At SelfDesign® Learning Community, learning happens at home, online, and in the child’s own community. Our learners in higher grades interact online every week with each other and their educators to connect and further their learning, but we also provide options for younger learners to gather together online and learn new skills.
In particular, our Grade 6–7 Theme and Grade 8–9 Theme allow learners to connect with their peers, discuss their passions and explore new interests together in safe online spaces. The offerings each consist of a series of general topics geared to engage learners in grades 6 and 7 and 8 and 9, respectively. Each topic exploration lasts four weeks, with weekly real-time meetings where learners meet online, resources and activities they can explore in their own time, and discussion spaces where they get to know one another and share their learning.
The offerings help the learners become comfortable with communicating online under the guidance of supportive SelfDesign educator–facilitators.
They’re also designed to help learners gradually learn the skills they’ll need in later grades. SelfDesign provides the offerings on the same online platform and with the same online tools that are used in grades 10 to 12. Learners can explore the spaces and tools at their own pace, with educator-facilitated support.
Participation is optional, and learners can join one meeting or attend them all. They can also participate at whatever level they feel comfortable.
“We have learners who don’t speak and usually keep their cameras off,” SelfDesign Principal Catherine Dinim says. “We have kids who chat in the textbox but don’t usually speak. We once had a group of learners who never turned their cameras on but worked together on activities like writing a story together using a shared document. And that’s okay. Learners can engage as they wish, and grow into new skills at their own pace.”
Grade 6–7 Theme
Grade 6–7 Theme provides a gentle first step into participating with an online group of learners during real-time meetings. Examples of topics include All About You, Branching Out, Going Places, and Being the Change.
The topics are selected to be fun, intriguing, interesting and interactive, with lots of scope for activities that the learners can do together online and explore on their own at home if they want. Learners can drop in on the real-time meetings and participate to whatever degree they are comfortable with. About 15–20 learners show up for each theme.
“The 6-7 theme provides an opportunity for learners to connect with others, have some fun, and to start exploring concepts and technology that will be beneficial in future grades,” Melinda says. “We play games, do puzzles, create art projects, and engage in hands-on learning all while practicing skills for learning as part of a virtual community. The focus is on fun and connection.”
“The 6–7 Thea fun way for learners to get to know other learners, exchange ideas and interests, and share their learning,” says Leore, who facilitated the offering in 2022–2023. She encourages learners to try the offerime is ng. “You just have to show up, participate and chat with the group — it’s fun and very low pressure.
Grade 8–9 Theme
Recognizing the learners’ own growth, the Grade 8–9 Theme is slightly more structured, with clearer links to the subject areas and kinds of activities learners will engage with in grades 10 to 12.
The subject areas of Math, English, Socials, and Science are all covered under various lenses throughout the year. The lenses for this school-year are Makers, Wellness, Film, Food, Transition to Grade 10, and Creatures.
At each week’s real-time online meeting, the learners explore subject-specific content together. They then have the option of diving further into the topic on their own and working on a related learning challenge similar to the weekly challenges that are assigned in grades 10 to 12. Learners are also encouraged to participate in online discussions on the topics with their peers.
Every aspect of the offering is optional, Wendy says, but is designed to familiarize learners in grades 8 and 9 with using SelfDesign’s online learning and communications platforms and get used to the ideas of regular schedules, meetings, communicating online, and more structured learning that come in grades 10 to 12.
“Real-Time meetings usually involve a blend of time to connect as a whole group, play a game or solve a puzzle, collaborate with other learners in smaller break-out rooms on a task related to the topic of the week, and explore any additional resources applicable to the topic,” Melinda says. “The focus is on fun, connection, and learning through collaboration. It is a great way to learn in community and from fellow learners in grades 8 and 9. Learners can show up however they feel that week.”
The idea is really just to get them comfortable learning in community, according to Wendy, who facilitated the offering last year. “Some learners might start the year showing up but keeping their cameras off, and then, maybe a few months later, they might turn their camera on for part of a meeting. You can see their comfort levels grow and the learners become more confident about participating over the course of the year, which is really great.”
Learners become more comfortable with the format and possibilities as the Theme series progresses.
Melinda says, “I am really impressed with the variety of ways that learners show up to the meetings and engage in the content in whatever way is meaningful to them.”
Wendy encourages learners who are uncertain to dip a toe in. “You don’t have to commit, you don’t have to turn the camera on or speak. Just try it. You might have a lot of fun. You might make some friends.”
There is no additional cost to families for learners to participate in either the 6–7 Theme or the 8–9 Theme.
Learn more about what to expect at the different grades at SelfDesign
Read about Genius Hour, our optional offering for learners in grades 3 to 9
Read more about our Minecraft offering for learners in grades 3 to 9
Learn about Open Spaces – now expanded, with spaces for learners in different grade levels!
