Weekly Reflection – PSII and Inquiry Based Education

Week of January 30th

This week, my peers and I had the privilege of exploring the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry (PSII) here in Victoria. At this inquiry based school, students are able to explore what they are interested in and/or passionate about to guide their education.

Wow! I am so inspired by the approach PSII has taken, and frankly, a little bit envious that I wasn’t able to experience an education like the students at PSII. I don’t think I’ve ever wished to be 15 again, but if I could somehow rewrite the past and attend a school like PSII, I think my perspective on learning, and life in general, would be quite different! Like many, I found school quite stagnant, and as an undiagnosed at the time neurodiverse learner, found school very challenging. I think, when it comes down to it, this was due to the unsupportive environment and the rigid structure of our public school system.

While you can’t change the past, you can change the future. And after exploring PSII and their values, I feel very inspired. Inquiry-based learning challenges the rigidity of school, and instead offers an entirely new perspective. One where the student has full autonomy over what they want to learn, and how they want to learn it.

At PSII, the inquiry process begins through a question developed by the student. This question is typically developed from a passion, idea, or hobby the student is interested in. If the students is having troubles with thinking of a question, the teachers support the student by brainstorming and guiding them towards something they are interested in. Once the student has their idea, they meet with teachers to discuss how to reach their goals. Then, everyday the student meets with a teacher to discuss their goals for the day, and the teacher helps guide the student with their inquiry project. PSII has various spaces for students to work in, including a tech lab, art studio, sewing stations, music studio, collaborative learning spaces, a library, a science lab, a sensory room, and quite areas. Everyday, students have free access to these spaces, and can come-and-go as they please. To meet BC graduation requirements, teachers and administration pull out learning aspects of a students inquiry journey, and connect them to certain courses and curricular competencies that satisfy the requirement.

Providing an environment that fosters lifelong, meaningful learning is incredibly important. At PSII, students not only follow their passions, but they also develop many ‘soft skills’ – such as communication, critical thinking, perseverance, time-management, etc — that will be helpful in their professional lives. PSII undoubtedly challenges our public school system, and really demonstrates what learning should be. Meaningful, connected, and valuable to the learner. I am inspired, and as a pre-service teacher I feel an entire perspective-shift towards education, and perhaps my future career. In this moment, an inquiry based school feels like a place I could see myself working, and thus, learning in.

-Ceadra