The Student
It is the responsibility of the student to:
find a supervising teacher to support them in their ISC;
make formal application to pursue an Independent Study Course;
achieve their identified learning outcomes; and
organize and complete the learning experiences and activities involved in the course.
The Parent/Guardian
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to:
ensure they understand the nature and requirements of the ISC; and
support their child as needed throughout the ISC journey.
The Guidance Counsellor
It is the responsibility of the guidance counsellor to:
help students make informed decisions about the suitability of an ISC as related to their high school and post-secondary pathway (transcript review, post-secondary pathway options, etc.); and
help students make informed decisions about the student's ability to undertake an ISC as related to their interests and abilities.
The Principal
It is the responsibility of the principal to:
help, when necessary, to select an appropriate supervising teacher(s) who has the skills and ability to effectively support students pursuing an ISC;
develop a process to approve student applications at the school level that supports students and aligns with the procedures required by the Department; and
engage the school counsellor to provide leadership in the selection of appropriate candidates.
The Supervising Teacher
It is the responsibility of the supervising teacher to:
support students in completing the application for an Independent Study Course;
support approved students in the execution of the learning experiences and activities involved in the course;
assist the student in securing a community mentor;
assist in the assessment and evaluation of the student’s work; and
ensure the guidelines and procedures for community based learning are adhered to, if applicable.
The Community-Based Mentor(s)
It is the responsibility of the community-based mentor to:
complete a criminal record & vulnerable sector background check.
The school can provide a volunteer form to take to Police Services and should waive the fee.
When meeting with the student, it is best practice to follow the coaching guideline of "Rule of Two". The Rule of Two means that two adults are present for any interactions, and ensures that all interactions and communications are done in the open, are observable by others and are in an appropriate setting;
provide advice based on experience in the topic that the student is covering;
if necessary, provide support for the student to undertake tasks associated with the student's ISC (e.g. showing the student how to use equipment, connecting the student to other community resources, etc.); and
If asked, to help assess the student's final presentation of learning.
The Department of Education and Early Years
Is is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning to:
support the stakeholders with any questions they have during the ISC process;
approve applications; and
keep records of annual ISC applications and completions.