Fall IB Parent Orientation Diploma Program

1. Fall IB Parent OrientationDiploma Program Priscilla Biddle Coordinator Henrico High School September 28, 2010

2. 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.

3. The Learner Profile • IB learners strive to be: • Inquirers • Knowledgeable • Thinkers • Communicators • Principled • Open-minded • Caring • Risk-takers • Balanced • Reflective

4. The Program

5. 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?

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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!

9. 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

10. The Extended Essay and TOK Matrix

11. Extended Essay Support • Seminars start in February for juniors; October is EE month for seniors • Notebooks • Blog • Library website • Classroom instruction by librarians • Access to VCU and UR libraries and databases • Subject teacher support • Supervisor

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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 Calendar • No more than 2 per day • Multi-level classes may encounter problems • Quizzes not monitored

15. AP vs. IB

16. 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 • Biology, 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 • May have 2 1-year Standard Level courses

17. 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 3-23, 2011 • Exam dates are irrefutable, unchangeable, and non-negotiable

18. Registration • Will begin October 15 in seminar for seniors, later for juniors • October 18 into English class for seniors, later for juniors • Students will select exams and level • Registration verification and parent signature • Must be complete by November 8 • Fines after November 15

19. 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

20. 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

21. Support Documents • “All About IB” • IB required Policy Statements • Assessment • Academic honesty • Language • Special Needs • All can be found on the blog!!

22. Academic Honesty Initiative • Visit Academic Honesty website, accessible through blogpage • Take the quiz • Sign up for Quia • “How to” available today

23. Support for you and your children • Specified and communicated expectations and parent input • “All about IB” • Blog • Teacher course outlines and syllabi • Community Advisory Council • Communication • Blog • School Space • Emails • Seminars • Enhance trans-disciplinary thinking • Support TOK, EE and CAS • Team leaders • Keeping an eye out for crisis • Recognizing student success • Breakfasts • Lunch in Presentation Room • “Biddle Pass” • College application process

24. Meet Ms. Woodward • College application process • SAT preparation • Scholarship newsletter • Blog • School Website • In the counseling office

25. How you can support us • Program wide committees • Volunteer • Advisory Council • Grade level committees • Breakfast • Learner Profile Gift Bags • Field Trip Chaperone (was Picnic Committee) • Silver Tray Ceremony (seniors)

26. Forms • Volunteer forms • Sign up sheets • Join Quia for Academic Honesty Quiz • Phone number book mark • College application process info • Auction flier

27. Questions and Answers

28. Our Motto • We think; therefore, we be.