Fall IB OrientationDiploma Program

Priscilla Biddle

Coordinator

Henrico High School

Review of the Program: Mission Statement

• The International Baccalaureate 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 organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment.

• These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

The Learner Profile

• IB learners strive to be:• Inquirers

• Knowledgeable • Thinkers

• Communicators • Principled

• Open-minded • Caring

• Risk-takers • Balanced • Reflective

•  

The Program

Theory of Knowledge

• Core of the program– How do we know what we know?– How is knowledge produced?– What is the difference between belief and knowledge?– How do the four ways of knowing work together?– What degree or certainty or obstacles to certainty do we

have in a given subject?– How can we overcome some of this uncertainty to declare

knowledge?

Creativity, Action and Service

• Graduated involvement that focuses on Learner Outcomes:

• increase their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth

• undertake new challenges• plan and initiate activities

• work collaboratively with others• show perseverance and commitment in their activities

• engage with issues of global importance• consider the ethical implications of their actions

• develop new skills

Our CAS Process

• Students must have four goals each year in grades 11 and 12

• Goals must address all of the 8 outcomes and each of the three categories -- creativity, action, service – must be represented at least once

• Students must also have a cooperative project between grades 11 and 12

• Current activities such as sports, music lessons, religious training, such as for confirmation or bar/bat mitzvah, count; there just has to be a goal/rationale behind the activity.

ManageBac System Subscription

• Online subscription service created by former IB students and teachers

• Management system originally for CAS• Expanded to all areas of submissions• Must have an email address• Convenient, paperless, no more “lost” papers!

Extended Essay

• The extended essay is:• compulsory for all Diploma Program students• externally assessed and, in combination with the grade for theory of

knowledge, contributes up to three points to the total score for the IB diploma

• a piece of independent research/investigation on a topic chosen by the student in cooperation with a supervisor in the school

• chosen from the list of approved Diploma Program subjects, published in the Vade Mecum

• presented as a formal piece of scholarship containing no more than 4,000 words

• the result of approximately 40 hours of work by the student

The Extended Essay and TOK Matrix

Extended Essay Support

• Seminars start in February for juniors; October is EE month for seniors

• Support through TOK, junior and senior years• Blog• Library website• Classroom instruction by librarians• Access to VCU and UR libraries and databases• Subject teacher support• Supervisor

Our Curriculum

Grade 11, Year 1• Language A1: English HL, Year 1 of 2

• Language B1: Year 4 or 5 SL, Spanish or French• History of the Americas HL, Year 1 of 2

• Experimental Science– Biology SL

– Chemistry SL or HL• Mathematics– Extended Math

– Mathematics SL or Math Studies SL• Arts or Elective

– Psychology SL or HL, Theatre Arts SL or HL, Visual Arts HL or Other IB science

• Theory of Knowledge

Our Curriculum

Grade 12, Year 2• Language A1: English HL, Year 2 of 2

• Language B1: Year 5 SL or 6 HL/SL, Spanish or French• World Topics HL, Year 2 of 2

• Experimental Science– Chemistry SL or HL• Mathematics

– Mathematics SL or Math Studies SL• Arts or Elective

– Psychology SL or HL, Theatre Arts SL or HL, Visual Arts HL,

Biology SL or Chemistry SL or HL• Theory of Knowledge

• AP Electives: Physics, Calculus, Statistics, • World History, Art History, Environmental science

Rigor and Workload

• IB curriculum is trans-disciplinary, high order thinking, open ended – content AND concept

• Paint by numbers Color in the lines Design your own• Tests/projects/major assessments monitored through

Google CalendarNo more than 2 per day Multi-level classes may encounter problems• Quizzes not monitored

AP vs. IB

International Baccalaureate (IB) Advanced Placement (AP)International-emphasis on global perspectives Mostly US- more academic than philosophicalFrom the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Mission:Through challenging programs of international education and assessment, IBO seeks to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people, who will become compassionate citizens seeking a better and more peaceful world.

