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Embracing Inquiry: The IB Learner Profile Inquirer Trait

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Embracing Inquiry: The IB Learner Profile Inquirer Trait

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Embracing Inquiry: The IB Learner Profile Inquirer Trait - CASIE

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Download and print these helpful sketchnotes from all of Trevor's publications to support adopting inquiry and strengthening implementation in your classroom and school. Thanks go to Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt for collaborating on these sketchnotes and for bringing these ideas to life through the power of imagery. Follow her at @rbathursthunt for an inquiry in the kindergarten classroom perspective.

Also head to the Exclusive Content area of our site to download more amazing graphics!

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Welcome to the exciting and often overwhelming world of generative AI. As IB educators and AI enthusiasts, we are integrating AI into our classrooms to help students navigate this technological shift in education and beyond. Our exploration aligns with the spirit of the IB framework, particularly

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Jaime West South Dade Senior High Homestead IB Art

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Clara R. Gonzalez, Boyd H. Anderson High School, Broward, IB Coordinator and Exam Officer

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Clara R. Gonzalez, Boyd H. Anderson High School, Broward, IB Coordinator and Exam Officer

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Still teach MYP French our school has 2 sections and not enough teachers.

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Step by step directions for entering Internal Assessment and Predicted Grades into IBIS

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IA & Predicticted Grade Entry for IB  Coordinator and Teacher (1)

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The IB Subject Guide (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!)

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Maria Teresa Gessen  Coral Reef High School. Miami    Spanish IB IV/V  Sl and HL

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Maria Teresa Gessen  Coral Reef High School. Miami    Spanish IB IV/V  Sl and HL

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rlanway@dadeschools.net

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Boyd H. Anderson HS
IB / AICE Coordinator
Boyd H. Anderson High School A: 3050 NW 41st Street, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 33309
| P: 305-7137520   F: 754-322-0330 E: clara.gonzalez2@browardschools.com

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Revision Villages
Past paper test

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Theory of Knowledge
DP/CP Coordinator
EE Coordinator
CAS Coordinator
shannon.deere@palmbeachschools.org

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Cecilia Orrego MYP/DP IB Language B TeacherCarrollwood Day School1515 W. Bearss AvenueTampa, FL 33613Phone:  813.920.2288 Fax:  813.969-2673Carrollwood Day SchoolP: 813-920-2288

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Cecilia Orrego MYP/DP IB Language B TeacherCarrollwood Day School1515 W. Bearss AvenueTampa, FL 33613Phone:  813.920.2288 Fax:  813.969-2673Carrollwood Day SchoolP: 813-920-2288

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DP Coordinator
Saint Andrew's School
Boca Raton, FL

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Carrollwood Day School
Assist. Head & DPC
nhsu@cdspatriots.org

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North Miami Senior High School
IB Coordinator
rweintraub@dadeschools.net

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IB Math Applications and Interpretations I/II
Forest Hill Community High School

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Coral Reef Senior High School
French Teacher
jarosa@dadeschools.net

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ELA Teacher
IB Literature A teacher
rachel.roman@browardschools.com

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In a 2014 study from the Harvard Business School, researchers confirmed what many higher ed faculty members know already - reflection matters. The professors conducted three different experiments (with university students and people in the workplace), and the results were consistent. Simply asking test subjects to take a few minutes to reflect resulted in better performance over time - improvements of up to 25%.

Reflection can feel like just one more thing to cram into an already too-short course. But stopping to take a breath rather than jumping right to the next project or activity helps students learn from mistakes and recognize strengths and weaknesses. It can make the difference between success and failure, in school and beyond. And it can be done well whether students are in the classroom, online or both.

Are you looking for some new ways to increase student reflection in your college or university classroom? Here are 15 ideas you can try tomorrow.

1. Write the one-minute paper

How much could you explain in one minute? At the end of class, set a timer and ask students to record their most eye-opening revelations or biggest questions. This activity lets students reflect on learning and build writing skills - plus you'll get a window into their understandings and misunderstandings. Here are some prompts you can use to get students writing.

2. Sketch reflections

Have you discovered sketchnotes? It's a visual notetaking style that mixes writing, drawing and other visual cues. And it's not about the quality of the art - it's about how a different medium prompts students to look at learning from a different perspective. Sketchnoting is often used for lecture notes, but it's just as effective when students need to reflect.

