Coordinator’snotesDiplomaProgramme
Diploma Programme coordinator’s notesPublishedfourtimesayearforDiplomaProgrammeschoolsbytheInternationalBaccalaureateCurriculumandAssessmentCentre,PetersonHouse,MalthouseAvenue,CardiffGate,Cardiff,WalesGBCF238GL.
Phone:+442920547777Fax:+442920547778
IB answers team: UK:+442920547740Singapore:+6565795055US:+13012023025Email:[email protected]
Sales and marketing department: Phone:+442920547746Fax:+442920547779Email:[email protected]
AvailableonIBIS(http://ibis.ibo.org)andontheonlinecurriculumcentre(http://occ.ibo.org)
In this issue:
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InformationforDiplomaProgrammecoordinatorsandteachers
September2011
©InternationalBaccalaureateOrganization2011 1
DiplomaProgramme
In this issue:General• ChangestoDiplomaProgramme(DP)
terminologyfromSeptember2011• Germanasaresponselanguage• ApproachestolearningintheDP• DPcoursesonline• Newpublication:languageandlearning
inIBprogrammes• Form G2:teachercomments
on examinations• Examinerrecruitment• OpportunitiesforcontributingtotheIB’s
globalengagement• Professionaldevelopment• Researchupdate• NewpublicationsfromIBPublishing• TheIBgrant
Groups 1 and 2: Languages• Groups1and2:completionof
curriculumreview• NewlyavailablelanguagesforlanguageA:
literature• Specialrequestlanguages• Earlysessioncandidates• E-coursework• School-supportedself-taughtlanguagesA:
literature• Classicallanguages
Group 3: Individuals and societies• History:remindertohistoryteachers
regardingthenewcurriculum• Philosophy• Socialandculturalanthropology
Group 5: Mathematics and computer science• Mathematics• Computerscience
Group 6: The arts• Film
Hexagon core• Extendedessaypublications• Worldstudiesextendedessay• Extendedessaycurriculumreview• Extendedessaysubjectreports• Practicalworkforextendedessays• CASstatusofstudents• CAScurriculumreview• TOKessays• School-basedsyllabuses(SBS):available
subjects
The Diploma Programme curriculum review schedule
Continuedonpage2
General
Changes to Diploma Programme (DP) terminology from September 2011TheIBwouldliketocommunicateanumberofchangesandclarificationsto important Diploma Programme (DP) terminology beginning inSeptember2011.
InmanyIBWorldSchoolstherearestudentswhosit foroneormoreDPsubjectsbutchoosenottotakethe“full”DP(withsixsubjectsandthreecoreelements).Thecommonlyusednameforsuchastudenthasbeena“certificatestudent”inschoolsor“certificatecandidate”atpointofregistrationwiththeIB.FromcoursesstartinginSeptember2011(assessedin2013)wewouldlikeIBWorldSchoolstoreferalwaystosuchsubjectsasDiplomaProgramme(DP)coursesandthestudentsasDiplomaProgramme(DP)coursesstudents.Thisbecomesevenmoreimportantin2012–14whentheDPcoreelements(theoryofknowledge(TOK);creativity,action,service(CAS);andextendedessay)becomeavailabletoallstudentsasindividualcoursestoo.Further,itisthetermusedforstudentswhotakeDPcoursesonline.
Thereasonforremovingtheterm“certificatestudent”fromcommonusageisthatthisisnottheactualawardgranted.AstudentsuccessfullygainingthefullIBdiplomaisawarded“TheDiplomaoftheInternationalBaccalaureate”(anitemwhichstudentsframeforposterity)andtheir“DiplomaProgramme(DP) results” (adocumentthat lists theirsubjectsandoverallscores). InthecaseofastudentwhositsexaminationsforoneormoreDPcoursesbutchoosesnottotakethefullDP,orastudentwhohasattemptedafulldiplomawithpartialsuccess,receivesthe“DiplomaProgramme(DP)CoursesResults”.Noneoftheseawardsareformallycalleda“certificate”.
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DiplomaProgrammeCoordinator’snotes,September2011
Fromnowontheonlycertificateavailableto16-to19-year-oldstudentsisthenew“InternationalBaccalaureateCareer-relatedCertificate”(IBCC).
Some further changes in DP terminology should also benoted.
1. Thedefinitionofabilingualdiplomaischangingin2011–13andwillnolongerincludeanextendedessayinasecondlanguage.Ingroup1,3and4subjectstakeninasecondlanguage,therewillbeaneedtoreachasatisfactorygradetoattainthebilingualdiploma(Forfurtherinformation,seetheonlinecurriculumcentre(OCC).
2. Group1coursespresentlycalled“languageA1”willnowbeknownas“studiesinlanguageandliterature”todescribethenewrangeofthreegroup1coursesmoreaccurately.
3. Group 2 courses presently called “second language”will now be more accurately described as “languageacquisition”.
4. Finally, subjects covering requirements for more thanonegroup,presentlycalled“transdisciplinarysubjects”(environmentalsystemsandsocietiesingroups3and4andfrom2011–13, literatureandperformancecoveringgroups 1 and 6) will be more appropriately termed“interdisciplinarysubjects”.
Wehopethatover time,wewillallgetusedtousingthecorrectterms intheDPandweappreciateyourefforts inadoptingthenewclearerandmoreaccurateterminology.Thenewhexagonmodelcanbedownloadedfromthe IBwebsite (https://www.ibo.org/communications/schools/downloads/curriculummodels.cfm).
German as a response languageSince2004theIBhasofferedGermanasaresponselanguagein biology HL and SL , history SL and HL (Aspects of theHistoryofEuropeandtheMiddleEast),extendedessaysinbiologyandhistoryandTOKtoalimitednumberofschoolsasaclosedpilot.
Asofthe2013examinations,itwillbepossibleforallschoolstoregistercandidatesinGermanforthesesubjectswithoutpriorpermissionfromtheIB.
