Field Trip to PSII

 

On Tuesday Jan 28 2020 our EDTech class went downtown to see how PSII, an inquiry based school works. Here, the learner decides the direction of their learning and what it is that they want to explore learning about. The school follows a Zone of Proximal Development Model. Often students are presented with material that is either too challenging or too easy. Either of these situations can create a sense of frustration or a lack of interest. The zone is the difference between what a learner can do with help and without. At this school, there are different abilities, age groups and there are no assignments. Learning is personalized.There are no formal classes, and time with teachers are booked as needed. Although, students do meet with a teacher on a daily basis just to ensure they are on their path and won’t fall through the cracks. This shocked me to learn as I still wonder how a system with so little structure works as well as it seems to. According to Jeff, the Principal, flexibility is what apparently helps it work so well. An example that was given by one of the students involved comparing a typical math class in a public versus math at PSII. A typical 1hr 15min math class has approximately 28 kids in it.  The lesson is usually explained over the course of the class with 15 minutes or so in time left for problem solving/asking and answering questions. In a class that size there is not enough time left for the students to ask all the questions they need to of the teacher which leads to some kids going home feeling lost because they don’t understand and haven’t been given enough time and attention to figure it out. At PSII, the learners come in and plan their day. Ie: How much time is independant vs how much time is collaborative? They can work on their own, or seek help from one another, and teachers are available for drop in help. There is always more than one teacher to help with math as there are many different ways in which a student can approach a problem. With regards to the curriculum, it is student directed, and they can take their time doing it…..as in weeks, months, years. As for homework, the belief is to not create homework, but instead encourage the students to pursue ideas and interests in school time. According to the Principal, the system adapts well for all different styles of learning and student anxiety is reduced. When asked about teacher to student ratio, funding and sustainability, the Principal stated that the ratio is 96 kids / 7 teachers, which is greater than in public schools. As for funding, he said they receive about 50% funding, but are mandated to operate at par with public schools or they lose their funding. Tuition is $7200.00 per student but each student gets a laptop and a Y membership. This is actually below the cost per student in the public system. When I asked Jeff, despite how great everything sounded, how this was possible in the typical public system today, he said it’s not. He said the public system would have to change its entire model. He said there is a lot of interest both locally and internationally, with delegations from Australia and the Netherlands having come to learn from their model, as well as local school districts looking at possibilities surrounding this as well. I still can’t help but wonder, despite the positive outcomes PSII is experiencing,  how entire schools and districts are going to change their entire model of Education?