3. Create reflection snowballs

This activity may not work with current health regulations, but it can be adapted for the new reality. In the pre-COVID version, after a mini lecture or presentation, all your students write a key reflection on a sheet of paper and crumple it up. Then they toss their papers to the other side of the room. Once students catch a "snowball," they read it, add something new and repeat. If health regulations make this ill advised, or if your students are online, use randomized breakout rooms in your conferencing software to get students to pair up and share their reflections. Here's how breakout rooms work in Zoom.

4. Develop a professional portfolio

Portfolio building is a mainstay of arts programs, where students need concrete ways to demonstrate the breadth of their knowledge and experience. But the act of choosing one's best work - and articulating why - can increase reflection in many schools of study.

5. Use dedicated reflection journals

Journaling is a tried-and-true reflection activity - especially for practicum-based programs like nursing and education where it's crucial that students connect theory to reality. But there may be some options you're not aware of (ever used key phrase journals? Double-entry journals?). Here's a run down on some ideas to try.

6. Get students blogging

If you'd like to take reflection into the cloud, blogs can be an excellent way to give student writing more value. And it's simple to bring in links, images, videos and more. For a peek into how one university uses blogging to enhance student learning, check out Vanderbilt University's resource page.

7. Take videos

To give your students a fresh perspective on a presentation, performance or practical skill development, pull out your phone or tablet and record it. Watching themselves can give them (and you) incredible insights into their progress. If your students are learning from home, they can record themselves with their phones and then post the videos to a shared class platform. Or you can record them during Zoom meetings and then share.

8. Write exit slips

Before students leave your class, ask them to quickly jot down what they've learned on a sticky note (or answer another reflection question). If your students are fully or partially online, go digital and have them add the ideas to an online whiteboard or other shared collaborative space.

9. Capture quotable learning highlights

Sometimes reflection comes from teasing out the ties between coursework and "real life." Ask students to choose a famous quote and explain why it connects to a concept from class. They could also choose a song, a piece of art, a brand - anything that gets them thinking deeper and reveals a bit more about their passions and interests.

10. Take reflection breaks

Reflection can't be forced, but it is a habit that can be instilled. Build reflective practice by stopping work periodically and encouraging students to record their thoughts about what they've learned. You can boost the reflection by having students share their thoughts with a peer - in person or in a video conferencing breakout room. Eventually, students will start to reflect on their own, without your direction.

11. Add regular sprint retrospectives

Take a page from the agile process (not just for software developers anymore) and introduce sprint retrospectives. Every few weeks, you can set aside time to encourage students to reflect on where they've been and where they're going. This is especially useful in helping student project teams avoid the usual pains of group work.

12. Try reflecting out loud

Reflection doesn't have to be purely solitary. Sometimes big insights come when students have the chance to share their reflections with a larger group. That's why active learning classrooms should be easy to reconfigure for different activities, giving opportunities for both quiet reflection and group sharing. If some students are in the classroom and some are connecting from home, this can be tricky - make sure you choose audio conferencing tools that pick up all voices during classroom discussion. ( Here's how Nureva can help.)

13. Incorporate revision into assessment

Some of the best opportunities for reflection occur during the assessment process. Rather than having students submit work for a grade and then promptly forget about it, try giving them descriptive feedback instead and let them resubmit until they achieve mastery.

14. Prototype and test

Take inspiration from design thinking and create more meaningful opportunities for reflection. The end stages of the process - prototyping and testing - are particularly helpful. Design thinking is often associated with creating something concrete, like an app, but any project could benefit from a design-focused lens.

15. Model your own reflection

Actions speak louder than words. So make sure to model the same reflection skills you teach. Don't be quiet about it either - talk out loud through your thought process to show students that reflecting doesn't stop in the undergrad years.

What are you doing in your courses to get students reflecting?

Classroom audio, evolved

Nureva audio is built for the new reality in higher education. Our systems are quick to install. They automatically adapt to changing classroom configurations. And with thousands of virtual microphones, they let you use every corner of your spaces and be heard - no external mics needed.
Editor's note: This post was originally published October 2015 and has been updated.