Approaches to learning in the DPTheDPdevelopmentteam,basedinournewglobalcentrein The Hague, are formally starting a new curriculumproject “Approaches to learning in the DP” which wasbacked last year by the programme committees afterinitialproposals.ToimprovealignmentsacrossthethreeIB programmes and begin to view how teachers andstudentsshouldmosteffectivelyapproachthechallengesof theDP in itsentiretyover twoyears,wewishtogiveschools greater support, advice and dynamic materialsto meet the need for such an integrated, holistic view
of learning. Since announcing this initiative DP schoolshavealreadybeensharingtheirownprojectsinthisareawith us and the curriculum development team will belookingtocapturemoreschools’expertise.To thisend,weinviteapplicantsfromexperiencedIBschoolswithaninterestindevelopingthisprojectwithustoapply.Thoseinterested in participating virtually and in face-to-facemeetings should send a CV and write a letter outliningtheirexperience,sayinghowtheywouldcontributetotheinitiative.SendyourapplicationtotheHeadofDiplomaProgrammeDevelopment,Mr.AndrewAtkinson,attheIBinTheHagueorbyemail([email protected]).Thedeadlineforapplicationsis10October2011.
DP courses onlineSchools are reminded that students and schools havenew online learning opportunities through the additionof filmSL,philosophySL,andMandarinab initio. Coursesrevised to meet new subject guides for September 2011includeeconomicsSL,economicsHL,andSpanishabinitio.StudentsmayalsoregisterformathsHL,ITGSSLandHL,andpsychologySL.AllcoursesareapprovedbytheIBandhavebeendevelopedincollaborationwithPamojaEducation.
DPcoordinators,pleasenotethatstudentstakingDPcoursesonlinemaynowberegistereddirectlyonIBIS.Detailsonhowtodothiswillbesenttoyouonceyouhavestudentsenrolledinonlinecourses.
New publication: language and learning in IB programmesCombining earlier publications (Learning in a language other than a mother tongue; Guidelines to developing a school language policy)with recentdevelopments in the fieldoflanguageand learning,thisnewdocumentproposesthatmultilingualismisafact,aright,andaresourceinIBschools.Theevolutionoftheconceptofmultilingualismisexplainedaswellastheimplicationsforpedagogyandwholeschoolprofessionaldevelopmentthroughtheimplementationofaschoollanguagepolicy.WehopethisconcisepaperwillbeofusetoDPstaffinallsubjects.
Form G2: teacher comments on examinationsManythankstothoseIBcoordinatorsandteacherswhoraisedtheprofileof thenewstyleForm G2: teacher’scommentsonexaminationsformforthisMay’ssession.Wehaveseena substantial increase in the number of forms returnedwhichensuredthatgradeawardingwascarriedoutinfullconfidencethattheviewsofteachershadbeentakenintoaccount.PleasecancoordinatorsatschoolstakingpartinthisNovember’ssessionmaintainthisimpetusandencourageallteacherstocompleteformsfortheirsubjects.Thenewformsarequickerforteacherstocompleteasthereisonlyoneformpersubjectratherthanoneformperexaminationpaper.
Continuedfrompage1
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DiplomaProgrammeCoordinator’snotes,September2011
Examiner recruitmentWewouldliketothankallcoordinatorsfortheirsupportinencouragingcolleaguestoapplytobecomeanexaminerfortheIBpriortotheMay2011examinationperiod.
WearecurrentlyrecruitingexaminersinpreparationfortheMay2012examinationsession.Allapplicationscurrentlyonfilewillcontinuetobeprocessed.However,asthecandidaturelevelsfortheDPcontinuetogrowweareactivelylookingtorecruitexaminersforallDPsubjects.Weareparticularlyinterestedinreceivingapplicationsforthesubjectslistedbelow.
• Economics
• EnglishA1
• History
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Theoryofknowledge
• Visualarts
WeareespeciallykeentoreceiveapplicationsfromapplicantswhoareabletoexamineinSpanishorFrench.
Successfulapplicantswillreceiveinvaluable training in a mentored online environment topreparethemfortheirnewrole.Allapplicantsmusthaveaccesstoemailandtheinternet in an environment that is suitable for markingexaminationmaterial.
More information on the requirements to become anexaminercanbefoundintheexaminerrecruitmentpolicyontheIBpublicwebsite(http://www.ibo.org/examiners).Theapplicationformcanalsobefoundonthesite.
Completedapplication formsshouldbesubmittedtotheOnline Examiner Training and Recruitment department,quotingthereference“CnotesSept11”[email protected].
Opportunities for contributing to the IB’s global engagementIn April 2007, the IB community theme—“Sharing ourhumanity”—broughttogetherIBWorldSchoolstoexploresixkeyglobalissues.Lastyear,asthecommunitythemeended,theproject’sscopeexpandedandnowcontinueswithamoreopen-endedcommitmenttoglobalengagement.
The IB’s “Global Engage” website (http://globalengage.ibo.org) supports members of the IB community, andparticularly teachers, in engaging with global challengesinan increasingly interconnectedworld.On thesite,youwill find information, resources, ideasandopinions, links,andsuggestionsforprincipledaction—aswellasreportsofactionsandexchangesofservice.
HerearesomewaysIBWorldSchools, includingindividualteachersandservicecoordinators,canexerciseleadershipandbuildcapacitiesforcollaboratinglocallyandglobally.
Thesecontributionsshowour fidelity in “developingandpromotinginternational-mindednessandallattributesoftheIBlearnerprofileacrosstheschoolcommunity”(Programme standards and practices 2010,StandardA.4).
• Registertoparticipatein“GlobalEngage”andshareyourschool’sstoriesaboutengagingwithglobalchallenges:PYPexhibitions,MYPcommunityandserviceprojects,CASactivities,otherstudent-initiatedaction,school-widedaysandprogrammes.Photos,videos,andpresentationswelcome!
