scholarly journals Challenges of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme: Insights for school leaders and policy makers

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Anisah Dickson ◽  
Laura Perry ◽  
Susan Ledger
Keyword(s):  
Program Implementation ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
International Baccalaureate ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Middle Years ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Leadership Challenges ◽  
Middle Years Programme

Policy makers in the US and several other countries are recommending that more schools offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. However, little is known about the challenges that IB programmes present for teaching and learning particularly those meeting national curriculum.  In this study, we examined the challenges of the IB’s Middle Years Programme (MYP), the least understood and researched of the IB programmes. Using a qualitative case study design, we conducted in-depth and semi-structured interviews with school leaders (n=7) and teachers (n=10) from three schools in Australia that previously offered the MYP. We used thematic analysis to generate the findings and the IB’s Standards and Practice framework to organize the reporting of findings. Participants shared perceived challenges related to philosophical factors, organizational dilemmas and complexities with integrating the MYP with Australia’s national curriculum. Understanding the organizational and leadership challenges that schools may face when offering the MYP can help policy makers promote the necessary conditions for successful program implementation.  

scholarly journals Teacher readiness in applying ATL skills in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1409
Author(s):  
Roziah Ramli ◽  
Mohd Isha Awang ◽  
Nurahimah Mohd Yusoff
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
International Baccalaureate ◽  
Approaches To Learning ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Middle Years ◽  
Teacher Readiness ◽  
Story Completion ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Middle Years Programme

<p>This article aims to understand the challenges faced by teachers in implementing the Approaches to Learning Skills (ATL Skills) for the teaching of <em>Bahasa Melayu</em> (Malay Language) in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Schools (MYPIB) in Malaysia. This qualitative case study employed purposive sampling that involved six resilient teachers who were directly involved in the implementations of ATL Skills consisting of four <em>Bahasa Melayu</em> teachers, a MYPIB coordinator and ATL skills coordinator. Triangulation was used to compare data from different sources using semi-structured interviews, story completion tasks, and document analysis. Using the ATLAS.ti software as an aiding tool, thematic analysis was carried out to identify the themes that emerged from the codes. Findings showed that teacher readiness is a challenge that needs to be addressed in the process of applying ATL skills in the MYPIB implemented by the Malaysian Ministry of Education. Teachers still need courses and training to improve their mastery in the ATL skills application. This study provided implications to teaching and learning, and recommendations to teachers as well as the Ministry to make improvements in the effort to apply ATL skills in the teaching-learning processes at the MYPIB schools.</p>

scholarly journals AMALAN KEPIMPINAN INSTRUKSIONAL GURU BESAR DI SEKOLAH VERNAKULAR NEGERI SELANGOR DAN WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN

2018 ◽  
pp. 109-132
Author(s):  
DONNIE ADAMS ◽  
RAVADHI PERIASAMY ◽  
EDWARD DEVADASON ◽  
SATINAH AWANG
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Leadership ◽  
Leadership Practices ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
School Leader ◽  
Instructional Leader ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Structured Interviews

Abstrak Kajian kualitatif ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji amalan kepimpinan instruksional guru besar di Sekolah Vernakular Negeri Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan. Kajian ini menggunakan temu bual separa berstruktur terhadap 14 orang guru besar di dua jenis sekolah vernakular, iaitu Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SRJK (T)) dan Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SRJK(C)) yang terletak di kawasan bandar dan pinggir bandar. Teknik persampelan bertujuan yang dijalankan di dua jenis sekolah ini mendapati bahawa guru besar memahami tugas mereka untuk meningkatkan amalan pengajaran melalui penyeliaan guru. Dapatan juga menunjukkan amalan kepimpinan guru besar dalam memantau kualiti pengajaran dan pembelajaran di sekolah dijalankan dalam pelbagai kaedah. Kajian ini turut menunjukkan bahawa sebahagian daripada tugas dan harapan guru besar di Malaysia adalah selari dengan ciri-ciri dalam kepimpinan instruksional. Dalam konteks lain pula, beban kerja seorang guru besar dan keperluan untuk membuat pelaporan telah mendatangkan pelbagai cabaran berterusan kepada mereka semasa menjalankan tugas sebagai seorang pemimpin instruksional. Implikasi daripada kajian ini mempamerkan realiti kontemporari peranan guru besar dan amalan kepimpinan instruksional mereka di sekolah vernakular di Malaysia. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini menunjukkan kepimpinan instruksional dibina atas pengaruh sosial, politik dan budaya. Kata kunci: Amalan kepimpinan instruksional, pemimpin instruksional, guru besar. Abstract The purpose of this qualitative study is to outline school leaders’ instructional leadership practices in Selangor and Federal Territory Vernacular Schools. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 primary school leaders from Chinese Schools (SRJK(C)) and Tamil Schools (SRJK (T)) in urban and suburban areas in Malaysia. The sampling technique utilised in two of these schools generated findings which showed that the school leaders understood their duties in improving instructional practice through supervision of teachers. Findings also showed school leaders’ leadership practices in monitoring the quality of teaching and learning in schools was done in many ways. The research also demonstrated some of the duties and hope of the school leaders’ in Malaysia as being particularly congruent with the features of instructional leadership practices. In another context, the workload of a school leader and the need for reporting has led to a series of challenges for them in carrying out their duties as instructional leaders. The implication of this study demonstrates the current reality of the roles of school leaders and their instructional leadership roles in vernacular schools in Malaysia. In conclusion, this research shows that instructional leadership is built on social, political and cultural influences. Keywords: Instructional leadership practices, instructional leader, school leader.

