways of approaching learning.
We believe all of our learners are special, but at the Virtual Commencement Ceremony held on June 13, SelfDesign® recognized the Class of 2020 for an achievement unique to them. The group of SelfDesign learners are the first learners to have gone through SelfDesign® Learning Community’s newly designed high school program from Grade 10.
