The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or the IBDP is a global, worldwide education program consisting of a curriculum that helps the students widen their educational experiences and perspectives so they have the opportunity to apply the various skills they acquire throughout this course.
It is a rigorous two year program where the student will be rewarded with a globally recognised diploma. The curriculum has three-core components which are the Theory of Knowledge (ToK), the Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).
A matrix is created to figure out the total points of the extra given 3 after 42 subject points. As there are 6 subjects, the range of scores attainable are 1 to 7.
As for ToK, this gives the chance for students to reflect on the knowledge that they acquire and understand how they know what they know in a philosophical manner.
In place of an exam, the student is asked to write a 1600 word essay on one of the knowledge questions provided by the IB board and an oral presentation with regards to a real life situation.
Furthermore, the EE is a 4000-word research paper which is solely the investigation conducted by the student itself.
This primarily puts their documentation, research skills as well as their open mindedness to something new, to a test.
Lastly, CAS is when students have the chance to conduct and perform various kinds of activities and projects relevant to the three concepts.
Creativity defines being involved in something that requires creative and critical thinking thus leading to innovative solutions. This can be learning an instrument, writing a short story, etc. Activity is oriented more towards sports related experiences like hiking for the first time.
Finally, Service is a way of contributing to the traditional community service.
Apart from the core elements, students are allowed to pick 6 subjects including Mathematics, English and a Second Language. There will be three or four higher level subjects and three standard level subjects.
IB can be a better curriculum than the others because any school with this program, provides the students a combination of challenging, diverse and a unique way of education.
Change is the end result of all true learning. – Leo Buscaglia
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Additionally, there are profiles and principles that IB students learn and understand throughout the course.This not only helps the student themselves but also makes the students aware of what happens around them.
IB learners are encouraged to find creative solutions and critically think through the problems laid ahead. In doing so, they also educate themselves and push themselves to learn more.
While facing such challenges, they also tend to become culturally aware of their roots and society by learning it through a second language. This would then allow students to globally connect as well as engage with people from all around the world.
However, on another note, in doing the IB programme, students are driven to reach to their maximum potential that makes them do and try new things which would additionally be beneficial while applying to high-ranking universities.
Altogether, studying the IB curriculum stands out because of how it challenges students to excel both in their studies as well as their personal growth. The IBDP program covers the student experiences and skill learning at all bases including being the jack of all trades and more importantly, being balanced between studying and everything else.
It focuses on practical and application-based learning which means that they are assessed based on their inquisitive knowledge and intelligence and not their memory power and speed.
Typically, it is said that the IB helps a student on how to learn rather than what. In the end, IB brings together supporters that believe education can help build a better world. To achieve this, IB connects it with the intricate and practical details of both teaching and learning.
By learning an IB curriculum, the output given by the students and the outcome of the students are represented through their strong academic, social and emotional characteristics that they tend to develop over the course.
The student outcome presented becomes a great asset for universities and colleges because IB students would learn various different things that eventually come in handy.
Throughout their time in IB, they would acquire time management skills driven by the constant deadlines for subject specific Internal Assessments aligned with a strong self motivational will.
A student having self motivation pushes them into doing more and out of their comfort zone to try and experience something new.
In addition, IB students are also known for their academic ability, the skill to research and write about a specific investigation regardless of the subject matter.
From the additional activities done for CAS and that is conducted by the school, students tend to develop student leadership qualities, inquiring about internships, tutoring other students and taking part in community service.
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