• Reviewthewiderangeofresourcesavailable, includinglinkstomanyqualityorganizationsthatprovideclassroom-ready learning engagements and student-friendlymaterials.Ifthere’saresourcethatyouuseregularly,senditintoshare!
• ReviewtheIBGlobalLessonsavailableforWorldHealthDay and Earth Day (April), International Day of Peace(September),andtheInternationalDayfortheEradicationof Poverty (October). When planning your curriculum,considerhowthesechallengesmightprovidepowerfulcontextsforlearning.
• ApplyforopportunitiestocontributetofutureIBgloballessons. Creative, passionate teachers can help todeveloplessonsandunitplanstosharewiththeentireIBcommunity.NewcurriculumplanningdocumentswillbekeyedtointernationaldaysfeaturedontheIB“GlobalEngage”calendar(availableinlate2011).
• Contributeashortfeaturetohighlightyourschool’sglobalengagementthatcanappearinafutureissueofIB World.
• Nominateyourschooltobepartofourworkinbuildingcasestudiesingoodpracticeforglobalengagement.Whatareyoudoingwell?What lessonshaveyoulearnedthehardway?HowcanotherIBWorldSchoolsbenefitfromyourexperience?Howhastheirengagementwithglobalchallengeschangedstudentsandteachersatyourschool?
Tojoininthisimportantwork,contactthe“GlobalEngage”team([email protected]).
IBPublishingarecurrentlydevelopingaGlobalEngageActionCalendarwithRobertHarrison,theCurriculumManagerwholeads the “Global Engage” website. The calendar aims tomakeglobalchallengesavisiblepartoftheclassroom.MoreinformationisavailableontheIBstore:
http://store.ibo.org/pages.php?page=ai_globalexchangecalendar
Professional developmentNew subject seminars (NSS) to support new DP coursesNSSareuniquecategory1workshopsdesignedtolauncha new mainstream subject that has only previouslybeen on offer as a pilot course. It is equally relevant toeducatorswhoareasnewtoteachinganIBcourseinanexistingIBWorldSchool,asthosefromaschoolpreparing
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for authorization to become an IB World School. Morespecificallythegoalsare:
• toprovideanunderstandingofthephilosophyoftheIB
• toexploretheIBstandardsandpracticesappropriatetotheroleofasubjectteacher
• toprovideanunderstandingofthesignificanceoftheDPhexagon
• todiscusssubject-specificcourserequirements,includinginternalandexternalassessment
• todevelopacourseoutlinethatsupportsIBpedagogy.
In2012therewillbenewsubjectseminarsforthefollowingsubject:
• Sports,exerciseandhealthscience
The new subject guides are for first teaching September2012,firstexaminationsMay2014. TheywillbepublishedinDecember2011ontheOCCathttp://occ.ibo.org/ibis/occ/guest/home.cfm.NSSwillbeavailablefromFebruary2012onwardsatIBregionalworkshops.
PleasegotoIBworkshopsandconferencesathttp://www.ibo.org/events/workshops.cfm to find suitable dates andlocations.
Research updateTheIBresearchteamispleasedtoannouncenewstudiesonthepost-secondaryachievementofIBstudentsreleasedthusfarin2011.Whilethestudieslookedatuniversityandcollegeperformance in the US and UK, the students themselvescomefromIBschoolsaroundtheworld.Findings indicateveryencouragingpatternsofhighereducationenrolment,performance, and graduation, as well as post-universityachievement.ThesestudiesjoinagrowingbodyofevidencesupportingtheDP.
SRIInternational,anindependentresearchinstitute,lookedat the college enrolment, performance and graduationratesofDPstudents,andfoundthatthemajorityofthemenroldirectlyina“somewhatselective”or“moreselective”4-year institution,andgenerallygraduateathigher ratesthan institutionaland theUSnationalaverages.TheUK’sHigherEducationStatisticsAgency(HESA)producedareporton IB students studying at Higher Education Institutions(HEIs)intheUK.ThereportcomparesIBstudentswiththoseholdingA-levelsandsimilarqualifications.FindingsindicatethatIBstudentsweremorelikelytobeenrolledatatop20HEI,achievefirst-classhonorsandtoleavewithanawardinmostsubjectareas,goontofurtherstudyafteruniversity,andbeemployedingraduateleveljobsandinhigher-paidoccupations.TheConsortiumofChicagoSchoolResearchattheUniversityofChicagohasrecentlyprovidedtheIBwithastudywhichexamines theDP’s role inprovidingbetteracademicpathwaysforminorityandlow-incomestudentsintheChicagopublicschool(CPS)system.Findingssuggestthat
oftheCPSgraduateswiththeacademicbackgroundneededforaccesstotheDP,IBstudentsarestillmorelikelytopersisttwoyearsinafour-yearcollege,evenwhencontrollingfordemographicandsocio-economiccharacteristicsandprioracademicachievement.
Theresearchteamwouldalsoliketoalertyoutoanumberofnewpositionpapersandresearcharticleson,TOK,andglobalcitizenshipnowavailableontheOCC.ThedeadlineforthenextroundofJeffThompsonResearchAwardapplicationsis31October.
Toreadmoreonthesestudiesandothers,pleasevisitthebrandnewIBResearchProgrammeValidationStudiespages:http://www.ibo.org/research/policy/programmevalidation/.Formore informationon,orquestionsabout, IBresearch,pleasecontact:[email protected].
New publications from IB PublishingExamination paper and markscheme pack: May 2011 examination session
CD-ROM UK£109/US$185.30• This network-licensed CD-ROM features the May 2011
sessionexaminationpapersandmarkschemesforallsixDPsubjectgroups.
• TheCD-ROMfortheNovember2011examinationsessionwillbeavailableinFebruary2012.YoumightwanttosignupforanewproductalertontheIBstoresowecanemailyouwhenitisavailable.
