Case study
“Impossible is nothing”
DP students perform for the school community
luggage from trips abroad. Providing professional development was also a challenge, but online workshops helped.
Exceptional changes
It was a rigorous two-year process but the team is stronger as a result. “Learning through inquiry was something that was A school was authorized for three IB programmes in two years lacking in our previous programme,” says Hosseini. “While it was a paradigm shift IB Coordinator Mina Hosseini. “The for teachers, to see students enjoying ecoming approved to offer one school really liked how the IB is based on learning and their learning styles change IB programme is a rewarding was rewarding for us. but challenging process, as many who students are to become. The IB Learner Profile values are so close to “Some teachers have found it easier to IB World Schools know. It’s a values in our culture.” adapt to the new approach than others. long and rigorous two years, consisting of It wasn’t hard to convince parents, and They all see that the responsibility for hard work, multiple visits, endless so it was decided to seek authorization for learning is more on the students training and a great deal of uncertainty. the Primary Years Programme (PYP). themselves, and they’re learning However, imagine seeking authorization Or, so Hosseini thought. alongside them,” adds Hosseini. for all three programmes in the same Instead, Goorangi wanted to go for The changes noticed in PYP students amount of time. all three programmes – the PYP, MYP have been exceptional, says Principal Mehr-e-Taban International School in and IB Diploma Programme (DP) Negar Nikkholgh. “They feel more free Shiraz, Iran, proved that it can be done. simultaneously. She did not want any to learn interesting and updated topics. When it came to looking for a new student to miss out on an IB education. Parents are mostly happy about the educational system in 2014, School “If we delayed each programme by two change in students’ behaviour.” Director Zahra Goorangi knew that years, a lot of students would be DP Curriculum Director Zahra the IB programmes would be ideal for disadvantaged,” says Goorangi. Shabaninia adds: “Students have students. Her daughter had previously Hosseini thought this was a nearbecome more organized, knowledgeable studied the Middle Years Programme impossible task and expressed her and caring. The reliance of the students (MYP) at an IB World School in Dubai, concern. But in true IB fashion, on the teacher has decreased and they so she had seen the benefits first hand. But Goorangi took a risk and it paid off. have become more responsible for their Goorangi wanted to do more research. The team powered through the own learning. A good improvement has process, working together and sharing also been seen in students’ research skills, A perfect fit responsibility. But there were a few time management and academic writing.” Mehr-e-Taban’s goals were similar to the bumps in the road. Schoolbooks could not The school environment has changed IB’s. Goorangi says: “The notion of be delivered to Iran due to sanctions for the better, too: “We care more international mindedness and getting to imposed upon the about working as a community,” know and respect other cultures and country, so says Nikkholgh. “In school people was a perfect fit for the beliefs that Goorangi and events, students support each were present in our community.” parents had to bring other perfectly.” In addition, the school already had books back in their Mehr-e-Taban is proof that service-learning programmes in place – it’s possible to become authorized students tutored local children; worked for more than one IB programme for ‘Mehr Radio’ to share important Comfortable reading in two years. But it requires an school community information; and spaces engage students; IB mindset, organization, great organized fundraising events. children get creative leadership, teamwork and a Mehr-e-Taban was particularly with face paint (left) ‘can-do’ attitude, says Goorangi. drawn to the IB Learner Profile, recalls
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