Self Directed Learning High Schools in Canada - Why only 6?

The idea of self directed learning is not new.  There is something about self directed learning that is new to me though.  Here is what is new to me - there are high schools in Canada that have entirely embraced self directed learning, they’ve been at it for a long time and they’ve even formed their own coalition.  If you check out this link you’ll see a list of fundamental practices and values.  They are the values and practices that we often here the likes of Sir Ken Robinson (you know the famous TED talk - right?  Of course you do.) espouse.  So, it seems there are a few (very few) schools that actually do what many ed reformers have been talking about.  Who knew? 

Seems that at least half the 6 member schools of this coalition are from the Catholic school system.  Is there something about this system that fosters and accepts this kind of innovation?  Oh - and why only 6 schools?  6 implies that these schools don’t perform as well as the others - that their graduates aren’t as well prepared for the challenges of the real world - that their graduates don’t test as well as others.  I’m going to dig into whether that is actually the case and get back to you.  If that isn’t the case - then why only 6? 

Post written by Toby Nangle on 1:24pm, July 8, 2011
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