Action Blog: Growth Area One for the 2021-2022 school year:

Strategic Priority 1: Inspired Learners; Goal 2: The district fosters resilient and healthy life-long learners

Burnett Learning Time Expansion for 2021-2022 (Personalized Learning Time)

In 2018-2019, Burnett Secondary fully implemented Personalized Learning Time (Burnett Learning Time or BLT) as part of the instructional day sixteen times a year for sixty minutes between second and third period. Attendance was mandatory and students had choice in accessing different BLT options. Prior to its implementation, focus groups of students, parents, and staff determined that BLT was valuable for student learning and should be part of our instructional model. This year, eight of ten secondary schools across the district voted to implement Personalized Learning Time as part of the instructional day on Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 10:10 am. 

District Rationale for increasing Personalized Learning Time is as follows:

The BC Education Plan and curriculum are focused on developing students’ communication, thinking, and personal and social competencies in a personalized learning environment. A personalized learning environment encourages students to find their personal entry points and pathways while also participating in shared learning experiences and demonstrating achievement of learning standards. Providing Personalized Learning Time in the school day creates additional opportunities for students to engage in learning that is meaningful to them, collaborate with others, seek additional learning support, develop personal organizational skills, and reflect and set goals for future learning. Essentially, Personalized Learning Time develops and supports learners’ abilities to exercise choice and independence.  

District Framework for Personalized Learning Time 

It is important for schools to provide structured choice and opportunities for students during Personalized Learning Time. A Personalized Learning Time framework provides the scaffolding that learners require to develop independence. 

• Schools will design a Personalized Learning Time schedule that supports students’ ability to choose how to engage and go deeper with their learning. 
• Students will have access to teachers, departments, and a place/space to engage in their learning individually or collaboratively in a variety of well-designed learning spaces.
• Students will have access to learning supports such as ELL, resource, tutorials, counsellors and/or advisors.

District Personalized Learning Time Options

Providing and clarifying options for students during Personalized Learning Time provides a foundation upon which students will develop their communication, thinking, and personal and social competencies. All secondary students need opportunities to reflect and make connections between what they are learning in their classes and their personal development of the core competencies.  Personalized Learning Time fosters inspired learners through the provision of a variety of options and opportunities. 

Guiding Principles for Burnett Learning Time (BLT) at Burnett Secondary

We have worked as a staff to develop BLT for the coming school year since adopting the flexible schedule along with eight other Richmond Secondary Schools in June 2021. We are organizing our planning around four guiding principles: 

BLT is Self-Directed, Self-Managed, and Self-Regulated

BLT activities requires the active participation of students to self-direct their learning and manage their time and resources.  Students will manage their BLT through a web-based student planner. 

BLT Enhances Curricular and Core Competency Development 

Deepening Curricular Competency understanding, and further developing the Core Competencies of students is an overall goal of all BLT activities. BLT is instructional time.  Teachers will be helping students learn about and manage BLT throughout the year. 

BLT Builds on Individual Passions

Students are more engaged in learning when the BLT activities are purposeful, relevant, and grow their interests/passions. Students will have opportunities to explore their passion in a variety of well-designed educational settings that reflect British Columbia’s redesigned curriculum. 

BLT embraces the development of Self-Care, Self-Awareness, Physical, and Mental Health

BLT will strive to provide opportunities for students to gain a deeper appreciation of the importance of self-care, to become more self-aware and to provide opportunities to make connections between their physical and mental health. 

Options for Students During Burnett Learning Time: 

• Students can spend time reading, journaling, reflecting, and becoming more self-aware
• Support students in personal time management and study skill development
• Support students’ ability to set personal and learning goals
• Support for learning completion, incomplete assignments, etc.
• Support enrichment and deeper learning for individuals or small groups
• Support students’ reflection and self-assessment of the Core Competencies
• Support the development and presentation of Capstone Projects
• Engage in cross curricular and/or project-based inquiry
• Enhance learning support to vulnerable and diverse learners
• Enhance language acquisition for ELL students across the curriculum
• Provide opportunities for students to ask questions, converse, and consult with staff
• Provide time for community service, career education, and/or work experience, and clubs
• Provide opportunities to improve both physical and mental health throughout the year
• Provide opportunities for both individual and group counselling 

Burnett Learning Time will provide opportunities for students to deeply engage with and manage their learning and personal well-being.