4. Innovations Science and research are based on innovation and on scientists’ courage to try and err. Switzerland was ready to implement some changes in order to address some of the challenges of the IBO: ▪▪ Over the past years the time shortage for the jury to debate and translate the e xams was often discussed at the IBO. Every year, most delegations had to work a night shift in order to finish on time. This was not satisfactory as the risk of errors grew and eventually led to consequences for the students. ▪▪ As the IBO grows bigger every year, the issue of the setting and the necessary infrastructure gets more and more important. In order to meet this challenge, an early estimation of the number of participants is of great importance. ▪▪ The increasing number of students calls for more efficient marking systems. In addition, the work of the jury did not profit from the far reaching changes information technology has brought to science, education and the society as a whole. To change this, we introduced digital solutions to support the jury in their translation and discussion effort, as well for testing purposes.
4 . 1 Program, Fee System and More 4. 1. 1 Program According to the traditional program of the IBO (see syllabus), the discussion and translation of the practical exams would begin on Monday afternoon (exam on Tuesday), whereas the preparation of the theoretical exam would start on Wednesday morning (exam on Thursday). In order to increase the time at disposal for these central tasks of the jury, the week’s schedule was changed as follows: ▪▪ Arrival, registration and opening ceremony on Sunday ▪▪ Start of the discussion and translation of the practical exams on Monday morning, i.e. half a day more ▪▪ Start of the discussion and translation of the theoretical exams on Tuesday morning, consequently allotting one more day (and night) for the task These changes were accepted at the Coordinators’ Meeting in Singapore and confirmed at the AB Meeting 2012. This amount of time gained for jury work meant that a half-day excursion had to be cancelled. The usual Tuesday evening meeting of jury and students was replaced by a reception at the Natural History Museum of the Burgergemeinde Bern where jury members had the opportunity to meet the scientists of the University of Bern and of the Museum. These changes made it possible for all jury members to take part in the discussion about the exam questions if they wished to do so and to come to an end with the translation early enough to have a second look at it while still finishing the task at an acceptable time. This was clearly considered a positive change. It does not seem that the usual encounter with the students was much missed.
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