How your children will get the IB Diploma… …without going insane (and taking you with them). So this is what I tell them… (and you). That’s me as Socrates… Academic Requirements: IB Courses in all academic areas Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature Group 2: Language Acquisition Group 3: Individuals and Societies Group 4: Sciences Group 5: Mathematics Group 6: The Arts (or an Elective from Groups 2, 3, or 4) “erm…” Academic Requirements: During Junior and Senior year, students must take: 3 Higher Level IB Courses (HL) 240 instructional hours over 2 years 3 Standard Level IB Courses (SL) 150 hours instructional hours in 1 year or over 2 years At least 1 SL must go over 2 years IB Subject Grades: Grades are awarded on a 1-7 point scale at the end of the course The grade is determined by achievement on: Internal Assessments Graded External by the course teacher Assessments Graded by external examiners Awarding of the IB Diploma Students must: Accrue a minimum 24 of 45 possible points in their 6 IB courses over the 2 year program IB Diploma Requirements: The Core Theory of Knowledge (TOK) The Extended Essay (EE) Creativity-Action-Service (CAS) Theory of Knowledge A 2-year course during Junior and Senior year Assessments The TOK Presentation Internally The Assessed (IA) TOK Paper Externally Assessed (EA) Supervised independent coursework in other areas of study The Extended Essay A 4000-word independent research investigation In a major academic subject area Under the supervision of a schoolbased mentor External Assessment Creativity-Action-Service (CAS) 150 hours over 2 years June 1, Junior year through April 15, Senior year CAS Learning Outcomes: Self-awareness Undertaking new challenges Planning and initiative Collaboration Perseverance and commitment Engagement with global issues Considering ethical implications Developing new skills CAS Is and Isn’t: Is: An opportunity to grow A balance of C, A, and S A chance to take risks (in a good way) CAS Is and Isn’t: Isn’t: For school credit or cash money Just showing up and not engaging fully Random or haphazard “What was I thinking?” they say. “It’s really quite possible,” I say. “And I KNOW. Trust me,” I say. (And, for the most part, they do.) I Ask the DC’s to Consider: Why am I in the IB Diploma Program? What do I want to get out of it? What are my strengths coming in? What are my weaknesses? And, very importantly… …Who is in control of my academic future? (They need to think carefully about this last one…) A Key Fact: The Hexagon is our friend. Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Two More Facts and One Important Guiding Principle IB is not “a cross to bear”… It is an opportunity to explore, to engage, and to extend. (And it’s not supposed to be easy, or everyone would do it.) “OK,” they say. “Give me something I can use.” And I give them… Strategery! 6 Academic Areas (see your Hexagon) A Possible 7 points in each area… The Math: a Possible 42 And then there’s BONUS POINTS!! TOK and EE: Up to 3 EXTRA points! Yes! Strategery (cont’d) Uh…Yeah: ToK and EE are required and you only get bonus points. We’ll come back to that… Hunh? Strategery (cont’d): So… You can get 45 points total. But… You only NEED 24 points. I’m not good at the math, but how hard could that be? Hmmm?? Well… Students must also have: A minimum total of 12 points overall for the 3 HL’s No scores of 2 or lower in any HL “Doh!” “Wait! What if I do have fewer than 24 total points, or fewer than12 points in my 3 HL’s, or score a 2 on an HL Exam?” Easy: You must have a minimum total of 28 points (rather than 24…) No, not if you cover your bases… Covering your Bases, Pt. 1: Remember your 3 SL’s? Crush them! As SL’s, they should be somewhat easier to crush. Covering your Bases, Pt. 2: Now, we look at a Matrix. (No, not that one… This one’s even cooler.) The Matrix! TOK → A B C No Grade N D E Failing Condition EE ↓ A 3 3 2 2 Failing Condition B 3 2 2 1 Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition C 2 2 1 0 Failing Condition D 2 1 0 0 Failing Condition Failing Condition E Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition No Grade N Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition Failing Condition A Logical Question: “So how much do the EE and TOK matter?” Maybe quite a bit. Let’s do the math! Some Math: Student A: Does she get the Diploma? Course: English A1 HL Biology HL Mathematics HL Spanish B SL World Religions SL Physics SL TOK [B], EE [C] Total Grade (out of a possible 7): 5 5 4 4 6 6 2 = 32 Some More Math (Whee.): Student B: Does he get the Diploma? Course: Grade (out of a possible 7): English A1 HL 4 Biology HL 3 History-20th Century HL 5 Mathematics SL 3 Spanish B SL 4 Chemistry SL 4 TOK [B], EE [B] 2 Total = 25 Victory! Some More Math (Yow.): Student D: Does he get the Diploma? Course: Grade (out of a possible 7): English A1 HL 5 Biology HL 4 Mathematics HL 2 World Religions SL 7 Spanish AB SL 4 Economics SL 5 TOK [B], EE [C] 2 Total = 29 Last of the Math (Thank you.): Student E: Does he get the Diploma? Course: Grade (out of a possible 7): English A1 HL 4 Biology HL 3 History-20th Century HL 4 Economics SL 5 Spanish B SL 5 Math Studies SL 5 TOK [B], EE [D] 1 Total = 27 “OK… Now What?” I thought you’d never ask. IB Students must: Organize Day-to-Day, Strategize Strengths and Weaknesses Advocate Know Week-to-Week when, how, and to whom they should speak Understand The Diploma Program and their goal… The IB Diploma!! (Sure, the bling at Graduation, too.) And you get to say: Good-bye! Good luck! Don’t come back. Questions?