About Flex

Moving Forward with High School Redesign is more about shifting mindsets than it is about shifting timetables.  The timetable shift opens the door to flexible learning environments, while the mindset shift leads to changes in practice that ensure that these flexible learning environments are used to focus explicitly on creating responsive, student-centred approaches to 21st century learning.

Student-centred learning, as articulated in Inspiring Education, happens as a number of key practices are put in place, including personalizing learning, intentionally developing meaningful relationship, creating rigorous and relevant learning opportunities, and supporting mastery learning.

Moving Forward with High School Redesign is grounded in the following research-based foundational principles:

Mastery Learning:  Mastery learning is an instructional strategy that results in a deep understanding of curriculum as demonstrated through performance-based evaluations.

Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum:  Curriculum that sets appropriate learning objectives aimed at meeting the needs of the business community and post-secondary institutions creates a meaningful, goal-oriented high school  experience for students.

Personalization:  Personalized instruction seeks to understand every student’s unique developmental level, learning style, passions, skills and foundation knowledge.

Flexible Learning Environment:  Flexible learning environments acknowledge that learning takes place everywhere, not only in the classroom and turn increased responsibility for learning over the students.

Educator Roles and Professional Development:  The role of the teacher as guide, coach and career mentor, and the role of the administrator as instructional leader are supported through professional development opportunities.

Meaningful Relationships:  Developing meaningful relationships means that teachers and students develop relationships built on trust and healthy interaction and no student remains anonymous in high school.

Home and Community Involvement:  Student learning environments are extended and supported by engaging home, business, community, and post-secondary partners.

Assessment:  Assessment used as part of the learning process provides feedback about how to improve, and gives students a clear view of what is expected. Students benefit when assessment is collaborative – shared between the student and the teacher.

Welcoming, Caring, Respectful and Safe learning communities:  Welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning communities hold inclusive attitudes that allow students to feel understood, cared for, and connected to the school community.

https://ideas.education.alberta.ca/hsc/redesigning/