Learning Resource

Policy

Learning Resources are texts, videos, software, and instructional materials that teachers use to assist students to meet the expectations for learning defined by provincial and local curricula.

This policy is specific to learning resources which form the core program collection of resources.

Learning resources used in the classroom will be evaluated and approved by SelfDesign Learning Foundation (SDLF) and SelfDesign Learning Community (SDLC) with consideration given to

  • curriculum fit,
  • content, 
  • social considerations,  
  • age and developmental appropriateness,  
  • design of the resource, 
  • pedagogy, and
  • educational philosophy and policies of SDLF.

Resource selection and use for Online Learning schools is of vital importance to student learning. SDLF/SDLC acknowledges this, is aware of the provincial learning resources policy, and allocates significant resources on a yearly basis to support appropriate educational resource use.

As an independent school board authority for SDLC, the SelfDesign Learning Foundation (SDLF) authorizes its certified BC educators to approve resources in the following ways:

  • SDLF approval for board authority-authorized (BAA) courses in grades 10-12
  • Digital Subscriptions educator, a trained teacher-librarian (BC certified educator) to approve and oversee community-wide resource selection and webinars (e.g. online subscriptions) in alignment with BC’s Curriculum, including First Peoples Principles of Learning.
  • Educational Program Lead (a BC certified educator) who approves and oversees development of Learning Experiences in the SelfDesign Learning Experience Library, which are thematic learning themes and resources in alignment with BC’s New Curriculum, including First Peoples Principles of Learning, created by a team of BC certified educators.
  • SDLC educator approval of individualized learner resources on Learning Plans (updated three times yearly) and in weekly conversation with families, with support for determining approvability and suitability of resources available from a BC certified educator on the leadership team.
  • Educational Program team review and approval preferred resource list for use of Learning Resources and Services (LRS) funds to support learning plan goals, which is created and vetted by the Procurement Lead.
  • All educators and decision makers are encouraged to take the Learning Resource Selection course offered by OpenSchoolBC.

SDLC also aligns with and implements the Learning Resources Selection Model, outlined by Focused Resources.  Those principles are:

Curriculum Fit 

Evaluators examine the resource to determine if it supports the philosophy, rationale and goals of the BC curriculum, and to determine the degree to which it supports the Big Ideas, Curricular Competencies and Content of the specific curriculum.

Content

Evaluators examine the content of the resource to determine its accuracy and relevancy, to determine if it contains the Canadian perspective necessary to support the Big Ideas, Curricular Competencies and Content for the curriculum, and to determine its cognitive and linguistic appropriateness for the intended audience.

Instructional Design

Evaluators examine the resource to determine the effectiveness of its organization, teaching strategies, and assessment provisions in supporting the goals and objectives of the specific curriculum.

Technical Design

Evaluators examine various technical aspects of the design of the resource to determine if it enhances student accessibility and understanding.

Social Considerations

Evaluators examine the resource for 13 social considerations to identify potentially controversial or offensive elements that may exist in the content or presentation, and to highlight where resources might support pro-social attitudes and promote diversity and human rights.

Procedure for Removing Resources

  1. The Learning Experience Library has a form that allows any educator, parent or learner to recommend a resource and challenge or appeal the selection process, at any time, to the Library Manager and Educational Program Lead.
  2. The annual Subscription Survey allows any educator, parent or learner the opportunity to contribute learning resource suggestions, or challenge or appeal the selection process, each spring. Resources that are under utilized are culled each spring as the school year winds down and following the Principles for Evaluating, Selecting and Acquiring Learning Resources outlined by ERAC, new resources are brought on board each fall for the start of a new learning year.
  3. Whether or not resources are community-wide or part of individualized learning plans, those resources that do not adhere to the standards we set for our community (i.e. do not follow SDLC’s Educational Environment of Safety, Acceptance and Respect) are immediately removed.
  4. Requests for resource removal can be made through the following protocol:
    1. Learner or parent can request the removal of a resource by contacting their learning consultant. 
    2. Educators can contact the Education Program Lead and/or Principal via email with challenge or appeal the use of a resource.
    3. The Principals team will gather the feedback from the person requesting the removal.
    4. The Principals team will review the learning resource according to the principles outlined in this policy and make a decision about the removal of the resource. 

Appeals Procedure

In the event that a parent and/or learner would like to dispute a decision made, the parent and/or learner can make an appeal based on the Appeals & Fairness policy.

 

Change Log

  • Policy page updated Feb 20, 2018
  • Last reviewed/updated August 6, 2021