What a great experience we had today learning about the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry.  Jeff Hopkins, the founder, principle and teacher of the school gave us a glimpse of what the school is about and how they help students generate questions for good, deep inquiry that becomes the foundation of the student’s curriculum.  The students meet all the requirements expected of any high school student in BC, but they do it on their own terms with their own interests.     This is the 7th year that the school has been open and Jeff explained how successful this type of learning can be by giving examples of what the students have been creating.  He told how one student has produced and published a novel and how another has produced research  about brain activity and ballet dancing while using either point or flat shoes, which will be published.  Another student is learning math and physics by incorporating  different formulas into a video game that he is making.  The school is very accommodating and can work with students and their busy schedules.  For example, if a student is heavily into dance, they can incorporate this into their curriculum.  This flexibility allows grade 11 and 12 students to explore first year courses at UVic and use these credits toward their grade 12 and for furthering their education in university.   While the students are taking courses at UVic, the teachers at PSII are there to help and support their learning in university classes that do not use the inquiry based method that this school provides.

As I become more educated about inquiry I begin to question the education system that spoon feeds information to students.  I think that eventually all schools will adapt some form of inquiry as it seems to be the way of the future.  It is inspiring to see the opportunities that the students at PSII are creating for themselves through deep inquiry.