Week 4

Pacific School for Innovation & Inquiry (PSII) Tour 

This week, we were fortunate enough to tour the Pacific School for Innovation & Inquiry (PSII). This school is an independent school, which is based on inquiry, and not curriculum. We had a presentation from both the founder of the school and a current grade 12 student, learning more about the setup of the school. It was really interesting to hear about the inquiry process and see how engaged students were.  

It was interesting to see how students worked at their own pace, and their teachers were more of guiders, rather than instructing them and telling them what to do. It was also interesting that they would offer lectures to topics students were interested in, almost like a university. For example, the day we were visiting, the founder Jeff was doing a psychology lecture. If students were interested, they were then able to attend the lecture.  

After our tour, we were able to go around the school and observe. I really liked the maker space, and the students seemed to really enjoy it. It really helped those students who enjoy the arts and music enhance their skills.  

I really liked the open-ended research aspect of the school, and it almost felt like university, however, I am not sure how I would have liked that as a student, or how I would like that as a teacher.