The College Board Mission:To be a great educational organization dedicated to preparing, inspiring, and connecting students to college success and opportunity, with a commitment to excellence and equity. 

Holistic or Total Program- The IB Program is a course of study, encompassing six areas: English, history, science, foreign language, math and an IB-approved elective.

Single Strength or Cafeteria Style in which students choose AP courses that fit their strengths and that are independent of one another.

Students also take a class called Theory of Knowledge, write a senior research project called the Extended Essay, and complete CAS (Creativity, Action, and Service).

No additional requirements

More divergent- asks why more than what More Convergent- asks what more than whyGraded World-wide Graded in USMany factors, such as papers, orals, and projects, in addition to the written exam, determine the final score (1-7)

Score (1-5) hinges on the exam

Emphasizes process and integration of content across content areas

Content driven

IB students may also sit for AP exams AP students may not sit for IB exams

Diploma Requirements

• TOK, CAS, Extended Essay• Internal assessments• Exams

– Must have at least 3 Higher Level or 2-year courses• English, history and visual arts are only offered at HL

– Remainder are Standard Level courses• Mathematics and Math Studies are only offered at SL• Year 5 Language B must examine at SL• Year 6 Language B, Psychology, Chemistry, and Theatre Arts may

be EITHER HL or SL • Language B and Theatre Arts are mandatory 2 year SL’s

– May have 2 1-year Standard Level courses

More on Exams

• Exams start in junior year– Students may take up to 2 exams as “anticipated”

candidates– Students taking biology, mathematics OR math studies

MUST examine as juniors

• Exams finish in senior year• Exams are always in May

– May 2-22, 2012

• Exam dates are irrefutable, unchangeable, and non-negotiable

Registration

• Will begin mid-October in seminar for seniors and juniors• Visit to English class for seniors and juniors• Students will select exams and level• Parents must sign registration• Registration verification is given to the student to sign• Must be complete by November 8• Fines after November 15• No changes after January 15

College Credit and IB Scores

• IB Scores released July 6• Scores sent electronically to colleges based on

student request• Colleges grant credit differently. See their websites.• All Virginia state institutions MUST grant credit for

SL exams as they would AP exams due to recent legislation

Achieving the Diploma

• Must have submitted CAS, TOK, and EE (may earn points)• If student passed both TOK and EE, may achieve with 24 of

42 points• 12 of the 24 points must be in Higher Level• No grade 1 in any subject• No grade 2 in Higher Level• No more than three grades of 3, generally• Student who has failed EE or TOK OR who takes 4 HL

exams must earn 28 points» No more than one grade 2 at Higher Level» No more than two grade 2’s at Standard Level» At least 11 points earned on Higher Level or 14 points if 4 HL exams taken

Support Documents

• “All About IB”• IB required Policy Statements

– Assessment– Academic honesty– Language– Special Needs

» All can be found on the blog!!

Academic Honesty Initiative

• Visit Academic Honesty website, accessible through blogpage: http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/ib/ib_ethics/

Support for parents and children

• Specified and communicated expectations and parent input

“All about IB”Blog

Teacher course outlines and syllabi

Community Advisory Council• Communication

BlogSchool Space

Emails

• SeminarsEnhance trans-disciplinary

thinkingSupport TOK, EE and CAS

• Team leadersKeeping an eye out for crisis

Recognizing student success

• Breakfasts• Lunch in Presentation

Room• “Biddle Pass” • College application

process

Meet Ms. Terry

• College application process– SAT preparation

• Scholarship newsletter– Blog– School Website– In the counseling office

How parents can support us

• Program wide committees– Volunteer– Advisory Council

• Grade level committees– Breakfasts– Learner Profile Gift Bags– Silver Tray Ceremony (seniors)

Forms

• Volunteer forms• Sign up sheets• Phone number book mark• College application process info• Auction flier

Questions and Answers

Our Motto

• We think; therefore, we be.