Self Design
Posted on Sep 28th, 2007
by 
FLOW
FLOW
I recently met Brent Cameron, founder of Wondertree Learning and author of Self Design. Brent has 700 students in a virtual system of self-design learning based in British Columbia. B.C. has a school voucher system that allows students to pick their own school, and thus Brent's school receives $3,500 per pupil from the B.C. government. He gives about $1,000 back to each family to buy a computer, pays about $1,000 to a trained mentor who guides the student in her/his self discovery/self design process, and uses the rest to create an ever expanding on-line community for learning.
Although his system is in some respects similar to Summerhill, Sudbury Valley, and Unschooling, it provides more structure and support while still allowing for complete individualization based on student interest. It is the first system I've seen that has the potential to scale independent learning into the millions or billions, and thus make "school" as we know it obsolete except for those odd individuals who like it. Below is a Declaration of Learner's Rights and Responsibilities created by some of his students.
The following document was written by a group of 6 young people between the ages of 15 and 17 and was presented at a Rights of the Child Conference in Victoria, BC and to the Minister of Education in June 1995. It was again presented to the UN Conference Habitat II in Istanbul Turkey in 1996. It is the frontispiece to a federally commissioned document written on Virtual High - Learning a Living. It has also been published internationally by UNESCO and many organizations in countries around the world have asked permission to share it with their communities. This document may be copied and used for educational purposes and not for any commercial purpose. Please notify the Wondertree organization for permission of use, and please acknowledge the source in any use of the document.
2. As a learner I have the right to choose and direct the nature and conditions of my learning experience. As a learner I am responsible for the results I create.
3. As a learner I have the right to perfect the skills to be a conscious, self confident and resourceful individual.
4. As a learner I have the right to be held in respect. It is my responsibility to hold others in respect.
5. As a learner I have the right to a nurturing and supportive family and community. My family and community have the right and responsibility to be my primary resource.
6. As a learner I have the right and responsibility to enter into relationships based on mutual choice, collaborative effort, challenge and mutual gain.
7. As a learner I have the right to be exposed to a diverse array of ideas, experiences, environments, and possibilities. This exposure is the responsibility of myself, my parents and my mentors.
8. As a learner I have the right to evaluate my learning according to my own sensibilities. I have the right to request and the responsibility to include the evaluations of my mentors.
9. As a learner I have the right to co-create decisions that involve and concern me.
10. As a learner I have the right and responsibility to openly consider and respect the ideas of others, whether or not I accept these ideas.
11. As a learner I have the right to enter a learning organization which offers, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical support, and operates in an open and inclusive manner.
12. As a learner I have the right of equal access to resources, information and funding.
http://newsite.wondertree.org/WondertreeFoundation/DeclarationLearner'sRights/
Although his system is in some respects similar to Summerhill, Sudbury Valley, and Unschooling, it provides more structure and support while still allowing for complete individualization based on student interest. It is the first system I've seen that has the potential to scale independent learning into the millions or billions, and thus make "school" as we know it obsolete except for those odd individuals who like it. Below is a Declaration of Learner's Rights and Responsibilities created by some of his students.
The following document was written by a group of 6 young people between the ages of 15 and 17 and was presented at a Rights of the Child Conference in Victoria, BC and to the Minister of Education in June 1995. It was again presented to the UN Conference Habitat II in Istanbul Turkey in 1996. It is the frontispiece to a federally commissioned document written on Virtual High - Learning a Living. It has also been published internationally by UNESCO and many organizations in countries around the world have asked permission to share it with their communities. This document may be copied and used for educational purposes and not for any commercial purpose. Please notify the Wondertree organization for permission of use, and please acknowledge the source in any use of the document.
Declaration of Learner's Rights and Responsibilities
1. As a learner I have the right to allow my own experience and enthusiasm to guide my learning.2. As a learner I have the right to choose and direct the nature and conditions of my learning experience. As a learner I am responsible for the results I create.
3. As a learner I have the right to perfect the skills to be a conscious, self confident and resourceful individual.
4. As a learner I have the right to be held in respect. It is my responsibility to hold others in respect.
5. As a learner I have the right to a nurturing and supportive family and community. My family and community have the right and responsibility to be my primary resource.
6. As a learner I have the right and responsibility to enter into relationships based on mutual choice, collaborative effort, challenge and mutual gain.
7. As a learner I have the right to be exposed to a diverse array of ideas, experiences, environments, and possibilities. This exposure is the responsibility of myself, my parents and my mentors.
8. As a learner I have the right to evaluate my learning according to my own sensibilities. I have the right to request and the responsibility to include the evaluations of my mentors.
9. As a learner I have the right to co-create decisions that involve and concern me.
10. As a learner I have the right and responsibility to openly consider and respect the ideas of others, whether or not I accept these ideas.
11. As a learner I have the right to enter a learning organization which offers, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical support, and operates in an open and inclusive manner.
12. As a learner I have the right of equal access to resources, information and funding.
http://newsite.wondertree.org/WondertreeFoundation/DeclarationLearner'sRights/
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May 2008