A well implemented curriculum
THE International Baccalaureate (IB) offers four programmes of study aimed at students across different age groups.
For children aged 11 to 16, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) has been the curriculum of choice for more than 1,000 schools across the globe that wish to develop academically motivated students within a flexible framework catering for their social and emotional development.
Students studying in an MYP school cover eight subject disciplines – two languages, social and experimental sciences, mathematics, performance and visual arts, design and technology, physical education, and service learning through action.
The MYP was developed to assist IB World Schools in providing the best preparation for students to enter the highly regarded IB Diploma Programme. As the MYP covers an age range that involves rapid physical, mental, emotional and social development, each age group is carefully considered when planning and implementing the curriculum.
In addition to the academic requirements for their subject, aspects that MYP teachers consider when planning their classes include:
Social skills such as group work, taking leadership roles and interpersonal communication.
Differentiation for students of varying academic backgrounds, language and educational needs and learning styles.
Linking the curriculum with local and global contexts that are relevant to the students and their age group, including service learning opportunities.
Working with teachers in other subject areas to develop concepts concurrently across multiple disciplines to help reinforce learning experiences.
Encouraging each student to recognise how they can approach their personal learning by deepening their creative and critical thinking, developing information and media literacy, improving organisational skills, and expressing themselves through various forms of communication.
Providing a wide range of both formative and summative assessment experiences that are relevant to the subject area.
Including an appropriate use of technology that enhances student learning and provides experiences that develop 21st century skills.
Encouraging reflection of learning experiences to deepen understanding.
Teachers leading an MYP class carefully plan each unit and lesson to maximise the learning experience of each student.
The IB provides extensive training opportunities for teachers to assist them in developing their planning and teaching skills.
Through regular checks of IB-providing schools, the IB ensures that each teacher is provided with the latest training. Malaysia’s newest IB World School, IGB International School, will begin its first teaching of the MYP in August this year.
“We have some of the best teachers from around the world delivering the MYP, with many years of MYP experience in international schools and with some also being IB trainers,” says Lennox Meldrum, IGB’s secondary school principal. “We value their broad knowledge in how to implement the programme successfully.”
IGB International School will also benefit from Meldrum’s experience in MYP curriculum development, which he obtained while employed by the IB in the Netherlands.