The IB Learner Profile

1. The IB Learner Profile The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

2. IB learners strive to be • Inquirers • Thinkers • Communicators • Principled

3. IB learners strive to be • Open-minded • Caring • Risk-takers • Balanced • Reflective

4. Are students able to take just one or a few IB classes without taking the full program? Absolutely! IB is a full program, and is its most powerful taken as a program, but you can choose even just one course. Of our IB students, 84% take just one or more IB classes.

5. What does it mean to be an International Baccalaureate courses student? You are a curious, motivated student who has chosen to take one or more classes from a rigorous program of study recognized around the world as evidence of the depth of your skills and your readiness for college

6. What does it mean to be an International Baccalaureate diploma student? You are a curious, motivated student who has chosen a rigorous program of study where you will earn your regular MHS high school diploma and seek a second, the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, that is recognized around the world as evidence of the depth of your skills and your readiness for college

7. The Diploma Programme Curriculum Model

8. The Diploma Programme Curriculum Model Literature Language & Literature Literature & Performance History of Europe & the Modern Middle East Business & Management Economics Psychology Chinese-Mandarin French German Spanish Math Studies Mathematics Further Mathematics Biology Physics Sports, Exercise, & Heath Science Music Visual Arts

9. The Diploma Programme Curriculum Model Two levels of IB courses—standard level (SL), one-year courses, and higher level (HL), two-year courses Literature HL Language & Literature SL Literature & Performance SL History of Europe & the Modern Middle East HL Business & Management SL Economics SL Psychology SL Chinese-Mandarin SL & HL French SL & HL German SL & HL Spanish SL & HL Math Studies SL Mathematics SL Mathematics HL Further Mathematics HL Biology SL & HL Physics SL Sports, Exercise, & Heath Science SL Music SL Visual Arts SL & HL

10. The Diploma Programme Curriculum Model Two levels of IB courses—standard level (SL), one-year courses, and higher level (HL), two-year courses Literature HL Language & Literature SL Literature & Performance SL History of Europe & the Modern Middle East HL Business & Management SL Economics SL Psychology SL Chinese-Mandarin SL & HL French SL & HL German SL & HL Spanish SL & HL Math Studies SL Mathematics SL Mathematics HL Further Mathematics HL Biology SL & HL Physics SL Sports, Exercise, & Heath Science SL Students can freely choose IB courses as long as they have completed the proper prerequisites Music SL Visual Arts SL & HL

11. The Diploma Programme Curriculum Model Literature HL Language & Literature SL Literature & Performance SL A student interested in the full diploma programme takes one course from each area of the circle, choosing three or four HL courses and two or three SL courses History of Europe & the Modern Middle East HL Business & Management SL Economics SL Psychology SL Chinese-Mandarin SL & HL French SL & HL German SL & HL Spanish SL & HL All Central Elements are required for the full IB diploma programme Math Studies SL Mathematics SL Mathematics HL Further Mathematics HL Biology SL & HL Physics SL Sports, Exercise, & Heath Science SL Music SL Visual Arts SL & HL

12. The Central Elements of the Diploma Programme

13. The Central Elements of the Diploma Programme Theory of Knowledge: • TOK stimulates critical reflection on knowledge and experience • Students attempt to answer the question “What do I know, and how do I know that I know it?” • The course is placed in the junior year for full diploma candidates with extensions into senior year English and history courses and nurtures the student through the transition into the IB program

14. The Central Elements of the Diploma Programme The Extended Essay: (up to 4,000 words) • Written in an IB subject under study junior year on a topic developed with a faculty advisor, this essay acquaints diploma candidates with the kind of independent research and writing skills expected by universities. • The project begins in the spring of junior year in TOK class, and students often complete a rough draft by the start of summer vacation.

15. The Central Elements of the Diploma Programme Creativity, Action, and Service: (CAS) • Creativity: The artisanal, literary, musical, visual, and performing arts and crafts • Action: Physical activity • Service: Community service

16. CAS Learner Outcomes • Increase awareness of personal strengths and areas for growth • Undertake new challenges • Plan and initiate activities • Work collaboratively with others • Show perseverance and commitment in activities • Engage with issues of global importance • Consider the ethical implications of one’s actions • Develop new skills

17. CAS Learner Outcomes • Students work on each outcome through one or more CAS activities over the two years of the program • Students choose one or more activities each year in each of the three areas—creativity, action, and service • Students verify their CAS work through reflections, interviews, and other evidence— such as pictures, programs, and staff verification—appropriate to each student’s activities

18. International Baccalaureate What sets IB courses apart? IB courses often connect together with respect to curriculum topics. IB courses are noted for their writing across the curriculum as well as class presentations. IB students must develop their own ideas in their writing and presentations as well as through class discussion. IB science students develop and conduct their own laboratory experiments. IB math students write math papers. All IB courses possess an international education component. IB students and teachers keep the IB learner profile in mind as they work together toward their shared goals.

