IB MATTERS May 2011
IB MATTERS
g the A monthly publication about triallin Primary Years Program (PYP) and the Middle Years Program (MYP) at Al Zahra College.
The International Baccalaureate
Trialling 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 is a Candidate School for the PYP and a Candidate School for the MYP. The goal is for Al Zahra College to eventually offer all three programs to our students. NOTE: AZC is undertaking a trial implementation of PYP and 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 2009, AZC registered as an Interested MYP School in preparation for the commencement of Year 7 in 2010. In 2010, AZC was accepted as a Candidate MYP School.
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.
Information sessions are conducted to facilitate parent understanding of what PYP and MYP are all about - bringing learning alive. 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. At this stage, and with a lot more hard work, we plan to seek authorisation in late 2011.
Student Portfolios Portfolios show a collection of
understands how they learn and
work over a period of one year
the thinking that is taking place.
that is selected by both the student and the teacher.
The portfolio should help create ongoing dialogue about learning
For Students
between the parents and their
The Portfolio is a celebration of
child.
learning. It encourages reflection not only on the quality of their
For Teachers
Portfolios show evidence of the
work, but the learning and
For the teacher, the portfolio is a
child’s ability to reflect on
thinking that has taken place in
document that assists in the
performance and understandings
the completion of that work.
assessment of the child’s depth of
and set appropriate and
understanding in a variety of
achievable goals for ongoing
areas. It allows teachers and
achievement.
children to reflect together to identify strengths and weaknesses
I hope that that you enjoy sharing
and establish goals for ongoing
your child learning journey this
achievement.
year as you look through their portfolio.
It ensures that all the essential The portfolio represents
elements of the program have
Dr David McGregor
development over a period of time
been assessed and shared.
PYP Coordinator
and is a document that is owned by the student.
For Parents For the parents, the portfolio is a
The portfolio forms the basis of
visual representation of the
their reflections during student-led process of learning being conferences and should stimulate
undertaken by their child. It will
ongoing discussions about
help build a picture of their child’s
learning, strengths, weaknesses,
learning and progress over a
successes and goals between the
period of time and, through the
child and their teacher and
reflections, how well the child
parents.
Six Thinking Hats What Colour ‘Hat’ Are You Wearing Today?
d) How will we get extra
a) What are the good things
information?
about this? Red Hat
Six Thinking Hats® is a
Feelings and Emotions (The
simple, effective thinking process
Red Hat signifies feelings,
that helps people be more
hunches and intuition.
productive, focused and mindfully involved. Once learned, the tools can be applied immediately! Students can learn how to separate thinking into six clear
c) How will it help us? d) Why will it work? Green Hat
When using this hat you can
New Ideas (The Green Hat
express emotions and feelings and
focuses on creativity; the
share fears, likes, dislikes, loves
possibilities, alternatives and new
and hates.)
ideas. It's an opportunity to
a) How do I feel about this right
express new concepts and new
now?
perceptions.)
functions and roles. Each thinking role is
b) Why is this worth doing?
Black Hat Being Cautious (The Black
a) What are the alternatives and possibilities?
identified with a coloured
Hat is judgment - the devil's
b) Could this be done in another
symbolic ‘thinking hat’.
advocate or why something may
way?
not work. Spot the difficulties and
c) Does anyone have another
switching ‘hats’, students can
dangers; where things might go
idea?
easily focus or redirect thoughts,
wrong.)
questions and conversations.
a) Is this true?
By mentally wearing and
The Six Thinking Hats® is a
Blue Hat The Big Picture (The Blue
b) Will it work?
Hat is used to manage the
thinking tool for group discussion
c) What are the weaknesses?
thinking process. It's the control
and individual thinking.
d) What is wrong with it?
mechanism that ensures the Six
e) What are the risks?
Thinking Hats® guidelines are
White Hat Facts and Information (The White Hat calls for information
Yellow Hat Being Positive and
known or needed. "The facts, just
Optimistic (The Yellow Hat
the facts.")
symbolizes brightness and
a) What information do we have?
optimism. Under this hat you
b) What information do we need?
explore the positives and probe for
c) What information is missing?
value and benefit.)
observed.) a) What have we done so far? b) What do we do next? c) What sort of thinking will be the most helpful?
Citizenship 2011 LEADERSHIP There are many opportunities for all students to develop their leadership skills at AZC.
Ribbon Day – breast cancer; Daffodil Day – The Cancer Foundation; Jeans for Genes Day – CMRI; Literacy Backpack Project for Indigenous Students – Foundation for Youth.
These include: • School parliament ministers (including Prime Minister and Opposition Leader).
AZC also sponsors two students annually at a Lebanese orphanage.
• Class captains (class representatives to school parliament). • House captains • Class monitors • Sporting team captains • Leading weekly/special assemblies • Leading Salat The duration of these leadership positions may range from 1 week to 1 term, 1 semester, or the entire academic year.
Global appeals are strongly supported when they occur, for example, the Pakistani Flood Appeal and the Tsunami Appeal. Primary students can provide a service to students during lunch breaks by coordinating grade-based activities on a termly basis. Completed and sustained service contributions will be acknowledged in student progress reports and contribute to the Annual Leadership, Service and Service Learning awards.
Students support a range of Australian charities including: Pink
http://www.goodcharacter.com/ SERVICE/primer-‐10.html http://www.proteacher.org/c/ 868_Service_Learning_Projects.html
ANNUAL LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, SERVICE LEARNING AWARDS Leadership An Annual Leadership Award will be gained by leadership action for two terms during an academic year.
Service Learning An Annual Service Learning Award will be gained by completed service learning action to a minimum Grade 4 level, during an academic year. SERVICE LEARNING
There is a strong service culture at AZC where students learn that it is possible to make a positive difference in the world.
http:/ www.marylandpublicschools.org/ MSDE/programs/servicelearning/ project_ideas.htm
Service An Annual Service Award will be gained by service action for two terms during an academic year.
Completed and sustained leadership contributions will be acknowledged in student progress reports and contribute to the Annual Leadership, Service and Service Learning awards.
SERVICE
Examples of service learning can be found at:
Service learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting, frequently youth service, throughout the community. As a teaching method, it falls under the philosophy of experiential education. More specifically, it integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, encourage lifelong civic engagement, and strengthen communities for the common good. Classes will promote service learning during the course of the academic year.
Citizenship An Annual Citizenship Award will be gained by achieving the Annual Leadership, Annual Service and Annual Service Learning Awards during an academic year.
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.
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 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
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