Introduction

    Today we're going to start learning about the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction, or SDLMI for short.  SDLMI is about figuring out what your goals are, what might make school easier or better for you, making your plan happen, and then figuring out if you need to change the plan somewhere along the way.  The goal, or the reason that we're doing this, is to give you more control over your life at school and after high school.  You're not suddenly suppose to have all of the answers, there will still be teachers and other adults to help you, when you want.  However, by now, you do have a pretty good idea of what works well for you in school and what doesn't.  You are suppose to use this knowledge to help yourself.

    Some words that we're going to use a lot along the way are "problem", "barrier", and "goal".   

     A problem is something that keeps you from getting what you want.  For example, if you want to get your driver's permit, but you don't have your birth certificate, not having a birth certificate is a problem.  Or if you know that you do better on tests if you're in a quiet room with no distractions, then having to take a test in a classroom with noisy people is a problem. 

     A barrier is something that stands in the way of getting what you want.  For example, if you want to get a better grade in math, not knowing how to improve your grade is a barrier.  If you need extra time to do an assignment, but the teacher takes away points if an assignment is late, this late policy is a barrier.

     Finally, a goal is something that you work to make happen.  A goal is not something that you want that you don't put any work into, this is a dream.  An example of a dream is wanting an A in science, but not turning in any homework.  To be a goal, you have to do something to make it happen.  An example of a goal is to do two welds a day so that you can finish all of your welds with two days left in the trimester.  Another example of a goal is to pass drivers ed, by doing the homework or by spending 20 minutes a day on the DOT website either reading or taking practice tests.

     On this website and in class we'll talk through every step of SDLMI together.  This will make it easy to pick a goal that you really want, figure out what you need to do to achieve your goal, and to make changes to your goal or plan when you need to.