IB MATTERS July 2012
Al Zahra College aims to develop faithful, knowledgeable and wise citizens who take responsibility for creating a better and more peaceful world. We will challenge our students to become active learners and critical thinkers who promote
intercultural understanding and respect.
IB MATTERS mary Years A monthly publication about the Pri Middle Years Programme (PYP), trialling of the the IB Diploma Programme (MYP) and planning for llege. Programme (IB DP) at Al Zahra Co
The International Baccalaureate
IB at Al Zahra College
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an exciting set of educational programs offered in more than two thousand school schools in over 120 countries around the world. The programs focus on student-centred inquiry-based learning and global concerns. They challenge students to think in sophisticated ways about the connections between ideas in different areas of study. They put learning into an international context.
In 2011, Al Zahra College was authorised as an IB World School to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP). The goal is for Al Zahra College to eventually offer all three programs to our students. NOTE: AZC is undertaking a trial implementation of the Middle Years Programme (MYP). Authorisation can take several years and cannot be guaranteed.
PYP & MYP @ AZC
The initial planning for PYP and other possible IB programmes at AZC began back in 2003.
In 2010, AZC was accepted as a Candidate MYP School. In 2012, AZC will request an authorisation visit for the Diploma Programme (DP) in 2013 so that the DP can be offered as the AZC exit credential.
Following first-hand experience with all three programmes (PYP, MYP and DP) in Qatar, Dr Darvall recommended trialling its implementation at AZC. In 2008, AZC registered with IB as an Interested PYP School. Following a preliminary visit in 2009, AZC was invited to become a Candidate PYP School.
During 2010, AZC completed a Pre-Authorisation visit that considered our preparedness for authorisation as a PYP School. Following an authorisation visit, AZC was authorised as an IB World School for PYP. In 2009, AZC registered as an Interested MYP School in preparation for the commencement of Year 7 in 2010.
Information sessions are conducted to facilitate parent understanding of what PYP, MYP and DP are all about - bringing learning alive.
AZC: An IB World School The International Baccalaureate PYP – Transdisciplinary Themes The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who will help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end, the organisation works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. IB programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right
The most significant and distinctive feature of the IB Primary Years Program is the six transdisciplinary themes. These themes are about issues that have meaning for, and are important to, all of us. The six themes of global significance are: •
Who we are
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Where we are in place and time
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How we express ourselves
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How the world works
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How we organise ourselves
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A transdisciplinary approach to learning. o
Students and teachers use subject areas as tools to explore transdisciplinary ideas of enduring importance.
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Units of inquiry are developed as the means by which transdisciplinary learning occurs.
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Students learn through ideas that transcend the bounds of traditional subject areas to connect with what is real in the world.
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Students acquire and apply transdisciplinary skills (skills that are embedded within all disciplines) as well as explicit attitudes and the expectation of socially responsible behaviour.
Sharing the planet
Other features of the PYP: •
A philosophy of teaching and learning that aims to develop internationally minded learning communities.
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An inquiry-based pedagogy where teachers firstly provoke students to wonder and then actively incorporate students' inquiries into the classroom.
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An appreciation of lifelong learning. In their inquiries, students learn how to think about and therefore, care about, the world.
The most significant and distinctive feature of the IB Primary Years Program is the six transdisciplinary themes. PYP Authorisation On December 22nd 2011, AZC was officially authorised as an IB world school for the Primary Years Programme. IB authorszation means that AZC has fulfilled the requirements for program implementation including curriculum and policy development. The requirements for authorisation are the same in each IB region with the process designed to ensure that schools are well prepared to implement the programme successfully.
meaning from their learning, and deciding to take action in an authentic response.
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The ‘action cycle’ where students learn to reflect, choose and then act, sees them making personal
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Developing enduring understanding. This focus on enduring understanding occurs through the use of concepts to frame learning.
IB Diploma Programme
Al Zahra College submitted its application for Candidacy for the IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) on 31 March, 2012. This application is a request to prepare for authorisation to offer the IB DP during 2013, so that AZC can commence in January 2014. The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at
may be an arts subject chosen from group 6, or the student may choose another subject from groups 1 to 5.
university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities. IB Diploma Programme students study six courses at higher level or standard level. Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5, thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics. The sixth subject
In addition, the programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding. These requirements are: Theory of Knowledge; Extended Essay; and Creativity, Action, Service.
Welcome to IBDP newsletter As the preparation for IB Diploma progresses and expands, so will our newsletter. To provide more thorough coverage of the program, I intend to publish at least one newsletter monthly. I have also decided to make the DP page more fun by tackling some issues that would enrich and explain the program for everyone. I have also decided that sometimes I would address students only, staff only, or parents only. This will allow me to better attend to the needs of each group. This month’s edition however is the “everyone” edition.