scholarly journals Food Education in schools: why do some headteachers make this a priority?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jason O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
School Connectedness ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Food Education

This thesis concerns the reasons why some primary school headteachers in England include Food Education so prominently in their school’s pedagogical curriculum. School leaders are seen as the ‘architects’ of transforming the food culture within a school setting. The current inclusion of Food Education in the English National Curriculum focuses on teaching children about how food choices can have a positive impact on their own physical health and well-being. My study investigates if there are other reasons why a set of recognised leaders in Food Education include this learning focus in their school’s curriculum despite the fact that this is not an area for which they are held accountable. This qualitative research study is based on semi-structured interviews with ten primary school headteachers in England. The responses from the face-to-face semi-structured interviews with the headteachers are submitted to Reflective Thematic Analysis which leads to two contributions to the literature, summarised below. The theoretical framework takes a social constructionist approach, focusing on the interpretation of the school leaders’ views, experiences and practices of including Food Education into their school’s curriculum. My findings reveal that the headteachers who do include Food Education in their school’s pedagogical curriculum do not use it solely to support the healthy eating agenda. By shaping the school ethos and culture through the communication of their personal and professional values and vision, they are also able to extend the wider benefits of Food Education to positively influence other aspects of the school and the wider community. Their use of the ‘pedagogical curriculum’ as a stimulus has enabled them to enact what I call ‘pedagogical commensality’ which supports school connectedness and has the potential to have wide ranging benefits to both the children's academic and health outcomes and the wider community. Recommendations relate to government policy on incorporating learning about food in its broader context into the English National Curriculum. By including the social, cultural, political, environmental, aesthetic and sustainable benefits of food, schools could provide learning opportunities that extend beyond the narrow bio-pedagogical focus that Food Education currently occupies and could support key areas such as community cohesion, personal values development and inclusion. This has implications for the professional development of school leaders and the inclusion of Food Education curriculum in Initial Teacher Training programmes. This thesis claims new knowledge in relation to how Food Education can be used as an embodiment of the headteacher’s values-based leadership approach; and how ‘pedagogical commensality’ can be used as a tool to support the personal and social development of the children and the school community.

scholarly journals Foreign Language Teaching and Development of Language skills :A Pakistani Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Syeda Naureen Mumtaz ◽  
◽  
Dr.Uzma Quraishi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
English As Foreign Language

The study was attempted to explore as to what extent English language teaching in Pakistan has been able to develop language skills among the target learners. The researcher intended to evaluate the limit to which the textbook helps in generating competence of all four integrated skills, especially as laid down in the standards of the National Curriculum (2006). The purpose of this study was to create pragmatic awareness among learners, teachers and educational professionals, working in the field of English as Foreign Language. By method , it was a qualitative study, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were the tools used to elicit the data. The participants of this research were selected from public sector schools and organizations including, teachers, policymakers, curriculum developers, subject specialists, and students to examine the effectiveness of grade VIII’s English language textbook on students’ performance . For data analysis themes were developed, coded and summarized in a descriptive mode. The findings of this study reflected that the relevant textbook does not cater to the target learners’ future academic and professional language needs. As a solution to the problems while teaching and learning English as foreign language in Pakistan; this study also offered a model to be followed by the policy makers and practitioners in order to make the existing English language textbook more effectives in terms of foreign language teaching and learning and language skill development.