• Examinationpaperandmarkschemepacksfrompreviousexaminationsessions(since1999)arealsoavailablefromthe IBstore.Allpre-2007examinationCD-ROMsareonsale,withupto50%off.
Journeys in Implementation: Proven Strategies from IB World Schools
UK£24.99/US$39.54EditedbyIsabelMachinandiarena
Thisisanexcellentresourceforschoolsthatareconsideringany of the IB programmes or are going through theimplementationprocess.
Overview:
An assortment of IB World Schools share their journeysin implementing the IB programmes, documenting theirstrategiesfordealingwithvariouschallenges,including:
• gettinginternalandexternalstakeholdersonboard
• integratingtheIBandnationalstandards
• fundingtheprogrammes.
Eachstoryincludesinspiringphotosandtestimonialsfromtheschoolcommunitythat illustratearangeof ideasandinsightsfor“makingtheIBhappen”.
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Coming soon:IB Prepared series History—March2012
Extended Essay Writing (Spanish)—March2012
Geography SLand HL—March2012
Psychology SLand HL—April2012
ForafulllistoftheIB Preparedseries,pleasevisittheIBstore(http://store.ibo.org).
IB Questionbank series:Design Technology (1st edition)—January2012
Biology (3rd edition)—January2012
Chemistry (3rd edition)—January2012
Physics (3rd edition)—January2012
Mathematics (3rd edition)—February2012
Philosophy (1st edition)—March2012
Course Companions series from OUPMathematicalStudiesSL—January2012
MathematicsSL—January2012
MathematicsHL—February2012
Fora full listof theCourse Companionsavailable,visit theOUPwebsite.Youcanalsodownloadsamplepages.Recentreleases include: Economics (2nd edition); History of the Americas; Geography; English A Literature and Language;English A Literature;French B;Spanish B.
Did you know…?• YoucanfollowournewsandreviewsonTwitter@ibstore
• Youcanpostfeedback,completesurveysorsimplyreadnewsandreviewsontheIBstorenewsblog(http://blogs.ibo.org/ibstore/).
• YoucansignuptoreceiveanemailwhenanewpublicationisreleasedonthenewpublicationalertsontheIBstore(http://store.ibo.org).YoucanalsosignuptoreceivethequarterlyIBstoree-newsletteronthesamepage.
• Youcansendideasfornewpublicationsto:[email protected].
Contactus:Phone:+44(0)2020547746
Email:[email protected]
Pleasenote:AllpricesandpublicationdatesareaccurateasofJune2011butaresubjecttochange.PleasevisittheIBstoreforthelatestinformation.
The IB grantThe IB grant provides short-term grants for schoolsexperiencing financial challenges or wanting to increaseaccesstoIBprogrammes.
Who can apply?This fund offers grants to schools in the following twocategories:
• Category 1: IBWorldSchoolsexperiencingtemporaryfinancialdifficultiesowingtounpredictablecircumstancesbeyondtheircontrol.
• Category 2: IBWorldSchoolsor implementingschoolsthatcanclearlydemonstrate that theyaresignificantlywideningaccesstoIBprogramme(s)and/orthattheywillbesignificantlybroadeningthediversityoftheIBcommunity.
ApplicationsApplicationscloseonthefollowingdates.
• 30September2011
• 30March2012
Formoreinformationandapplicationforms,pleasegototheIBpublicwebsite,About the IB>Access and Advancement>IB Grantorhttp://www.ibo.org/accessandadvancement/ibgrants/.
Please address any queries to the Advancement office [email protected].
Groups1and2:Languages
Groups 1 and 2: completion of curriculum reviewSchoolsareremindedthatthereviewofthegroups1and2languagescoursesiscomplete.Thefirstyearofteachingforthenewcourses isSeptember2011 (Maysessionschools)or February 2012 (November session schools), with firstexaminations in 2013. Coordinators must ensure that alllanguageteachersareprovidedwiththeappropriateguideaswellasothersupportingdocuments.AlldocumentsarepublishedontheOCC.
Thetextandperformancecoursefinishesitspilotstageandbecomesavailabletoallschoolsasliteratureandperformancefrom September 2011. This course will be automaticallyavailable at standard level in English, and in French andSpanishuponrequest,andremainsinterdisciplinarybetweengroup 1 and group 6. All curriculum documents for thiscoursearepublishedontheOCC.
The classical languages course operates on a differentcurriculumreviewcycleandthereforeteachersmustcontinuetorefertothecurrentguide(firstexaminations2010),whichisalsoavailableontheOCC.
Newly available languages for language A: literatureWearepleased toannounce the introductionofninenewautomaticallyavailablelanguagesingroup1forthelanguage A:literaturecourse.ThefirstyearofteachingforthesecoursesisSeptember2011(Maysessionschools)orFebruary2012
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(Novembersessionschools),withfirstexaminationsin2013.Therefore,fromtheMay2013examinationsessiononwardsthese languageswillno longerneedtobeapplied forasspecialrequestlanguages.Coordinatorsmustensurethatallteachersforthesecoursesareprovidedwiththeappropriateguide as well as other supporting documents which arepublishedontheOCC.Thiswillnowalsoincludetherelevantprescribedlistofauthors(PLA)fortheselanguages,publishedontheOCCinFebruary2011.
Languages becoming automatically available for the May 2013 examination session:
Albanian Belarusian Bengali
Estonian Icelandic Romanian
Ukrainian Urdu Vietnamese
Special request languages InordertohelpschoolsplanfortheSeptember2011toMay2013DPcourses,weareabletosupplyalistofspecialrequestlanguagesA1(soontobelanguageA:literature)forwhichexaminersresponsiblehavealreadybeenappointed.Whileitshouldberememberedthatthisdoesnotguaranteetheavailabilityof the language,asexaminersmayforvariousunforeseenreasonsbeunavailableforfurtherexaminationsessions,schoolscanassumewithsomedegreeofsecuritythattheselanguagesarelikelytobeauthorized.
