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A walk through the new Inquiry Hub in Coquitlam is a bit like walking into a school of the future even through it's located in historic Maillardville and the school is more than 100 years old. There are few desks, and those there are on wheels. Project tables line walls topped with with fish tanks and bits of other projects, and kids sit together or work alone on laptop computers while listening to music on headphones. While Inquiry Hub isn't for everyone, it is worth exploring for any student who is looking for a more self-directed style of learning.

Last night I attended an information session given by District Principal Stephen Wiffin and Principal David Truss from Coquitlam, School District #43.   Together they shared their vision and plans for The Inquiry Hub, a new high school set to open in September. 

The intentions are to unlock the potential of students to learn in innovative ways.  There is the possibility that what is learned through this school will find its way into our traditional schools to increase innovation throughout.

here are my take-aways from that response. What would you add to it? You must first set a vision of what's possible in play. Identify that the need(s) available can be met by strategic use of staffing and technologies available. Acknowledge past efforts that failed to be implemented fully. Connect with powerful stakeholders (district department directors), as well as those "in the trenches" (teachers and students) Align the plan with standards and goals at the state level Connect with stakeholders and communicate in an ongoing manner. And, a point that David shared explicitly with me, "Run to the resistors" rather than away from them. To me, this means embrace resistance viewpoint as one that can enlighten the conversation rather than stop it.