scholarly journals Teaching physics students of humanitarian-oriented groups in the Middle Years Programme (basic school) of the International Baccalaureate

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-280
Author(s):  
Viktor S Kornilov ◽  
Olga V Lvova ◽  
Igor S Obolensky
Keyword(s):  
Information Technologies ◽  
International Baccalaureate ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Middle Years ◽  
Physical Problems ◽  
Modern Information ◽  
Basic School ◽  
Teaching Physics ◽  
Middle Years Programme

Problem and goal. In 1968, an international non-governmental organization of the International Baccalaureate with consultative status with UNESCO was established in Switzerland [11; 26; 27; 29-31]. The methodological basis of the International Baccalaureate is intercultural communication, communication, self-development, conceptual thinking, learning efficiency, etc. The International Baccalaureate is an internationally recognized curriculum and is implemented worldwide, including in Russia (Vladivostok, Moscow, Moscow region, Perm, Samara, Saint Petersburg, Ulyanovsk). In addition, International Baccalaureate diplomas are recognized by many foreign educational institutions. In the process of teaching physics to students of humanitarian-oriented groups on the Middle Years Programme (MYP) (basic school) of the International Baccalaureate, some students have difficulties both in mastering the theoretical material and in solving educational text problems. In this connection, to improve the efficiency of training of such students it is advisable not only to carry out a theoretical justification of the possibility of using methods of adaptation of texts of problems in physics and to develop adapted educational tasks with their subsequent inclusion in the content of training, but also to use modern information technologies both in the presentation of theoretical material to students (multimedia teaching tools, electronic resources, etc.) and to teach students to use computer programs (“Live physics”, “Laboratory L-micro”, “1C: Tutor in physics”, “Physics course of the XXI century”, “Open physics”, “Physics in animations”, “Physics. Grades 7-11. Workshop”, etc.). Obviously, that it is necessary in the future to carry out experimental and pedagogical activities revealing the effectiveness of teaching physics. Methodology. The effectiveness of teaching physics to schoolchildren of humanitarianoriented groups under the MYP (basic school) of the International Baccalaureate will be largely provided by the developed content of training, the implementation of didactic principles of training, the implementation of a system-activity approach in teaching, the informatization of training, linguistic analysis of the content of educational tasks, the implementation of technological approach to the design of the educational process, taking into account the peculiarities of psychological laws of formation of mental actions of schoolchildren in the process of solving physical problems [1; 3; 7-9; 12-16; 19; 20; 28]. Results. Application of the method of adaptation of the text of educational tasks, the use of informatization tools, the use of various algorithms for solving physical problems, linguistic analysis of the content of educational tasks helps to improve the quality of teaching physics to students of humanitarian-oriented groups under the MYP (basic school) of the International Baccalaureate. Conclusion. The use of an adapted format for the presentation of educational problems, various algorithms for solving physical problems, the use of modern information technologies for teaching physics to students of humanitarian-oriented groups under the MYP (basic school) of the International Baccalaureate contributes to the increase in students’ interest in learning and the formation of their fundamental system of subject knowledge in physics.

Possibilities for “Proactive, Interactive Deep Learning” in Japan's New National Curriculum Evident From an Analysis of IBDP's Theory of Knowledge

2021 ◽  
pp. 177-193
Author(s):  
Risa Tanaka Kinoshita ◽  
Shammi Datta
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
International Baccalaureate ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Theory Of Knowledge ◽  
Trial And Error ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sports Science ◽  
Education Culture

Prior to the implementation of Japan's new national curriculum—known as the course of study (COS)—in 2012, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) declared it would examine the viability of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Considering this, it is likely that the “proactive, interactive, deep learning,” a key idea of the new COS, and IB philosophy have many points of commonality. This chapter will focus on non-IB schools attempting to include the IB philosophy with an emphasis on classes incorporating the theory of knowledge (TOK) philosophy, an integral part of the IB Diploma Programme's (IBDP). Relevant aspects of TOK are examined, supported by the results of semi-structured interviews with teachers. It is suggested that the TOK philosophy is a meaningful reference for teachers to implement proactive, interactive, deep learning. However, teachers will likely go through some trial and error while applying it in their schools.

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