Where schools know they will have students for a specialrequestlanguagestartingwiththeminAugust/September2011,theyareencouragedtocontactthosestudentsregardingavailability of books, which are often very hard to obtainoutsidethecountryofthelanguage.AdviceonappropriatebooklistscanbeobtainedbycontactingIBCardiff.
For all special request languages it is important that theapplicationsreachIBCardiffbythedeadline(15 November).However, applications for special request languages thatdo not currently have examiners responsible should besubmitted as soon as possible (ideally well before thedeadline)toallowsufficienttimeforanexaminerresponsibletoberecruited.
Languages for which examiners responsible have already been appointed:
Azerbaijani Burmese Chichewa
Dhivehi Dzongkha Greenlandic
Georgian Kannada Khmer
Kinyarwanda Kurdish Lao
Marathi Mongolian Ndebele
Oriya Oromo Punjabi
Shona Tajik Tamil
Telugu Tibetan Zulu
Early session candidatesSchools are reminded that where a candidate’s choice ofgroup1or2languagesubjectisnotautomaticallyavailableorisaspecialrequestsubjectfortheirschool’sdesignatedexaminationsession,thecandidatemustberegisteredfortheexaminationsixmonthspriortotheschool’sdesignatedmain session. In such cases, all assessment componentsmustbecompleted in thatsession, includingthewrittenexaminations.
Thismeansthatanycandidatetakingagroup1or2languagesubject in November 2012 because the language is notavailableoraspecialrequestinMay2013,mustbetaughtandassessedfortheappropriatecurrentcourseofstudy(lastexaminationsNovember2012).Forspecificqueriesregardingearlysessioncandidates,[email protected].
E-courseworkIt is intended that from the November 2011 examinationsessiononwardsschoolswillhavetheoptiontouploadaudiofilesforthegroups1and2internallyassessedoralwork.Itwillalsocontinuetobeanoptiontosendgroups1and2internallyassessedoralworkonCD.In2012theIBintendstoextendtheoptiontouploadaudioandrich-mediafilestoincludegroup 6subjects,andfrom2013onwardsitisintendedthatmostexternallyandinternallyassessedoral,rich-media-basedandwrittencourseworkwillbesubmittedase-coursework.Theseinnovationsine-courseworkdemonstratetheIB’saimtoharnessthenewtechnologiesandtobea leader intheuseof technology inassessments.Further informationone-courseworkwillbesenttoschoolsinthecomingmonths.
School-supported self-taught languages A: literatureAlternative assessment procedures: updated guideThe document, School-supported self-taught alternative assessment procedures(forfirstexaminations2013),whichsupplements the relevant sections of the language A:literatureguideisnowavailableontheOCC.Coordinatorsshouldensurethatallself-taughtlanguageAcandidatesfortheMay2013examinationsessiononwardsaremadefamiliarwiththeprocedures.
Questions for the formal oral commentary: 2013 examination sessionPleasenotethatthissetofquestionsisavailableontheOCCandisspecificallyforthe2013examinationsessions(MayandNovember).Studentsforthe2012examinationsessionmustusethequestionspublishedontheOCCforthatparticularyear.
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Theformaloralcommentaryisacloseliteraryanalysisofthepassageorpoem.Inpreparingforeachofthe10questionsforthetwoworksstudied,itisexpectedthatstudentswillpayattentiontothewayinwhichliteraryfeaturessuchaslanguage,style,toneandvoicecreateparticulareffects.
Classical languagesCurriculum reviewCurriculumreviewmeetingsforclassicallanguageswillbegininthelatterpartof2011.Schoolswishingtoparticipateinthecurriculumreviewprocessareadvisedtonotifyteachersofthisapproachingopportunityforinvolvement.
Prescribed authors and genres for first examinations 2010Itappearsthattheinformationontheprescribedauthorsandgenresreadinglistneedssomeclarification.ThisinformationisavailableontheOCCunder:Classical languages>General documents>Prescribed authors and genres for first examinations 2010.
Part2ofthedocumentongenrestudystatesthatthefirstlistwillbeusedforthefirstthreeyearsofthecourse,2008,2009,and2010.Thesecondlistwillbeusedforthenextthreeyearsofthecourse,2011,2012and2013.
Schools,therefore,needtokeepthefollowinginmind:
May session schoolsList 1 is used by students commencing a two-year LatinorclassicalGreekcoursein2008(examination2010),2009(examination2011)and2010(examination2012),keepinginmindthatthecoursestartstwoyearsbeforetheexam.
List2istobeusedbystudentscommencingatwo-yearLatinorclassicalGreekcourse in2011(examination2013),2012(examination2014)and2013(examination2015),keepinginmindthatthecoursestartstwoyearsbeforetheexam.
List 1
Course starts Examination
2008 2010
2009 2011
2010 2012
List 2
Course starts Examination
2011 2013
2012 2014
2013 2015
November session schoolsList 1 is used by students commencing a two-year LatinorclassicalGreekcourse in2009(examination2010),2010(examination2011)and2011(examination2012),keepinginmindthatthecoursestartstwoyearsbeforetheexam.
List 2 is to be used by students commencing a two-yearLatinorclassicalGreekcourse in2012,2013and2014(forexaminationsin2013,2014and2015,keepinginmindthatthecoursestartstwoyearsbeforetheexam).
List 1
Course starts Examination
2009 2010
2010 2011
2011 2012
List 2
Course starts Examination
2012 2013
2013 2014
2014 2015
Group3:Individualsandsocieties
History: reminder to history teachers regarding the new curriculumPaper 2 topicsWhere specific material, events or names are mentionedin theHistory guide, theycanbespecified inexaminationquestionsandarethereforerequiredincandidateresponses.However, more general open-ended questions may alsobesetandthesecanbeansweredusinganyappropriateexamplessuchasMussolini,FrancoorLeninforaquestionaboutanauthoritarianleader.
