School-Centred Program Enhancements

Challenge for Credit

The Challenge for Credit process allows a school to recognize that a student has already acquired the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that an existing course seeks to develop. A Challenge for Credit may be achieved in the fine arts, physical education, mathematics and languages. For subject areas not listed, a school may apply, through the school board, to the Department of Education for credit on a pilot basis.

Distance Education

Distance education is a way for students to receive credit for courses that are taught via technology rather than by traditional means. It involves development of specially designed instructional materials and the structured delivery of those materials to those individuals who are separated from their educational institution by space and/or time. Distance education through television and more recent telecommunication and computer technologies have made it possible to eliminate many of the inequalities in public school systems so that requirements of a learner can be met regardless of his or her location.⁵ Distance education is seen as particularly beneficial for rural communities with small schools because it allows students to remain in their communities and be introduced to courses that had previously been inaccessible.

Independent Study

Independent study is the pursuit of credit for an existing course by a student working with the course materials developed by the Department of Education but without the day-to-day instruction of a teacher. Independent study credits help foster independent ability and promote individualized programming which allows students to initiate courses that meet and suit their needs, interests and abilities.

Locally Developed Courses

A school has the opportunity to develop a course for credit that is not among the current offerings of the Department of Education. The procedure for a locally developed course is to first apply to the Department of Education for a pilot program. The application for a pilot must be made at least seven months before the course begins and should include a description of the scope and philosophy of the curriculum, an outline of the instruction and assessment strategies, a list of student and teacher learning resources, any additional costs, a framework for evaluation and the provision for future development. Upon approval, the pilot is conducted for a two year period during which time it is monitored and evaluated by the school board and the Department of Education. After two years the pilot may be terminated or it may become an approved locally developed course.