19. International Baccalaureate What sets IB schools apart? There are currently 3,503 IB schools located in 144 countries. There are currently 2,375 Diploma Programs offered world-wide in 143 countries. Southwest and Minnetonka High School are among the 1,233 Diploma Programs offered in the Americas region. By the year 2020, there will be more than 12,000 schools offering IB Programmes, and there will be 250,000 IB students in the Diploma program taking 1 million exams each year. IB students are motivated, engaged learners who earn college degrees at rates and with GPAs exceeding their counterparts who were not fortunate enough to have been part of the IB.

20. International Baccalaureate What sets IB programs apart? Students must complete “internal assessments” in each IB class, the scores of which combine with the IB exams to give the student an IB grade of 1 through 7. Students earn the IB diploma with a score of at least 24 points. IB assessments are “moderated” by IB examiners, where a sample of each internal assessment and IB exam is re-graded by senior IB examiners. Student scores can thereby be raised or lowered based on that re-grading. Students are examined in a variety of ways which include oral presentations and interviews, lab work, artistic performance, papers that are written and revised, objective exams in science only, and writing under timed conditions.

21. International Baccalaureate How are IB and AP Similar? The potential for college credit is high. Just like Advanced Placement, though, that credit is determined by the institution you attend and is based on the exams that you take and the scores you earn. Check college credit policies by searching your favorite university’s website and entering IB credit policy and AP credit policy in the search bar. Blocks of credit usually equivalent to about one year of college credit are often available to students who earn the IB diploma. IB-specific scholarships are available at many institutions. Both IB and AP courses qualify for weighted grades. We pre-weight those grades and assume that you will earn the required 3 on the IB and AP exams that match your courses. Both IB and AP are well known by colleges as excellent preparation for university work.

22. develops key skills and content knowledge systematically over multiple years results in key skills being developed progressively from year to year in order to foster intellectual maturity particularly during the senior year, through semi-independent projects and papers as well as the extended essay promotes intellectual coherence by helping students better understand the nature of disciplinary knowledge and thinking in the context of complex, important problems and tasks helps students make connections among disciplines through classes such as Theory of Knowledge What the IB Program Does Well

23. Main Finding in EPIC’s Standards for College Readiness Study* “What is perhaps most notable about our findings is the degree to which IB standards were found to be related to the kinds of key cognitive strategies that our previous research points to as being so important for success in colleges and universities. We have learned that it’s not enough for students to study content in isolation; they must use their content knowledge to solve problems, make conjectures and inferences, and think deeply about the big questions of the disciplines. The IB standards seem to be particularly well suited to achieving these aims.” • David Conley, Educational Policy Improvement Center at the University of Oregon *For more complete information, see http://www.ibo.org/ announcements/succeedincollege.cfm and http://epiconline.org/

24. IB AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Source: IB Students Destinations Survey, 2011. Find the survey’s full results at http://www.ibo.org/recognition/resourcesanddocumentlibrary/moreresources/index.cfm

25. What’s Next? Students choose IB courses or the full IB diploma program before registration ends on February 22. This allows students the greatest flexibility and choice. Before you choose, though, . . .

26. What’s Next?Some Suggestions • Talk with family and friends • Think about yourself as a learner and your goals regarding your high school education • Talk with your guidance counselor. Like all IB teachers, all MHS counselors have been IB-trained • If you’re thinking about the full diploma program, visit Dr. Swanson in the Guidance Office to investigate and ask questions • Check out our IB website at minnetonka.k12.mn.us/academics/ib and the IBO website at www.ibo.org.

27. What’s Next After That ? If you’d like to sign up for individual IB courses, consult your family, ask your current teachers, talk with friends, consult your Guidance Counselor, and/or talk with Lisa Ledman about possible choices. We’re all here to help. If you’d like to sign up for the full IB Diploma Program, contact Lisa Ledman AP, High Potential, & IB Coordinator

29. The World is Yours!