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15 ways to spark student reflection in your college classroom

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In a 2014 study from the Harvard Business School, researchers confirmed what many higher ed faculty members know already - reflection matters. The professors conducted three different experiments (with university students and people in the workplace), and the results were consistent.

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Teaching Students to Ask their Own Questions

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Teaching Students to Ask their Own Questions

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The skill of question asking is far too rarely deliberately taught in school. We have worked with and learned from educators to develop a teaching strategy, the Question Formulation Technique (QFT), which provides a simple yet powerful way to teach students how to formulate, work with, and use their own questions.

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Teaching + Learning - Right Question Institute

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. [...]

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Explore STEM Resources for K-12 Educators

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NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind.

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The following links provide resources for vocational educators including: career and technical education, teaching and learning, academics, occupational safety, career related lesson plans, guidance and career and college planning.

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Career and Technical Education Teacher Resources

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Resources for career and technical education teachers including links to curriculum frameworks, workforce investment act, contextual learning, guidance counseling, teacher resources and applied academics.

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Together Anything is Possible Save the Rain is a vast community across continents and oceans. The builders are the hands and feet, the recipients are the heart and soul, and our supporters are the wings giving our mission its flight. Please join us

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Become a part of the grand mission of ending hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.

Not sure where to start? We can help you find a way to get connected, learn more about how you can make a difference, and see the fruits of your labor make a real impact on the world.

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Not sure where to start? We can help you find a way to get connected, learn more about how you can make a difference, and see the fruits of your labor make a real impact on the world.

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The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an educational foundation with worldwide outreach founded in 1968 and which offers education programs to students or pupils 3 to 19 years old. In 2017, more than 4,650 schools worldwide taught International Baccalaureate programs - this corresponds to roughly 1.4 million IB students in 152 countries. Out of all schools, 1700 are located in the US alone.

An important International Baccalaureate Program (one of the four tracks available) is the Diploma Program aimed at students between 16 and 19 years old - in 2016, roughly 150,000 students worldwide took an IB Diploma Program exam. One of the mandatory IB Diploma requirements is to write an extended essay, which contributes significantly to the total score. Below, we provide some guiding information and a selection of extended essay topics to help get you started with this task.

Definition and Purpose

The IB extended essay is part of the core requirements/curriculum of an IB Diploma Program and involves focused independent research by the IB student on a chosen theme. Resulting papers have a typical length of up to 4000 words long (they should tend to reach this, although writing 3500 words can still be acceptable). A low score (E) for the extended paper and/or Theory of Knowledge essay revokes the right to receive an IB Diploma. By contrast, good marks contribute to the overall score, which could impact a student's college application success.

While submission deadlines for extended essays are set by the IB, schools are free to set their own internal deadlines. Preparation and work on this assignment spans several academic terms - this includes choosing extended essay topics, submitting proposals, designating supervisors, information gathering (e.g. sources from local libraries), writing a draft (for instance, over a summer break), receiving feedback from supervisors, etc.

IB Extended Essay Layout

There are six required elements in an extended essay layout:

Title page - should include the title, research question (e.g. "How did phenomenon A cause phenomenon B?"), subject it is registered in, category (for language essays), essay theme and subjects used (for world studies), total word count.

Contents page - should be at the beginning listing headings and subheadings along with corresponding page numbers these can be found on (all pages should be numbered).

Introduction - should describe the focus and scope of this research, used sources, line of argument to be presented.

Essay body - this is the main section where research, analysis, discussion, and evaluation is being performed. The structure might vary from subject to subject but it is essential that evidence and argument development is presented clearly and in appropriate order.

Conclusion - conclusions state what has been accomplished through this research, but also potential limitations, unsolved issues, open questions.

References and bibliography - students should adhere to a chosen academic citation style and use it consistently (different citations styles might be required depending on the discipline).

A methodology section or other sections might also be appropriate. Also, there might be an Appendices section if you have supplementary material to add (this is not included in the total word count). Also note that starting with 2018, no abstract is needed - adding it will unnecessarily steal roughly 300 words from the total word count, which will almost certainly prove detrimental (so it's wise to skip it).

