All About IB:The “Who, What, When, Where, How

and Why”

Specialty Center Information Sessions

October- November 2012Priscilla Biddle, Henrico HS

Ellie Harper, JR Tucker HS

What is IB?

• International Baccalaureate is a global academic program that – aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people

who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

– works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment.

– encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other

people, with their differences, can also be right.

Where did it come from?

• Originated in the 1960’s in Switzerland as a result of international foreign service personnel needing a standardized highly rigorous preparatory program with external examinations to prepare their children for university admission back home

• Went global in 1970’s to North American, Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East

• Today serves over 700,000 students in 2500 schools in 134 countries.

What makes IB different?

• We are a total program– Learner Profile traits that encourage character education and

leadership growth embedded in curriculum and instruction– Non-cognitive skills like perseverance and working with others

taught through experience learning like CAS– Interdisciplinary education while still maintaining individual subject

rigor– Inquiry-based instructional model that emphasizes research skills,

writing skills and higher thinking in every subject.– External assessment and moderation at grades 10, 11 and 12– International interaction and global focus

What makes IB different?

• There is no “specialty” in our Center– Students receive a “classical, liberal arts” education– Focus on six areas of educational endeavor: English,

world language, history, experimental sciences, mathematics, and the arts

– Students explore how to learn and how their learning relates to life through Areas of Interaction in all classes in MYP and in Theory of Knowledge class and topics in the Diploma Program

How does IB differ from other programs?

• AP vs. IB – testing for information vs. analysis• Total program – all subjects are IB• Core requirements – Personal Project, CAS,

Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge • Extra layer of support• External quality control and documentable

results

Why does this matter?

• “A successful liberal arts education develops the capacity for innovation and for judgment. Those who can imagine how best to reconfigure existing resources and project future results will be the shapers of our economy and culture. We seldom get to have all the information we would like, but still we must act. The habits of mind developed in a liberal arts context often result in combinations of focus and flexibility that make for intelligent, and sometimes courageous risk taking for critical assessment of those risks.”

» (Michael Roth, President, Wesleyan University, “What’s a Liberal Arts Education Good for?”, The Blog, Huffington Post, May 30, 2012, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-roth/whats-a-liberal-arts-educ_b_147584.html)

Why is this beneficial?

What does IB have to offer?

• Learner centered education• Investigation and exploration-based• Learning strategies and philosophy that

complements both gifted and special needs learners• Highly individualized, open-ended projects (Personal

Project and the Extended Essay) that encourage students to think creatively and critically

How can this pay off?

• Special programs• College acceptance• Scholarships• Greater confidence • Higher performance in college and beyond

How does IB do this?

• Curriculum as specified by IB• Core requirements provide those “non-cognitive”

skills so essential for success• Highly trained teachers and staff• Teachers monitored and moderated yearly for

success– Diploma achievement rate at HHS was 93% in 2012– MYP achievement rate averages over 90% each year

Where can you find out more information?

• www.ibo.org – International site• www.henricowarriors.org/biddle “Biddle’s Bytes and

Bits”– plbiddle@henrico.k12.va.us

• http://blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/emharper/ - “Harper’s Highlights”– emharper@henrico.k12.va.us

Your Questions:

Why IB for me?