About the High School Credit Program
The Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership has been inspected and approved by the Ontario
Ministry of Education and the British Columbia Ministry of Education to offer students with High
School credits. In order to receive the credit for participating in PSYL, students must enroll in the accredited version of the program, must meet the eligibility requirements (see below), and will complete some additional written work in addition to participating in the regular program activities.
Students from Ontario can receive an Interdisciplinary Studies, Grade 12, University Preparation
(IDC4U) single credit, accredited through Outward Bound Canada. The prerequisite for this course is any other university/college preparation course. Check with your School Principal or Academic
Counsellor to make sure you qualify to receive this credit.
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/interdisciplinary1112curr.pdf
Students from British Columbia can receive 4 credits at the Grade 12 level through the External
Credentials Program. There are no prerequisites to receive credit for this course.
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation/ext_credentials/welcome.php
Students from outside Ontario and British Columbia may receive the credit at the discretion of their high school. Provide the information above to your School Principal or Academic Counsellor to see if they will transfer the credit. The school may wish to contact us for further details.
Interdisciplinary studies courses provide students with opportunities to understand the diverse
perspectives of and the links among discrete subjects/ disciplines and to develop their knowledge and skills beyond the scope of individual disciplines to solve problems, make decisions, and present new findings. Students will integrate general interdisciplinary concepts, skills, models, resources, technologies, and strategies with specific content and approaches from diverse areas of the curriculum, which can be adapted to reflect the context of the specific interdisciplinary studies courses or packages of courses. An important emphasis will be placed on developing information literacy, applying comprehensive research skills and knowledge, and synthesizing methodologies and insights from a variety of disciplines to develop critical and creative-thinking skills.
Goals of the Program
The focus of the Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership program is on gaining and applying
leadership skills in the context of social, economic and ecological justice, peace, and international
understanding. At the same time, the course will help students develop the knowledge, skills, and
attitudes needed to become community and world leaders. Students will be given opportunities to
refine their decision-making, conflict-resolution and interpersonal skills, with a view to developing
confidence and ability to become leaders. This program, accredited through Outward Bound Canada, clearly compliments their mission to “promote self-reliance, care and respect for others, responsibility to the community, and concern for the environment.”
The three strands that the program is based on are as follows
1) Leadership Training
2) Foundational Principles on Justice
3) Experiential Learning
Course Expectations
The Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership will be a learning experience composed of challenging
activities, skills training with professional coordinators, wilderness trips, and most importantly,
informed and thoughtful discussions with people in the program. For the purposes of the high school credit, it is our expectation that you come to the course prepared to contribute to the learning process and to your own growth and learning in the three areas described above. Be prepared to set goals in each of these areas and to share and discuss your progress with your coordinators. In order to obtain the credit students will have to submit a learning journal and project action plan for assessment.
Evaluation and Assessment
Coordinators will be looking for the following in their ongoing assessment: participation in the learning process, participation in group activities, improved competence in leadership skills and principles, ability to get along with others and assist in the decision making process, communication skills, self management skills, ability to set and reach goals, acceptance of personal and group responsibility, and increased awareness of social and ecological justice.
Each student will be evaluated individually on their own progress throughout the course and a final
written course evaluation, based on the provincial curriculum expectations, will be filled out by the
coordinators for each student.
Reporting
At the end of your course, and after your final personal interview with your coordinators, you will have a good idea of your final course mark. You will receive your final written evaluation form and grade from your instructors by mail by mid-September. Your final mark will be sent to your home school in November following your course. |