How to Choose a Good Topic

IB students must take six subjects, one from each subject group (there are 6 in total) with the exception that no subject from the sixth group (Arts) is mandatory and can be substituted with a subject from any of the other five groups. IB extended essay topics are normally chosen so that they are related to subjects picked by the student but they must fall into a course belonging to any of the following six subject groups (categories):

Group 1: Studies in language and literature - this includes subjects like student's native language, Language and Literature, Literature and Performance (interdisciplinary).

Group 2: Language acquisition - this includes an additional language (either deepening existing knowledge or starting one from zero).

Group 3: Individuals and societies - includes humanities and social science courses such as Economics, Geography, History, Business Management, Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS), Psychology, Philosophy, Social and Cultural Anthropology and Global Politics, Environmental Systems and Societies, World Religions (interdisciplinary).

Group 4: Experimental sciences - Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Design Technology, Computer Science, Sport, Exercise and Health Science, Environmental Systems (interdisciplinary), Societies and Nature of Science (interdisciplinary).

Group 5: Mathematics. Mathematical Studies, Mathematics, Further Mathematics.

Group 6: Arts - Dance, Music, Theatre, Foreign Languages, Visual Arts, and Film.

It is highly recommended you choose a topic that interests and motivates you - after all, you'll be working on and perfecting your extended paper over several months. Some challenge (e.g. unfamiliar fields) is also fine but risks should be reasonable. Choose issues that are narrow enough to be explored and covered comprehensively in 4000 words - attempting to do this with a very broad theme, would look very unprofessional.

In order to pick an interesting topic, it might be very useful to have brainstorm sessions on your own (this will help you focus on your interests) but also to browse the web or other resources for lists of potential themes (especially if you feel confused or stuck) - it could very well happen that one such topic would inspire you to choose a related one, which would be even better adjusted to your interests and goals.

Choosing a topic is not the only challenge encountered while writing an extended essay - writing up in a clear, organized manner and using correct language is also a must. Even if you proofread your extended paper several times, there might still be errors you can skip (occasional comas, wrong spellings, etc.).

100 IB Extended Essay Topic Ideas

Below is a list of IB extended essay topic ideas sorted by subject that might help you identify a favorite.

Biology extended essay topics

Read also: 130 Interesting Biology Research Paper Topics

Psychology extended essay topics

English extended essay topics

Literature extended essay topics

Read also: Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Students

Geography extended essay topics

History extended essay topics

Physics extended essay topics

Film extended essay topics

Economics extended essay topics

World religion studies extended essays topics

Need Some Expert Help?

While provided topics might be helpful in inspiring a research subject, don't forget that you can always use our essay topic generator to explore even more topics from multiple categories. Also, you can choose to delegate the entire task to our writing experts - you can pick them yourself by reviewing their previous performance on our platform).

Our writers could come up with a topic or pick your favorite one, do all related research, and provide you with a final proofread paper. Our policies guarantee as many free revisions as necessary until you are satisfied with your paper (only after this, money is released to your writer). So if you need help with any writing task, don't hesitate to contact our services.

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The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an educational foundation with worldwide outreach founded in 1968 and which offers education programs to students or pupils 3 to 19 years old. In 2017, more than 4,650 schools worldwide taught International Baccalaureate programs - this corresponds to roughly 1.4 million IB students in 152 countries.

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Supervisor Responsibilities

Supervisors will:

undertake three mandatory reflection sessions with each student they are supervising

initial and date each reflection summarized on the Managebac RPPF and provide comments at the end of the process

encourage and support students throughout the research and writing of the extended essay

discuss the choice of topic with each student and, in particular, help to formulate a well-focused research question which is suitable to the subject of registration and ensure that the chosen research question satisfies appropriate legal and ethical standards with regard to health and safety, confidentiality, human rights, animal welfare and environmental issues

is familiar with the regulations governing the extended essay and the assessment criteria, and gives copies of these to students

monitor the progress of the extended essay to offer guidance and to ensure that the essay is the student's own work (this may include presenting a section of the essay for supervisor comment)

read and comment on one draft only of the extended essay (but do not edit the draft); this should take place after the interim reflection session, but before the final reflection session, the viva voce

ensure that the final version of the essay is handed in before the final reflection session (viva voce) takes place, and that no changes are made to it subsequently

read the final version and, in conjunction with the viva voce, confirm its authenticity.

