International Baccalaureate
The face of education needs to change to meet the needs of a complex 21st century. How do we make these changes, and how do we ensure that our students are prepared for a global future?
Many schools, both public and private, are opting for the International Baccalaureate program. It began as a high school level diploma, but it has evolved to include elementary schools, as well.
There are many core differences between a traditional education and the pedagogy behind the international baccalaureate philosophy.
There are core tenets an IBO school operates under are:
• Modeling Academic Excellence
• Cultivating International Awareness
• Fostering Environmental Stewardship
• Facilitating Collaboration within the Community
-Acadamy for Global Citizenship
What makes an IB school so different from a traditional school? According to Carlos Ramirez, Principal at Newton Rayzor Elementary in Denton, Texas, the pedagogy of an International Baccalaureate school is rooted in inquiry. Content is taught, but instruction goes beyond the superficial or test-oriented learning; students are taught to be reflective, to think, to inquire, to be principled, and to be internationally-minded.
IBO schools are addressing high standards head-on, and are preparing kids for college and beyond. IBO students are taught to look for answers, verses being provided with information and answers to memorize. The model of learning incorporates character-building and the global concept of looking beyond one’s own community and into the international realm.
Instruction at an International Baccalaureate school centers around six themes:
- Who we are
- Where we are we in place and time
- How we express ourselves
- How the world works
- How we organize ourselves
- How we share the planet.
These themes help teachers guide students as they access broad concepts. Key questions are asked by both teachers and students, an example of how students help to actually drive instruction. International Baccalaureate instruction uses a teaching methodology which meets children’s fundamental needs: academic, emotional, physical, cultural, and social.
Finally, an IBO school aims to show students the connection between what they learn and the world around them, and how the concepts and content areas relate to one another. It is a wholistic, comprehensive approach to teaching which will prepare students for the challenges in the 21st century.
For more information on the International Baccalaureate model, visit their web site and these other related links.