Authorization
IBO Team Visit IB Consultation
DP Planning So Dear Everyone Welcome to the August edition of the IBDP Newsletter. In this month’s edition:
IB Or not IB? That is the question IB Students - Citizens of the world University recognition within Australia and world-wide
Al Zahra College IBDP Newsletter August 2012
TO IB OR NOT TO IB?! More and more parents and students are considering the International Baccalaureate. But what is the IB? Where does it come from, and – crucially – is it any good? Here, we modestly offer a guide. 1 IB makes you a better person In theory. The stated aim of the IB is "to develop intellectual, personal, social and emotional skills". As well as the six main subjects (which include English and math, plus at least one science and foreign language), students have to do a self-researched Extended Essay of 4,000 words, a philosophically based Theory of Knowledge project and 150 hours of CAS (Creativity Action Service), involving arts, sports and community service. Katy Ricks, head of Sevenoaks School. says: "The IB is not about just passing exams. It's about educating people to be critical thinkers and compassionate citizens." 2 It's been around for 40 years The IB movement was founded in 1968, by a group of teachers at the International School of Geneva. First director of the IB was Alec Peterson, former headmaster of Dover College. The first British school to adopt the IB, in 1971, was the United World College of the Atlantic, in Glamorgan. 3 It's not just a private-school fad "It's not true that IB is just for privileged, private schools," says Steve Holdup, head of Dallam School, in Milnthorpe, Cumbria, a 1,000-pupil state day and boarding school. In fact, nearly twice as many government-maintained schools as private ones offer the program.In America, the IB has even been introduced in failing urban schools, resulting in increased levels of aspiration and achievement. 4 You don't have to be brilliant at every subject Although you have to study six subjects for the IB, you choose your best three to take at Higher level (240 hours of teaching over the two years) and your weaker three at Standard level (150). In recognition of the horrors that math holds for many, there is even a special, even-easierthan-Standard option, called Math Studies, which still carries the same potential maximum score as other subjects (seven points)
Al Zahra College IBDP Newsletter August 2012
The head of King's College, Wimbledon, Andrew Halls, says: "You don't have to be brainy to do the IB, but you do have to be diligent and organized. What you discover, though, is that you become organized by being diligent." 5 You can retake a subject Often a university will make you an offer of a place on the basis of you getting 35 IB points overall, including a 6 or 7 in the subject you're applying to read. If you've only got a 5, say, you can retake just that subject in November or May.
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD We live in an inter-connected world in which international understanding plays an increasingly important part and will do so over time in the future. Internationalism lies at the heart of IBO philosophy. It is exciting to be part of a ‘club’ which includes teachers and students from all over the world. ‘The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the IBO works with school, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”
Al Zahra College IBDP Newsletter August 2012
UNIVERSITY RECOGNITION The clearest indication of the acceptance of the IBDP has been the wide recognition it has received from universities, colleges and education systems around the world. The terms of recognition vary from country to country, university to university. Apart from recognition for admission, some universities also give advanced standing or credit for certain subjects. A report of an inquiry carried out in 2003 at UK universities and institutes of higher education, Perceptions of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, concluded: “The statistics and narrative responses indicate “considerable enthusiasm for this form of education and much confidence in the students who pursue it”. Details about the recognition given to the IBDP Diploma by universities overseas can be found on the university recognition pages, which you can find through the country pages at the official IBO website: www.ibo.org Within Australia all universities recognise the IBDP for admission purposes and admission centres around Australia have developed equivalence tables to convert IBDP scores to university entrance ranks. Details of recognition by Australian universities can be found on the IBO website at www.ibo.org/country/AU The Association of Australasian International Baccalaureate Schools (AAIBS) has information on state-by-state university recognition and entrance equivalence tables at www.aaibs.org/scores In the case of TAFE and private colleges, students should approach the institution concerned and check on application requirements. Most of these colleges accept the NSW HSC, an Australian Senior School Certificate of education, or an “equivalent” which would ordinarily include the IB Diploma.
However, Entry requirements vary from institution to institution and from country to country. For information about particular universities you should go to www.ibo.org. In the bottom left hand corner see the heading ‘The IB in’. Choose your preferred country and then the section ‘Universities that recognize the IB Diploma’.
Al Zahra College IBDP Newsletter August 2012
Al Zahra College
THE LEARNER PROFILE Risk-Takers
Caring
Communicators
Thinkers
Reflective
Open Minded
Inquirers
Balanced Knowledgeable Principled the The IB Learner Profile is that attributes and descriptors that IB define the type of student hopes to develop through its ). programs (for example, MYP
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AL ZAHRA COLLEGE An IB World School Catering for students from Preschool to Year 9 3 - 5 Wollongong Road, ARNCLIFFE. NSW 2205 P: (+61) 2 9599 0161 F: (+61) 2 9599 0162 E: info@azc.nsw.edu.au
W: www.azc.nsw.edu.au