BC has a scholarship and awards program that rewards students for high academic achievement. However, we’ve heard that the program needs to be changed to reflect a more personalized approach to student learning.

BC is potentially facing a skilled labour shortage. We believe schools can play a larger role in helping address this problem.

The Graduation Program is the education program students must complete to earn a Graduation (Dogwood) Diploma. We recognize that elements of this program likely need to be changed to ensure success for each learner. Some of the ideas we’ve heard so far are that students:

Questions of funding, class size and other issues determined through bargaining and defined by teachers’ employment contracts are important. But setting those aside for the moment, what is one thing teachers could be empowered to change today that would improve the school experience for them and their students?

BC’s Education Plan includes a commitment to ensure university teacher preparation programs provide new teachers with the skills to support new approaches to student learning. What should the first priority be to achieve this goal?

Think about your favourite teacher. What set(s) him or her apart and how could we help other teachers achieve a similar level of performance?

One of the things you’ve told us is there are resources and expertise in the community that schools can tap into to support learning. Some school districts, such as Peace River North, are doing this already.

We’ve heard from you that students’ passions and interests can play a part in helping them learn. For example, Nancy told us:

Research suggests adjustments to current school scheduling may have positive effects on student learning. Many of you, like Terri, have also said the typical BC school schedule needs to change to better accommodate different out of school activities and work requirements.

Across the world education experts are asking: “What do teachers need to keep current in today’s context?” Research also shows that systemic, ongoing teacher professional development is more effective than traditional one-time workshops.

Teachers today have to meet a diverse set of student needs. Teaching Assistants are being used in some, but not all classrooms to help teachers support student learning.

In the past few weeks you’ve made over 1300 comments on flexibility and choice in the K-12 education system. Here’s a synthesis of what you’ve said so far. Click on the links below each theme to read supporting examples.

How do you think our schools and school districts need to change to support more flexibility and choice?

Flexibility and choice are evident in many B.C. schools and communities. Do you have some good examples to share?

What do you think are the benefits and challenges to offering students more flexible learning opportunities?

Over the past several weeks many people have commented on a broad range of questions about personalized learning. We’ve gone through all of your comments (more than 1000!) and have updated this wrap-up to share back with you what we’ve heard since the engagement forum began. What was originally a Questions 1-3 Wrap-Up now includes a summary for Questions 4-6 as well. We now have a much clearer picture of what issues are important to you and what suggestions you have for us as we move forward with education transformation in BC.

What does it mean for students to play an active role in their education?

How can teachers personalize learning for reading, writing, math and science?

How can our education system support the unique needs of students?

What do you think is important for our education system in the future?

What type of information do parents need on their child’s learning?

What new competencies will students need to prepare them for graduation and the future?