I found the Q&A with Jeff Hopkins of the Pacific School for Innovation & Inquiry (PSII) to be very interesting. From the way Hopkins spoke about his school, it is evident that he is all in with this education experiment. As the name of the school implies, this is a school that focuses on Inquiry-Based learning. What this means is the students choose something they’re interested in, or curious about, and their education is then created to surround that inquiry. The problem here, for many sceptics (parents, teachers, administrator, me) is how does this method of learning provide students with what they need to graduate, and succeed outside of school (in University, or the workforce).

The PSII website going into detail about the inquiry process here, Inquiry Tools. This includes a flowchart for their inquiry process, as well as their 5 steps to their inquiry process:

  • Starting
  • Deepening
  • Refining
  • Planning
  • Learning

Inquiry Flowchart, PSII, https://learningstorm.org/inquiry-tools/

A brief description is provided as well as tools and resources. This, at the very least, explains how the students’ inquiry learning will be framed. It is personalized and specific, but how do we know the student’s are going to be able to learn what they need for graduation? PSII seems to have that covered as well.

Their assessment is based on competencies, which is accessible on their website as a PDF (Competency Assessment Framework). PSII’s education competencies are listed here in detail.

PSII Competency Descriptions, PSII, https://learningstorm.org/competency-assessment-framework/

Each of these competencies are applied to each area of inquiry and study, which should give the students a well rounded learning experience, on par (if not more specific and in-depth) to those of standard schools.

Proposed PSII Graduation Framework, PSII, https://learningstorm.org/competency-assessment-framework/

Further into this PDF, there are more detailed rubrics of the learning objectives and assessment, which are a great indication to how these inquiry projects will be marked. Despite the abstract method of teaching, there are still concrete methods being used for assessment, and marks are still necessary, and provided. This in itself, might be enough to calm a worried observer of this school.

The success of the students that Hopkins described in his Q&A are a testament to the success of this school, and inquiry-based learning. In the “What’s Different about PSII?” section of the website goes into great detail to how PSII does things differently than standard schools, but what I think is important are the areas they say are the same.

“But first two very important “sames:” You can graduate with a regular BC Dogwood Certificate at PSII, just like you can at most other high schools; and you can go to college, university, or into any other career path after PSII, just as you can with most other high schools,” (“What’s different about PSII?,” n.d.).

Those are probably the most important things to most people. The benefits that students who thrive and succeed in inquiry centered schools are just a plus. That’s not to say that this school is for everyone. I would argue it is not. But if a student is struggling in a standard school, this may be an alternative path that’s worth checking out.

 

citation:

What’s different about PSII? (n.d.). Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry – The path is made by walking…. https://learningstorm.org/about/whats-different-about-psii/