Source: IBO.org

World Studies

The World Studies EE is organized across six global themes. Students choose one of these under which to register their essay

The World Studies EE invites students to conduct an in-depth, interdisciplinary investigation into an issue of contemporary global importance

The World Studies EE requires students to bring together aspects of different disciplines to illuminate their chosen topic

Students should use two DP subjects. It is strongly recommended that students are undertaking a course of study in at least one of the subjects chosen for their essay

Students are not expected to address the topic in its full complexity, but should aim to generate understandings that are new to them

Subject Specific Standards

Assessment

Five Criterion:

A: Focus and method (6)

B: Knowledge and understanding (6)

C: Critical thinking (12)

D: Presentation (4)

E: Engagement (6)
Total: 34 points

Grade Boundaries (2018)

A 27-34

B 21-26

C 14-20

D 7-13

E 0-6

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LibGuides: IB Extended Essay: Teacher Resources

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Litera Centre is India’s first international team of educators and instructional coaches providing high-quality instruction in the most popular subjects across all boards. Our experts are practitioners, examiners, subject leaders, HODs, having impressive academic achievement records.

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For International Baccalaureate sophomores, IB Bootcamp is a rite of passage as they prepare to enter their first year in the program. From Mar. 29 to 30, the IB Executive council, supervised by Mrs. Van Wyk, aimed to make the event a positive learning experience by filling the two days with games, activities and presentations to break the intimidation of IB examinations and assessments.

The council and volunteering seniors decorated the auditorium with safari-themed balloons, signs and tablecloths. Each senior who led a group dressed up as a safari guide, and their groups had unique names corresponding to random animals, like tigers, cheetahs and hippos.

Day 1: Extended Essay

The first presentation detailed all the aspects of the Extended Essay, such as the maximum word count, the junior year timeline and finding a supervisor. The groups then split up into all the different subjects that an EE can be written on: psychology, English, math, history, environmental science and biology. There was also an undecided section for the students who were unsure of what path they wished to take with the EE. These sections were led by seniors who have already completed their papers, like IB executive council members Gregoire Winston and Esperanza Barrios.

"Before IB Bootcamp, I felt unprepared and nervous for my EE, but now that they have broken it down for us, I feel like I'm more ready to write and at least choose the topic I want," sophomore Victoria Largaespada said.

A break was taken for students to destress with a game of charades between the entire sophomore IB class. Group leaders were responsible for guessing the words their group was acting out, and the auditorium erupted in cheers as different teams took the lead.

Day 2: CAS and IB assessments

As part of the program for day two, the executive council chose to go over Creativity, Activity and Service projects and experiences. The students logged into their ManageBac accounts, where they learned how to turn in future assessments and access platforms they can utilize for access to credible research. Additionally, each group had to brainstorm CAS project ideas for each of the United Nations' sustainable goals as an activity.

The last few hours were spent playing a competitive game of Jeopardy that included ultimate trivia involving teachers, comparing assessments covered in the Bootcamp and EE questions. In this game, Team Butterflies was victorious, and the winners received ribbons along with IB merchandise.

"As part of the IB Executive council, it was difficult to make something so intimidating into fun activities that the sophomores enjoyed. I was happy to hear that most of them felt like they learned something over the course of the two days," senior Kylie Alvarez said.

With the help of the IB Executive Council, the goal of IB Bootcamp was to prepare sophomores for the assignments and course load they will face in the coming years. The two-day long camp offered an opportunity for underclassmen to get real advice from experienced seniors and gain insight on what the IB Program has to offer.

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For International Baccalaureate sophomores, IB Bootcamp is a rite of passage as they prepare to enter their first year in the program. From Mar. 29 to 30, the IB Executive council, supervised by Mrs. Van Wyk, aimed to make the event a positive learning experience by filling the two days with games, activities and presentations...

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New mentors need a simplified mentor guide. No one has time to read through all 103 pages of the guide PLUS the specifics by subject area. We can create timelines for mentors that is specific to your school. Unfortunately, without an EE coordinator identified, who will that responsibility fall on? Google "School EE guides" and get ideas from other schools that have something already created. I wonder if a school's PD day could be used for this?

