The SelfDesign Learning System
Using our SelfDesign Learning System, we help families plan, observe, and document meaningful learning experiences based on each child's passions, interests, and enthusiasm.
Our system includes SelfDesign Learning Plans, Observing for Learning, and Personal Learning Portfolios.
SelfDesign Learning Plan
At the beginning of every year, a SelfDesign Learning Plan is co-created with the Learner, Learner's parents, and the SelfDesign Learning Consultant and is tailored to the Learner's natural abilities, interests, and enthusiasm. This SelfDesign Learning Plan provides a map that is revisited, reflected upon and revised periodically over the year as the Learner achieves milestones, develops new interests, and uncovers new learning opportunities. The SelfDesign Learning Plan uses the SelfDesign LifeMap to chart the many possible directions that a child's learning may take.
SelfDesign Learning Plans are based on the understanding that involving your child in creating her individual learning plan makes all the difference in her success. We know that learning occurs effortlessly when we are in love with the subject or skill. We believe in letting the child's passion for learning be the basis of the learning plan. SelfDesign supports what the child wants to learn, when the child wants to learn as the child learns to "SelfDesign" his or her life. In this way learning becomes a lifelong practice.
The SelfDesign Learning Plan, completed in collaboration with your SelfDesign Learning Consultant, is meant as a personal planning tool to help identify learning strengths and preferred styles, activities, a schedule and timeline toward goals, and resources that Learners (and parents) would like to use in working within the vision of the SelfDesign Learning Plan (e.g. texts, courses, CD-ROMs, mentors, etc.). Most of all, it reflects the enthusiasms of the Learner.
The SelfDesign Learning Plan for young children may be quite general. However, as Learners develop awareness of their own learning abilities and the choices they have for learning, it is anticipated that the SelfDesign Learning Plan will become the construction of the Learner with the assistance of the parents, mentors and Learning Consultant.
Observing for Learning - the key to enhancing the learning journey
We will provide you with the training and guidance to follow the powerful SelfDesign process, Observing for Learning, to complete weekly entries. Observing for Learning is an online record that can also include digital images, sound or video files.
Observing for Learning is a living record created by you, your child, and your Learning Consultant. The child's SelfDesign Learning Plan, established at the beginning of the year, provides the background guidance for the weekly learning. Through one-on-one conversations and Observing for Learning, your SelfDesign Learning Consultant provides insights, asks questions, provides recommendations, and refers resources to your family.
In the Portfolio and Ultimate Learning Paths, your SelfDesign Learning Consultant will also connect your Observing for Learning entries to SelfDesign's innovative learning management system and will work with you to track and log your child's focus hours in the 12 core areas as defined by the SelfDesign LifeMap.
Personal Learning Portfolio
Each child develops a Personal Learning Portfolio which is an online, multi-media document where the family saves and organizes work samples, video clips, audio clips, pictures, and text summaries of their personal learning journey.
In the Personal Learning Portfolios, learners and their parents capture their experience in a learning blog, display samples of their work, upload videos of their projects, and connect with their Learning Consultant and other SelfDesigners.
A Personal Learning Portfolio provides a permanent record of the learning journey which can be shared with friends, families, and other learning programs and colleges.
In our Portfolio and Ultimate Learning Paths, the Personal Learning Portfolio can be formally evaluated and a SelfDesign formal assessment (report card) generated with equivalencies that are recognized by other learning programs, schools, colleges, and universities.
