What Is PSII?

PSII is a school in Victoria, BC where there is no curriculum or mandatory scheduled classes. Instead, learning is achieved through inquiry. Students generate questions they have, and through exploring those questions come interdisciplinary learning

Inquiry: a seeking or request for truth, information, or knowledge.

When I first heard about PSII, I was completely sceptical. I couldn’t comprehend how this way of learning could possibly cover everything from the BC Curriculum, and how this would truly prepare students for the future and for University later on. I had so many questions, but over the course of our visit, and through talking with the students I learned that there was something really special happening at this school. I left feeling inspired and excited about adding this learning approach to my future practice.

How do students cover all the necessary topics through inquiry?

Teachers at PSII have a hand in “nudging” students towards certain subjects. They suggest other topics for students to incorporate into their inquiry so that they cover all the subjects that at mandatory for graduation.

For example:  One Grade 9 student finished all mandatory math and was proceeding to University level calculus. Her interest and focus was solely in mathematics, but was missing out on developing her literacy skills. Teachers assist in finding connecting between subject and interest to guide her learning.

However, it’s still not a perfect system. Some students get to their grade 12 year and still have subjects missing. I spoke with one grade 12 student who finished all of his high school requirements except English 12. He understood that it was the final hoop he needed to jump through in order to graduate – was just getting it done.

What other benefits does this learning approach have?

Not only are learning the BC curriculum, but they are also mastering a multitude of life skills that I believe are not taught in regular school systems. The students I spoke to showed:

  1. Time management
  2. Collaboration & respect for others
  3. Independence and autonomy
  4. Confidence and sense of empowerment
  5. and were mature & eloquent speakers – extremely good at communicating their ideas
How are you incorporating indigenous ways of knowing

Inquiry is an indigenous way of knowing. By falling a path of inquiry, students are asking questions that relate to their community, their family, themselves.

 

Along with feeling inspired, for some reason I still felt uncomfortable with this type of approach. I realized that it was because I  did well in school because I learned how to play the game in the traditional school setting. Adopting the concept of inquiry forces me to accept that how I learned may not have been the right way.