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Hope Targoff
Broward County Public Schools
District IB Coordinator
Hope.Targoff@Browardschools.com

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Some issues we've encountered: teacher turnover and shared understanding of what the EE is, students getting stuck thinking they have to do subject areas previous students have favored, instead of just what they are truly interested in, procrastination, balancing workload, not having a coordinator, balancing deadlines with all of the other deadlines (like IAs) students have on their plates.

What are we going to do about it? Using TOK as a space to check in on the EE, covering as much as possible in Y1, creating a reference guide with school-specific resources and best practices. We also talked about discouraging students from choosing subject areas that they are not currently enrolled in.

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MYP Coordinator, IB MYP Personal Fitness Teacher
justin.boruch@palmbeachschools.org

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Miramar High School
IB Chemistry
Tahnee.Harrell@browardschools.com

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Deerfield Beach High School
IB Coordinator
kelly.caputo@browardschools.com

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Forest Hill Community High School
Teacher
IB English Ab Initio
IB English B
gelsie.francisco@palmbeachschools.org

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Forest Hill HS - English 11/12 DIL
10th and 11th teacher
kristina.pyle@palmbeachschools.org

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Spanish V I.B. Suncoast High
nancy.estes@palmbeachschools.org
Listening to speak Spanish to my students is like listening music to my soul.

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ken swart
instructor
english/language arts
atlantic high school
kenneth.swart@palmbeachschools.org

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Promoting Peace Through Education

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Atlanta Institute for Diplomatic Leadership

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The AIDL promotes peace through education by creating and supporting diplomacy and leadership training for high school students.

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The IB Diploma Programme at The International School in Genoa

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The following information regarding Extended Essays is valid for students in the class of 2018 and future years.
​All of the information on this page, including the "at a glance" and "key features" below, is taken directly from the IB's Extended Essay website for IB teachers.

The extended essay at a glance
The extended essay is an in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of available Diploma Programme subjects for the session in question. This is normally one of the student's six chosen subjects for those taking the IB diploma, or a subject that a course student has a background in. It is intended to promote academic research and writing skills, providing students with an opportunity to engage in personal research in a topic of their own choice, under the guidance of a supervisor (an appropriately qualified member of staff within the school). This leads to a major piece of formally presented, structured writing, in which ideas and findings are communicated in a reasoned and coherent manner, appropriate to the subject chosen. It is mandatory that all students undertake three reflection sessions with their supervisor, which includes a short, concluding interview, or viva voce, with their supervisor following the completion of the extended essay. An assessment of this reflection process is made under criterion E (Engagement) using the Reflections on planning and progress form .
The extended essay is assessed against common criteria, interpreted in ways appropriate to each subject.

Key features of the extended essay

The extended essay is compulsory for all students taking the Diploma Programme and is an option for course students.

A student must achieve a D grade or higher to be awarded the Diploma.

The extended essay is externally assessed and, in combination with the grade for theory of knowledge, contributes up to three points to the total score for the IB Diploma.

The extended essay process helps prepare students for success at university and in other pathways beyond the Diploma Programme.

When choosing a subject for the extended essay, students must consult the list of available Diploma Programme subjects published in the Handbook of procedures for the Diploma Programme for the session in question.

The extended essay is a piece of independent research on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with a supervisor in the school.

It is presented as a formal piece of sustained academic writing containing no more than 4,000 words accompanied by a reflection form of no more than 500 words.

It is the result of approximately 40 hours of work by the student.

Students are supported by a supervision process recommended to be 3-5 hours, which includes three mandatory reflection sessions.

The third and final mandatory reflection session is the viva voce, which is a concluding interview with the supervising teacher.​

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The following information regarding Extended Essays is valid for students in the class of 2018 and future years.​All of the information on this page, including the "at a glance" and "key features" below, is taken directly from the IB's Extended Essay website for IB teachers.

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Hover over each kid's picture to see their EE papers. Has sample for SY21 and SY22.

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All IB diploma candidates are required to undertake an independent research project on a subject of their choice, with supervision by a faculty mentor, culminating in an essay of approximately 4,000 words.

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All IB diploma candidates are required to undertake an independent research project on a subject of their choice, with supervision by a faculty mentor, culminating in an essay of approximately 4,000 words.

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Broken down in 13 steps. Even goes over the format/font, etc of the paper.

