Global Updates From World View
May 2007
Introduction to International Baccalaureate (IB)
International Baccalaureate started as a non-profit educational organization in Switzerland in 1968. Although the original goal of the IB program was to create a recognized high standard of college preparatory education for mobile international students at private international high schools, the program now provides a high-quality of education to all students, from elementary through high school. IB World Schools in the United States are public, private, magnet, charter, international, parochial and secular. |
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 IB works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. |
Source: International Baccalaureate Organization website, http://www.ibo.org
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The IB Diploma program is recognized for its competitive curriculum by universities worldwide. IB encourages international-mindedness and IB students develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity, learn a second language, and develop skills necessary to thrive in our rapidly changing and globalized world. In fact, as exemplified in its name, the program is truly international. The curriculum represents the best educational practices from many different countries rather than weighing heavily on the national system of any one country. The International Baccalaureate program operates in 125 countries and the network of IB schools worldwide exceeds two thousand.
Currently IB is a continuum of three programs, Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and the Diploma Programme. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is for students aged 3 to 12 and focuses on the intellectual and social development of the whole child. The Middle Years Programme (MYP), for students aged 11 to 16, helps students develop a global perspective and critical thinking skills, while embracing and going beyond traditional school subjects. The academically challenging curriculum for students ages 16 to 19 is the Diploma Programme. In addition to curriculum development and pedagogy, the International Baccalaureate Organization is involved in IB student assessment, professional development of educators, and evaluating the schools that are authorized to offer an IB program. All IB World Schools: share the mission and commitment for a quality international education; play an active and supporting role in the worldwide community of IB schools; share their knowledge and experience in the development of the IB programmes; and are committed to the professional development of teachers.
Schools complete an application and intensive review process to become an “IB World School”, often taking two or more years. These schools are authorized to offer the IB curriculum and are recognized and supported by the IB Organization. Before a school becomes “authorized”, the school may be a “candidate” school. These schools have committed to the IB philosophy and curriculum and are going through the authorization process. Authorized and candidate schools are evaluated regularly to ensure the high-standards set out for the IB curriculum are being adhered to. For more information on International Baccalaureate visit: http://www.ibo.org
IB in North Carolina
North Carolina has almost 40 IB World Schools and many more candidate schools. North Carolina IB World Schools are preparing their students for the 21 st Century. Charlotte Country Day School was the first school in North Carolina selected as an International Baccalaureate school in 1992. Since then dozens of public and private schools have followed suit. Below is a current list of IB World Schools in North Carolina. Additionally, many more schools are IB candidate schools. For more information on IB in North Carolina visit: http://www.ibsnc.org/
NC IB World Schools, Primary Years Programme
- Ashley Elementary Magnet School, Winston-Salem
- Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte
- Farmington Woods Elementary, Cary
- Hickory Day School, Hickory
- Huntingtowne Farms Elementary, Charlotte
- Joyner Center for Spanish Language, Raleigh
- Millbrook Elementary Magnet, Raleigh
- Statesville Road Elementary, Charlotte
- Falkener Elementary, Greensboro
NC IB World Schools, Middle Years Programme
- Broughton IB Magnet High, Raleigh
- Daniels Middle, Raleigh
- Davidson Middle, Davidson
- East Millbrook Magnet Middle, Raleigh
- Harding University High, Charlotte
- Hillside High, Durham
- Hunter Huss High, Gastonia
- Myers Park High, Charlotte
- North Mecklenburg High, Huntersville
- Paisley Magnet School, Winston-Salem
- Randolph Middle, Charlotte
- Shepard Magnet Middle, Durham
- York Chester Middle, Gastonia
NC IB World Schools, Diploma Programme
- Beddingfield High, Wilson
- Ben L. Smith High, Greensboro
- Broughton IB Magnet High, Raleigh
- Cedar Ridge High, Hillsborough
- Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte
- East Mecklenburg High, Charlotte
- Garner Senior High, Garner
- Grimsley High, Greensboro
- Harding University High, Charlotte
- Hickory High, Hickory
- High Point Central High, High Point
- Hillside High, Durham
- Hunt High, Wilson
- Kinston High, Kinston
- Myers Park High, Charlotte
- Broughton High, Raleigh
- North Mecklenburg High, Huntersville
- Parkland High, Winston-Salem
- Pinecrest High, Southern Pines
- Ralph L Fike High, Wilson
- Reidsville High, Reidsville
- Rocky Mount High
- South View High, Hope Mills
- WG Enloe High, Raleigh
- West Charlotte High, Charlotte
IB in the News
Schools See IB Degree as Way to Boost Minority Achievement, The Washington Post, August 2006
A decade ago, Mount Vernon High School installed the International Baccalaureate program -- an obscure and difficult curriculum created in Switzerland -- because it needed something to save its plummeting academic reputation. Click for more.
Educators stress importance of learning life skills, The Daily Press, May 3, 2007
Superintendent Ken Vedra and colleagues of Colorado Academy District 20 put forth the notion that the widely acclaimed International Baccalaureate program is for everyone, not just advanced learners. Among Colorado districts with more than 6,000 students, Vedra's district, with an enrollment of 21,200, scores the highest. Having implemented IB in five schools already, the district has another six undergoing the authorization process. Click for more.
For more IB North America news, please view: http://www.ibo.org/ibna/media/ |
Do you have information to share?