Paper 3TeachersareremindedthatforeachsectionintheHistory guidetherewillbetwoquestionsoneachexaminationpaper.Inordertoprovidecandidateswithachoiceofquestionstoanswer,allthebulletedcontentineachofthreesectionsmustbestudied.Forexample, if sectionone,TheFrenchRevolution,ischosenthenallsixbulletpointsmustbestudiedinordertoensurethatstudentswillbeabletoanswereitherquestionontheexaminationpaper.
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DiplomaProgrammeCoordinator’snotes,September2011
PhilosophySL and HL papers 1 from May 2011Theinternalrubricforpaper1sectionAcurrentlyreads:
• identifyacentralphilosophicalconceptorphilosophicalissueinthispassagethataddressesthequestion,“whatisahumanbeing?”
• exploretwodifferentphilosophicalapproaches to thephilosophicalconceptorphilosophicalissueyouidentified
• explain and evaluate the philosophical concept orphilosophicalissueyouidentified.
StartingwiththeMay2011assessmentsession,thesecondbulletpointwillbeamendedtoread:
“Investigatetwo differentphilosophicalapproachestothephilosophicalconceptorphilosophicalissueyouidentified.”
Theseamendmentshavealtered thewording inorder toclarifytheirapplicationforexaminersandtheseamendmentswillnotaffectstudentsinanyway.
SL/HL paper 2 from May 2011StartingwiththeMay2011assessmentsession,paper2forSLandHLwillbeclassedasonecommonpaper.Thiswillmeanthatexaminationandmarkschemecoversheetswillbelabelledas“StandardLevelandHigherLevelPaper2”.
Thisamendmentwillnotaffectstudentsinanyway.
Social and cultural anthropologyChanges to the Social and cultural anthropology guideFollowing the first assessment session in May 2010 forsocial and cultural anthropology there have been someamendments to the assessment criteria in the Social and cultural anthropology guide publishedFebruary2008forfirstexaminationsin2010.
For SL and HL paper 1, criterion A—description andgeneralization (question 1) and criterion B—analysis andinterpretation(question2)—havebeenreworded.
Theseamendmentshavealtered thewording inorder toclarifytheirapplicationforexaminersandtheseamendmentswillnotaffectstudentsinanyway.Teachersareadvisedtousethesecriteriaforfuturesessions.
TheupdatedguideisavailablenowontheOCC.
Group5:Mathematicsandcomputerscience
MathematicsFeedback from examinationsExaminershaveexpressedconcernaboutcertainaspectsoffinalanswerstoexaminationquestions.Inparticular,itisfelt
thatissuestodowithaccuracyandsimplificationofanswersneedsomeclarification.
AccuracyTherubricsinstructcandidatestogiveallnumericalanswersexactly,orcorrecttothreesignificantfigures(sf).
Candidates should be instructed to follow this rubric, asgivingfinalanswerstofewerthanthreesfislikelytoleadtoincorrectvaluesinanysubsequentparts,andtheyarelikelytobepenalised. Inaddition,examinersmaybeinstructedincertainquestionstopenalisefinalanswersgiventomorethanthreesf.CandidatesshouldalsobemadeawareoftheroundingrulesusedbytheIB,asroundingerrorsmayalsoleadtoincorrectanswers.
Rounding rulesIfananswerto3sfisrequired,thefourthsfshouldbeconsideredandvaluesfrom0to4shouldberoundeddown,valuesfrom5to9shouldberoundedup,eg5.645becomes5.65;15.645becomes15.6;5645.47becomes5650.
Simplification of final answersThere has been some discussion on the OCC about this,whichhighlightedthedifficultyofgivinganeasyresponsetothequestion“howfarshouldyousimplify?”.Seniorexaminershave discussed the issue, and have agreed the followingguidanceforschools.
Candidatesshouldbeadvisedtogive finalanswersusinggoodmathematicalform.Ingeneral,arithmeticshouldbecompleted,andanyvalueswhichleadtointegersshouldbe
simplified, eg 25√4should be written as 5
2 . An exception
tothisissimplifyingfractions,wherethelowestformisnot
required(unless it isaninteger),eg104
maybeleft inthis
form or written as 52 (though it is generally advisable to
simplify),but105
shouldbewrittenas2.
Algebraicexpressionsshouldbesimplifiedbycompletingany operations such as addition and multiplication, eg4e2x × e3xshouldbesimplifiedto4e5x;and4e2x × e3x − e4x × ex
shouldbesimplifiedto3e5x.Unlessspecifiedinthequestion,expressionsdonotneedtobefactorised,nordofactorisedexpressionsneedtobeexpanded,sox(x+1)andx2+xareacceptable.
Computer scienceTeachersshouldbeawareofthefollowinginformationrelevanttothenewcomputersciencecourse,firstteaching2012:
• TheguideandteachersupportmaterialwillbepublishedontheOCCinJanuary2012.
• The specimen papers will be published on the OCC inMarch2012.
• FromAugust2012thesubjectwillmoveintogroup4andbecomenon-elective.
©InternationalBaccalaureateOrganization2011 9
DiplomaProgrammeCoordinator’snotes,September2011
Should there be any questions please do not hesitateto contact the Subject Area Manager, Richard Taylor([email protected]).
Professional development Tosupporttheintroductionofthenewlyrevisedcomputerscience course for first teaching September 2012, globalprofessionaldevelopmentareplanningonlineworkshopsduring the first quarter of 2012. In order to assist withcapacityplanningfortheseevents,itwouldbeappreciatedifanyschoolsplanningtoofferthiscoursefromSeptember2012 contacted the global professional department [email protected]:
• schoolname/number
• languageofteaching
• potentialnumberofteachers.
Group6:Thearts
FilmAmendment to the assessment of the production portfolio (HL)FollowingthefirstassessmentsessionsforfilminMay2010andNovember2010,aformalrulinghasbeenintroducedonwhattodointhecaseofastudentsubmittinganHLproductionportfoliothatdoesnotincludeatrailer.Insuchcases,apenaltyof15%willbeappliedtothetotalmarkthathasbeenawarded.
