Program Details
Y(our) Program follows a 5-day schedule, and is the most “attendance-heavy” alternative high school program offered by Connections for Learning.
Learning is structured around students’ needs, and allows students to transition between different types of programming as required.
Y(our) Program gives students the opportunity to:
- Work with community members.
- Access mental health professionals
- Work on “big picture” initiatives
- Learn problem solving and inquiry design techniques
- Treat high school as a “continuum” without strict divisions between grade levels, where graduation requirements can be met by following a flexible schedule suited to each student.
Assessment
Student assessment in Y(our) Program differs from that used in a traditional school program.
In Y(our) Program, students begin their study of each subject with a goal in mind. This goal can evolve as the student progresses through the course. Together with their teacher, students work towards this goal, and maintain a constant focus on it until it has been achieved.
This is a notably different process from that used in traditional learning, where students typically complete coursework, study, write a series of tests and get the resulting mark. Alternately, in Y(our) Program, students and teachers collaborate in continued schoolwork, discussion, discovery and practice until the student reaches their goal.
Tests and exams are treated as learning tools, and not the ultimate measure of achievement, as the student's anecdotal and hands-on learning are also taken into account throughout the assessment process.
Program Plan
Together with their teacher and parent/guardian, students will design a program plan for each topic or class they take, deciding which tasks, assessments and pacing will most contribute to their success. Students and teachers will set a series of deadlines for completed coursework, and discuss what consequences will occur should their agreed-upon deadlines be missed.
As they complete coursework, students will collaborate with their teacher to document their progress in their portfolio and outcome completion spreadsheet, which will both factor into their final assessment. Formal grades will be assigned at the end of each unit, and a final grade will be determined once the course is complete.
Students will be given - and are encouraged to seek out - opportunities to take part in different activities that relate to their learning, with the teacher working alongside them to guide their progress and bolster their creativity.
Example Program Plan
|
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
|
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Required courses for Graduation |
CALM (3 Credits) Phys. Ed. 10/20 (3-10 Credits) English @10 level (5 Credits) Social @10 level (5 Credits) Science @10 level (5 Credits) Math @10 level (5 Credits) |
English @20 level (5 Credits) Social @20 level (5 Credits) Science @20 level (5 Credits) Math @20 level (5 Credits) |
English @30 level (5 Credits) Social @30 level (5 Credits) |
|
Required Courses for Y(our) Program |
Leadership, Character & Social Responsibility 15 (5 credits) Leveraging Social Capital 15 (5 credits) |
Leadership, Character & Social Responsibility 25 (5 credits) |
Leadership, Character & Social Responsibility 35 (5 credits) |
|
Other course selection |
OTHER (5-15 Credits) Art Music A variety of CTS Courses Languages Outdoor Education Work Experience Communication, Social Change and Civic Engagement |
OTHER (10-15 Credits) Art Music A variety of CTS Courses Learning Strategies Languages Outdoor Education Physical Education Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Work Experience Registered Apprenticeship Social Lab Theory and Application |
OTHER (10-15 Credits) Art Music A variety of CTS Courses Learning Strategies Languages Outdoor Education Math @30 level Physical Education Sports Performance/Sports Medicine Sciences @30 level (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Work Experience
|
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Total Credits |
40 |
40 |
20 or more |