Jeff Hopkins: Guest on the Inquiry

About Jeff & PSII

Jeff is the founder and Principal Educator of the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry (PSII) – an independent high school in Victoria designed to provide a model for education system transformation. Inspired by the notion of “consilience,” – the unity of knowledge — PSII helps its learners to transcend traditional high school subject silos and to free themselves from typical high school structure and process, all through an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach. He often refers to his inquiry-based approach as “education as if people mattered.” This was also the title of his 2015 TEDx Victoria talk. His second TEDx talk in 2017 was about how innovation in education is essential for sustainability as a species. In 2013-14, Jeff was the University of Victoria’s first “Educator in Residence,” offering support and inspiration to education students and faculty in their contemplation of what an education system could be. He was also named UVic’s Distinguished Alumnus for 2018. Jeff is often invited to present his ideas on education and schools at dozens of conferences throughout BC, in other provinces, and internationally. He is currently adding to his knowledge about education through a PhD in Neuroscience where he is studying the brain activity associated with different approaches to teaching and learning. Jeff is a father of two and a husband.

Please take a look specifically at their inquiry tools for learners and explore their daily calendar of opt-in classes. We also have a few resources below to help you understand his approach, and the PSII approach, to supporting student learning. Caveat, these videos were taken during the COVID pivot.