ThetrailerisanessentialpartoftheHLproductionportfolioandshouldbesubmittedbyallcandidates.
Hexagoncore
Extended essay publicationsSchoolsandsupervisorsareremindedthataneweditionoftheExtended essay guidewaspublishedinDecember2010forfirstexaminationsin2013.Thisaddedanadditionalextendedessayoptioningroup1called“studiesinlanguage”whichfitsinwithchangestothelanguagesprogramme.Theguidealsoaddedtwonewsubjectoptions:worldstudiesandliteratureandperformance.
In addition, a new document has been published whichapplies to extended essays written in all subjects fromexaminations in 2013. It is entitled Ethical guidelines for extended essay research and fieldwork andisavailableontheextendedessaypageoftheOCC.Thisdocumentshouldbeused inconjunctionwithanyadditionalethicalguidanceoffered in thecorrespondingsubjectguides (for instanceinpsychologyandsocialandculturalanthropology).Theseextendedessayguidelinesmustbe followedbystudentssubmitting all extended essays from 2013 examinationsonwards but schools and supervisors are encouraged tofollowthemwiththeirstudentsbeforethisexaminationdate.
World studies extended essaySchoolswithstudentsinterestedinwritinganextendedessayinworldstudiesshouldnotethatthereisnowadedicatedOCC page for world studies that can be accessed under:DP>DP requirements>World studies extended essay. This includesateachers’ forumandavarietyofresourcesincludingcomprehensiveteachersupportmaterial.
Extended essay curriculum reviewTheextendedessaycurriculumreviewisbeingextendedforonecalendaryearinordertocompleteextensiveresearchanddevelopment.ThenewextendedessayprogrammeisnowscheduledforfirstteachinginSeptember2015andfirstexaminationsin2017.
Extended essay subject reportsFullsubject reportswerepublishedafter the firstsessionof the current extended essay programme in May andNovember2009.TheseareavailableonthesubjectpagesoftheOCC.
In addition, a general report, which outlines commonstrengths and weaknesses in all extended essays, waspublishedfortheNovember2010session.ThisisavailableontheOCCextendedessaypage.
Alltheabovereportsofferadvicethatappliestoallsessionsofthecurrentprogramme.
Updates for subject reportsarewrittenonly ifadditionalguidanceisneeded.
Practical work for extended essays TheIBdoesnotrecommendthatstudentsbasetheiressaysonpracticalworkcarriedoutatauniversityorotherresearchinstitution.However,ifsuchwork(undertheguidanceofanexternaladviser)isundertaken,itmustbeaccompaniedbyacovering letter included with thecandidate’sextendedessay,outliningthenatureoftheassistancegivenandthelevelofguidanceprovided.Theextentofsupportgivenmustcomplywiththerequirementthattheessayisanindividual,independentlywrittentask.
Theroleoftheschoolsupervisorremainsunchangedanditisparticularlyimportantinthesecasesthattheyareabletoverify(inthesupervisor’sreportanddeclaration)thattheessayisthestudent’sownwork.
Thistypeofworkismostcommonlycarriedoutinthesciencesubjectsbutsupervisorsshouldnotethattheseguidelinesapplytoallextendedessaysubjects.
CAS status of studentsSchoolsareremindedthatthedeadlineforcompletingtheCAS status of students on IBIS is 1 June/1 December. If astudenthasnotcompletedtheCASrequirement,he/shehasoneyearonlytocompleteit.OncetheCASrequirementhas
10 ©InternationalBaccalaureateOrganization2011
DiplomaProgrammeCoordinator’snotes,September2011
beencompletedtothesatisfactionoftheschool, it is theresponsibilityoftheIBDPcoordinatortochangethestudent’sstatusonIBIS.Thisextensionexpireson1June/1Decemberthefollowingyear.
CAS curriculum reviewThecurriculumreviewprocess forCAShasbegunand,aspartofourongoingcommitmenttoconsultation,wewishtoinviteteacherstobecomeinvolvedinthereviewprocess.
Thisconsultationwillinvolveaninitialquestionnairebeingsenttoschoolsand,laterthisyear,thecycleofreviewanddevelopmentmeetingswillstart,someofwhichwillbeface-to-faceandsomewillbevirtual.
Ifyouareinterestedinparticipatinginthesemeetings,pleasewritealetteroutliningyourexperienceandexplainingwhyyouwishtobeinvolvedandhowyoucouldcontributetothereview.Sendyourlettertotheassessmentandcurriculumcoordinatorforthehexagoncore,FabriziaFlynn,atIBCardiff,bypost,byfaxorbyattachingittoanemail([email protected]).
Thedeadlineforapplicationsis10October2011.
PleasenotethatanewpublicationCAS Illustratediscurrentlybeingdevelopedby IBPublishingfeaturingexpertadvice
onhowthetheoryofCAScanbeputintopracticewithrealexamples fromschoolsacross thethreeregions.FindoutmoreattheIBstore(http://store.ibo.org/).
TOK essaysCoordinatorsareremindedthatTOKcandidatesmustwritetheiressays inresponsetooneoftheprescribedtitlessetfortheexaminationsessioninwhichtheyareparticipating.Failuretousethecorrectsetofprescribedtitleswillseverelydisadvantagecandidates.
School-based syllabuses (SBS): available subjectsThefollowingisalistoftheavailableschool-basedsyllabusescurrentlyauthorizedbytheIB.
Please note:Thesearerestrictedentrysubjects,andschoolsmust apply for authorization to offer any one of them—authorizationmaynotbegrantedretrospectively.Pleaserefertotheschool-basedsyllabusessectionoftheHandbook of Procedures for the Diploma Programme,forfurtherdetails.Torequestsubjectguides,ortoapplyforauthorizationtoofferoneofthesesubjects,[email protected].