Do you have information that you would like to share with other educators across the state? You are welcome to submit interesting global education programs that are going on in your schools, announcements about global education seminars, new resources that others might find interesting, etc. Please email Julie at jmarante@email.unc.edu with your "update-worthy" items!
Reader Mailbag
If you have comments about any of the information contained in the Global Update, shoot us an email! Perhaps your comments will appear here in this new section of the Global Update.
Disclaimer
World View at UNC-Chapel Hill provides information, resources, and announcements for educational purposes only. It does not represent an endorsement of organizations or point of view by World View or The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. |
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Register Today!
World View Fall Symposium
“Best Practices in Global Education from Around the United States” October 24 & 25, 2007
World View, with co-sponsors the NC Department of Public Instruction, the Center for International Understanding, NC Public School Forum, and the Asia Society, will be presenting the tenth annual Symposium on October 24-25, 2007.
World View’s Symposium offers general sessions, concurrent sessions on both content and classroom applications, and support for school-based teams in creating an Action Plan for globalizing schools. It is appropriate for all educators at every level. CEU credits will be offered.
Location:
The Friday Center for Continuing Education, Chapel Hill
Cost:
$135 per person, or
$425 for a team of 4 or more from the same school, and only $75 for each additional team member
For more information, or to register please visit http://www.unc.edu/world or call
(919) 962-9264
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Connect Your Classroom with a
Rotary Scholar!
For the past three years, World View has been arranging epal connections between Rotary Scholars abroad and North Carolina classes and schools. These epal connections give students a personal view into life in another world region and culture, increasing global awareness.
To connect a Rotary Scholar with your class or school, contact Regina Higgins at World View at (919) 843-7793 or regina_higgins@unc.edu.
Click to read a letter from Rotary Scholar Jane Smart to a third-grade class in Pitt County, North Carolina. Jane included a photo of herself with her young friends in Argentina.
http://www.unc.edu/world/news.shtml
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Small Education Grants from the Japan Foundation Available
The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership has announced funding opportunities for small-scale education initiatives in the southern and midwestern United States. CGP's Education Program seeks to increase awareness and understanding of Japan through support of teacher training and related programs that address the needs of the K-12 student and teacher community.
Grants of up to $5,000 each will be awarded for projects conducted from May 1 to December 31, 2007. All projects must include an event component. The RFP may be found at the following link.
www.cpg.org
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Events at Exploris
May 19 & 20
Artsplosure @ Exploris: Incredible India! A weekend of performances, hands-on activities, DJs, dance lessons, exhibits and film exploring India!
Saturday, May 26
Mask Festivals in Africa
2:00pm
Discover African cultures through masks and music! Learn about masks in Burkina Faso with Maguy Techer-Yancey and students. Enjoy a performance of African dance and music by Kai' and Daniel Appah, founders of Elikem African Dance Company. Try on an African mask to celebrate cultures of one of the earth's largest continents!
FAMILY ART WORKSHOP:
International Masks
11:30am-12:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm
Learn about masks worn in celebrations around the world and make your very own mask to model around town! Participants will have the opportunity to explore and try on the museum's collection of international masks.
For more information on these and other Exploris events and programs, please visit www.exploris.org.
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Bright Ideas: Small Grants from Wake Electric
Wake Electric, a nonprofit electric utility, is looking for applicants for its Bright Ideas grant program among area teachers. The company will award grants, up to $1,500, in the fall for innovative instructional projects that teachers will execute during the 2007-08 school year. The grants go to North Carolina teachers serving grades K-12, and are awarded for projects in any discipline as long as they use creative teaching techniques to improve instruction. Teachers who apply by August 28 will be entered into a drawing for a digital camera for their classroom. The final deadline to submit all grants is September 28.
For more information, or to apply, go to www.ncbrightideas.com. Only online applications will be accepted. |
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Educators to Saudi Arabia Program
Applications are available to participate in a fully funded 10-day study tour of Saudi Arabia. Sponsored by Aramco Services Company, this study tour is open to full-time Social Studies Teachers and Library Media Specialists, grades 1-12.
The Educators to Saudi Arabia Program aims to cultivate a greater awareness and understanding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in U.S. primary and secondary schools and communities. Educators will examine Saudi education, culture, history and global relations through site visits, panel discussions, and cultural activities in the cities of Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah from November 19 - December 3, 2007.
Download an application at: http://www.iie.org/aramco. For more information, visit website or contact atsap@iie.org
Application deadline: June 25, 2007.
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UN Association to Discuss Population Pressure Effects "Connections: Population Change, Mobility and Emerging Diseases" Wednesday, May 23
12 to 2pm
Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill
Today there are 6.5 billion of us and the United Nations predicts that we will reach approximately 9 billion people by mid-century. We are adding about 74 million people per year to the planet, and becoming more closely packed together. With growth come problems of human disease and ecological stress, now aggravated by global warming.
The May UNA Lunch and Learn speaker, Melinda Meade, is a professor of geography at UNC-Chapel Hill and a pioneer in the field of cultural ecology, the interaction between population, environment, and culture and its effects on health and disease.
Reservations may be made by sending a check for $17.00 to Barbara Rodbell, 404 Carolina Meadows Villa, Chapel Hill 27517. Reservations deadline: Friday, May 18. |
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