By Marie-Claude Desforges, Direction adjointe de l’instruction - Mise en oeuvre des programmes, at the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF)

British Columbia’s education system will experience fundamental changes.

Starting in 2016, a curriculum redesign will be implemented, a transformation that reflects the skills which are in demand in a constantly changing society. 

The future, and I would say even the present, is undergoing a profound change; young people will be called upon to diversify, and will have to demonstrate as much skill in their fields of expertise as in their interpersonal and work relationships. The changes announced by the Ministry of Education will be in tune with these new realities that are constantly changing.

Teaching
The curriculum redesign adopts an approach that is concept-based and competency-driven. The ultimate goal is to prepare our students to become actively involved in the world that surrounds them; to become educated citizens. In a model that includes the elements  “Know / Do / Understand,” in which there is not simply one gateway, but rather an infinite possibility of convergence between the subjects being studied; we find a common thread at the heart of the curriculum redesign. This common thread is based on core competencies such as Communication Competency, Thinking Competency, and Personal and Social Competency, which are, according to the Ministry, “essential for all learners .”

The Classroom
The curriculum redesign is intended to offer more diverse learning opportunities while establishing a degree of flexibility that meets the needs of personalized education. By personalized education, we mean an education that values the needs and pace of an individual student’s learning. The curriculum redesign conceived and developed by teachers promotes collaborative work as well as a renewal of practices.

Assessment
The parameters of the curriculum for Grades 10/11 and 12 are still being determined. Drafts for several subjects are now available for consultation. However, we do not yet have a clear idea of the new assessment models, or of the terms and requirements for Grades 10/11 and 12 and graduation.

The CSF
To respond to the new reality that the curriculum redesign will bring, the Conseil scolaire francophone has implemented a support program for teachers. With a dynamic team, training days are available to teachers. These days, added to the calendar by the Ministry, offer the possibility for teachers to work collaboratively while familiarizing themselves with the concepts of the new programs. In addition, follow-up and ongoing support will be offered to teachers.

In short, as the curriculum redesign is not static, it offers openness to change and also to the voices of those who are implementing the new programs on a day-to-day basis. Faced with the new reality, the CSF will implement ways of exchanging information to allow teachers to share successful practices throughout the province.

Links

British Columbia’s New Curriculum
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/home

Graduation Years Curriculum: Proposed Directions
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/GradYrCurriculumDirections_fr.pdf

New Curriculum Introduction
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/curriculum_intro_fr.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/faq_fr.pdf

Orientation Guide
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/curriculum_brochure_fr.pdf

Tools: Four videos explaining the curriculum model, big ideas, curricular competencies and content, and core competencies
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/tools