School-based syllabus Language Group
Arthistory English 3
Astronomy English 4
Beginners’Hindi* Hindi 2
Beginners’Nynorsk* Nynorsk 2
Beginners’Siswati* Siswati 2
ChileandthePacificBasin Spanish 3
Chinesestudies English 3
ClassicalGreek&Romanstudies English 3
Braziliansocialstudies Portuguese 3
Humanrights† English 3
Marinescience English 4
Peaceandconflictstudies† English 3
Politicalthought English,Spanish 3
Science,technologyandsociety** English 3or4
Turkeyinthe20thcentury(formerly Turkish Social Studies) Turkish 3
Worldartsandcultures English 3
Worldpoliticsandinternationalrelations† English 3
* Nonewgroup2SBSsubjectswillbeauthorized,unlessinexceptionalcircumstances.
**Nonewauthorizationsarebeingacceptedforthissubjectbecauseanewgroup3sciencecourseiscurrentlyindevelopment.
†WiththedevelopmentoftheGlobalPoliticspilotsubject,itisunlikelythatnewauthorizationstoofferthesesubjectswillbegrantedafterSeptember2013.
©InternationalBaccalaureateOrganization2011 11
DiplomaProgrammeCoordinator’snotes,September2011
Subj
ect
New
cou
rse
mat
eria
lsFi
rst t
each
ing
of n
ew
sylla
bus
Last
exa
ms
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Lang
uage
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Nov
201
2
Lang
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A: l
itera
ture
2011
2011
/12
Nov
201
2M
ay2
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Lang
uage
A: l
angu
age
and
liter
atur
e20
1120
11/1
2N
ov2
012
May
201
3
Gro
up 2
Lang
uage
s A2
Nov
201
2
Lang
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B20
1120
11/1
2N
ov2
012
May
201
3
Lang
uage
ab
initi
o20
1120
11/1
2N
ov2
012
May
201
3
Clas
sical
lang
uage
s20
1420
14/1
5N
ov2
015
May
201
6
Gro
up 3
Busin
ess a
nd m
anag
emen
t20
1420
14/1
5N
ov2
015
May
201
6
Econ
omic
s20
1120
11/1
2N
ov2
012
May
201
3
Geo
grap
hy20
1620
16/1
7N
ov2
017
May
201
8
Hist
ory
2015
2015
/16
Nov
201
6M
ay2
017
ITG
S20
1020
10/1
1N
ov2
011
May
201
2
Philo
soph
y20
1420
14/1
5N
ov2
015
May
201
6
Psyc
holo
gy20
1620
16/1
7N
ov2
017
May
201
8
Soci
al a
nd c
ultu
ral a
nthr
opol
ogy
2016
2016
/17
Nov
201
7M
ay2
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Wor
ld re
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1120
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May
201
3
The
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rric
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ews
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ule
12 ©InternationalBaccalaureateOrganization2011
DiplomaProgrammeCoordinator’snotes,September2011
Subj
ect
New
cou
rse
mat
eria
lsFi
rst t
each
ing
of n
ew
sylla
bus
Last
exa
ms
of o
ld
sylla
bus
Firs
t exa
ms
of n
ew
sylla
bus
Gro
up 4
Biol
ogy
2014
2014
/15
Nov
201
5M
ay2
016
Chem
istry
2014
2014
/15
Nov
201
5M
ay2
016
Des
ign
tech
nolo
gy20
1420
14/1
5N
ov2
015
May
201
6
Phys
ics
2014
2014
/15
Nov
201
5M
ay2
016
Spor
ts, h
ealth
and
exe
rcise
scie
nce
2012
2012
/13
Nov
201
3M
ay2
014
Gro
up 5
Com
pute
r sci
ence
2012
2012
/13
Nov
201
3M
ay2
014
Furt
her m
athe
mat
ics S
LN
/AN
/AM
ay2
013
N/A
Furt
her m
athe
mat
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L20
1220
12/1
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/AM
ay2
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Mat
hem
atic
al st
udie
s SL
2012
2012
/13
Nov
201
3M
ay2
014
Mat
hem
atic
s SL
2012
2012
/13
Nov
201
3M
ay2
014
Mat
hem
atic
s HL
2012
2012
/13
Nov
201
3M
ay2
014
Gro
up 6
Dan
ce20
1120
11/1
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ov2
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May
201
3
Film
2016
2016
/17
Nov
201
7M
ay2
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Mus
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1720
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ov2
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May
201
9
Thea
tre
2014
2014
/15
Nov
201
5M
ay2
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Visu
al a
rts
2014
2014
/15
Nov
201
5M
ay2
016
©InternationalBaccalaureateOrganization2011 13
DiplomaProgrammeCoordinator’snotes,September2011
Subj
ect
New
cou
rse
mat
eria
lsFi
rst t
each
ing
of n
ew
sylla
bus
Last
exa
ms
of o
ld
sylla
bus
Firs
t exa
ms
of n
ew
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bus
Hex
agon
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tivity
, act
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2015
2015
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Nov
201
6M
ay2
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Exte
nded
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ay20
1520
15/1
6N
ov2
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May
201
7
Theo
ry o
f kno
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2013
2013
/14
Nov
201
4M
ay2
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Inte
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cipl
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Envi
ronm
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tem
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soci
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1520
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May
201
7
Lite
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1120
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reat
ivity
, Act
ion,
Ser
vice
has
bee
n re
nam
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Cre
ativ
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ctiv
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ervi
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lthou
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Act
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may
app
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plea
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u re
fer t
o it
as A
ctiv
ity w
hen
lead
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this
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p.
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e: IB
Car
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rela
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Cer
tific
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(IBC
C) h
as b
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med
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r-re
late
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rogr
amm
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Alth
ough
the
term
IBC
C m
ay a
ppea
r in
this
doc
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t, pl
ease
ens
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you
use
the
corr
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CP
whe
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is w
orks
hop.