A distinct learning programme

IN recent years, considerable interest has been generated by the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). What is the IBDP and what distinguishes it from other systems designed for students aged 16 to 19?

To answer this question we need to examine why the IBDP came into existence and the thinking that motivated its founders.

The growth of the IB is linked to the growth of international schools, which increased rapidly in number during the 20th century to cater to an increasingly globally mobile workforce with children. There was a need to develop a qualification that would be transferable between schools and accepted by universities worldwide.

At the same time, particularly following the Second World War, there was a desire among educational leaders and politicians to examine ways in which education could promote peace and intercultural understanding.

Marie-Therese Maurette (Head of the International School of Geneva) wrote an influential handbook for Unesco in 1948 entitled Is there a way of teaching peace?, which many regard as setting the framework for what would eventually become the IB Diploma.

These factors as well as a desire to promote the latest in educational thinking and move away from more rote-based national systems lead us to the three main forces that shaped the IBDP: that it should be pragmatic, idealistic and pedagogical.

The IB mission statement reflects the thoughts of IB founders: “The International Baccalaureate programme 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 IB programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people can also be right, regardless of their differences.

Structure of the IBDP programme

An IB learner is required to study six subjects from different subject areas to gain a breadth of educational experiences. In addition, each learner is required to follow a course in Theory of Knowledge (TOK), participate fully in the Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) programme and write an extended essay of approximately 4,000 words.

TOK is designed primarily to encourage learners to reflect on how they learn, how they know things and how this relates to the various academic disciplines that they are studying. It challenges students to consider the diverse ways of knowing and areas of knowledge, and to consider the role that knowledge plays in a global society.

The goal of CAS is to allow learners to remain well-rounded individuals with connections to the real life experiences that go beyond and connect to their academic subjects. There are three strands to this:

A Year 10 physics science lesson under the IB Middle Years Programme being conducted at Nexus International School.

Creativity – arts and other experiences that promote creative thinking

Action – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work

Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the learner

Qualities of an IB learner

The IB Learner Profile is the IB Mission statement translated into a set of learner outcomes. These are the qualities that Nexus International School is seeking to promote in all our learners and there is emphasis on developing the whole person, which is very much in keeping with the IB philosophy.

There are 10 IB learner profile attributes. Our IB learners strive to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective.

Nexus chose the IBDP as it provides a close match to the values we believe in. We seek to foster independent learning, internationalism and be at the cutting-edge of curriculum development. We have been selected as one of the pilot schools to participate in the IB “Approaches to Learning” initiative.

In the second year of the IBDP at Nexus, we are looking forward to our first cohort of learners graduating in a few months time Applications for the school’s IBDP will be open in August. Nexus will also be holding an IB options event this evening to allow prospective learners and parents to see what the school has to offer.

If you would like to attend, please send an e-mail to haruddin.f@nexus.edu.my

Lee is the IB Diploma Coordinator at Nexus International School.