If we want our youth to turn into adults that are fulfilled, literate and connected to their families, culture, and global communities—what do we need to do? If we want life-long learners, ingenious thinkers and creative problem solvers, how do we nurture those qualities? If we want kids that are passionately engaged in life and society, where do we start? And if we want a society that spends less on jails, social services, crime prevention and health care, what needs to change?
Our vision is to synthesize research and promising practices related to how humans learn and develop, in order to entirely rethink the model of education in this country.
Follow the Change Learning Project—an innovative, multi-stage initiative to transform the way we understand and structure education in Canada. Pilot-testing communities are on board and seed funding has been secured to articulate the strategic plan and create an effective funding model. Join us as we begin our journey to create and implement a redesigned educational model—one that is rooted in what we know about how children learn and develop. Read more about the Change Learning Project.
When we synthesize the research, what are the key issues that need to be addressed in creating a new educational model or in trying to transform a classroom, school or school board? Explore our guiding principles for educational change, tell us what you think and reflect on how they could shift educational opportunities for our children—locally and nationally—today and into the future. Read more about the Guiding Principles.
Explore programs and initiatives already implementing change in a variety of ways. From experiential learning opportunities to early years initiatives to community involvement projects – see how educators are making change happen now. View innovative programs.
John Abbott Re-envisions Schools
Content for this page is in development.
This site is designed to be a work in progress. Check back here shortly to see what’s new. Do you have ideas for this page? Submit your comments below.
The Change Learning Project is an innovative, multi-stage initiative to transform the way we understand and structure education in Canada. The purpose of the project is to create and implement a redesigned educational model—one that is rooted in what we know about how children learn and develop, and one that involves parents and community, addresses the whole child and meets the needs of our 21st century realities.
Classroom Connections, in concert with the acclaimed U.K.-based 21st Century Learning Initiative and with support from the Canadian Council on Learning, is spearheading the Change Learning Project. We believe that band-aid solutions and short-sighted reform will never be enough. We need to re-think and re-create an alternative to today’s out-of-date and under-performing industrial age education model.
This is a long-term initiative designed to bring together international research and best practices to synthesize what we now know about how humans learn and thrive, and then put this knowledge into concrete action. But where do you start to initiate such fundamental change in a system that is so entrenched? Our answer is to start where the need is greatest – where youth are most at risk and critical social issues are forcing communities to re-think the purpose, structure and process of education. Change Learning is looking to develop partnerships with communities ready to ‘opt out’ of the status quo and undertake significant and far-reaching change.
To date, we are excited to report that we have confirmed partnerships with two ‘lab communities’ – the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) in The Pas, Manitoba, and North Central Regina, a predominantly First Nations area in the inner city. We have also confirmed participation and support from both the Saskatchewan and Manitoba Ministries of Education, as well as a wide range of project partners including: Lloyd Axworthy; the University of Winnipeg; the University of Manitoba Department of Education; the University College of the North; University of Saskatchewan; the Assembly of First Nations; and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Together we are setting the stage to re-envision education.
The Canadian Council on Learning has agreed to provide a portion of the seed money to initiate the project. The ‘initiation phase’ involves spending an estimated six months formalizing community partnerships, meeting with our network of foundations and potential sponsors, and creating formal proposals, in order to raise approximately $1M for the full development of the framework.
Phase One: Building the Framework.
This phase will last 12-18 months and will involve:
To discuss this initiative, become involved or step forward as a possible Co-Champion, please contact: Heather MacTaggart, hm@classroomconnections.ca
Check the Change Learning Project blog for updates on this initiative.
To view a list of Change Learning Project friends and supporters, view the attached document, below.