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It is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.
What is the significance of the extended essay?
The extended essay provides:

practical preparation for undergraduate research

an opportunity for students to investigate a topic of special interest to them, which is also related to one of the student's six DP subjects.

Through the research process for the extended essay, students develop skills in:

formulating an appropriate research question

engaging in a personal exploration of the topic

communicating ideas

developing an argument.

Participation in this process develops the capacity to analyze, synthesize and evaluate knowledge.
How is study of the extended essay structured?
Students are supported throughout the process of researching and writing the extended essay, with advice and guidance from a supervisor who is usually a teacher at the school.

The IB recommends that students follow the completion of the written essay with a short, concluding interview with their supervisor. This is known as viva voce.

The extended essay and interview can be a valuable stimulus for discussion in countries where interviews are required prior to acceptance for employment or for a place at university.
How is the extended essay assessed?
All extended essays are externally assessed by examiners appointed by the IB. The total marks available are 34. However, when your supervisor marks your essay in order to arrive at a predicted grade, the grading will be based on the qualitative grade descriptors for the EE, not a translation of a number score into a letter grade.

Students are evaluated on five criterion:

Criterion A - focus and method.

Criterion B - knowledge and understanding.

Criterion C - critical thinking.

Criterion D - presentation.

Criterion E - engagement.

Find out how points awarded for the extended essay contribute to a student's overall diploma score.

Source: International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme website

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LibGuides: Extended Essay: Extended Essay- The Basics

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It is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper. What is the significance of the extended essay? The extended essay provides: practical preparation for undergraduate research an opportunity for students to investigate a topic of special interest to them, which is also related to one of the student's six DP subjects.

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Goes over time management, structure, assessment, citations, plagiarism

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Discusses not to pick an easy topic that has little field research, to organization, to viva voce

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What is the Extended Essay?

The Extended Essay (known as the 'EE'), together with CAS and TOK, is a core component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and is mandatory for all students, regardless of the subjects they are taking. The aim of the EE is to provide students with the opportunity to research a topic of their interest, and showcase their knowledge and reading beyond the classroom syllabus. The essay also enables students to acquire some of the skills that are essential for researching and writing university Bachelor and Master theses.

Students usually start working on their essay in the second term of the first year of their IB Diploma Programme, around January time. They will need a supervisor (one of the teachers at their school). They will meet regularly with them to help structure their research questions and guide them in writing the paper. The programme allows for one draft to be handed in to the supervisor for feedback, and then the second version is the final version. The Essay should be no longer than 4000 words, with a short viva voce at the end. The process takes around a year.

Approaching the IB Extended Essay

How to choose a topic for the Extended Essay

The topic must be related to one of the six topics that the student is taking for their Diploma, or they can take an interdisciplinary 'world studies' issue that relates to two of their subjects. This requires that a global issue to be looked at through a local lens, for example how wider climate change, cultural, terrorism, technology or health trends are manifested in a specific context or place.
It is generally best for students to choose a topic that they are passionate about, not least because they will have to work on it for a year! One way to choose is to take something that they recently questioned.

Examples

For example, a Physics student watching the film 'The Martian', which was filmed in the Namibia desert, might have found it very surprising that Earth bears such a resemblance to Mars, and they could set about researching certain communalities and differences between these two planets. An English student might want to take a couple of poems and compare how the writers use a particular literary style. In Economics, a student might analyse the dynamics of a specific market (such as shoes, cars, finance, a food-type), against a particular theory. A History student might look at how the rules of two different dictators can be viewed through a certain ideology.

It is normal to be overwhelmed by having too much choice for the topic. Brainstorming about the subject they most enjoy or are good at, and thinking more specifically about why they enjoy it can help generate ideas. Taking two related things they are interested in (historic events, technologies, inventions, books, poems, geographies, markets, planets, experiments and so on) and comparing them against a related concept can also be a good model to start with.
The topic needs to be approved by the IBO, which the school will help with.

How to choose a research question for the Extended Essay

Once students have chosen their topic, they need to decide on a research question. A wrongly formulated research question will turn this learning experience into a stressful one. It is essential that the question is relevant, focused, that the answer is not a simple yes or no, but also that it is actually answerable. It is not necessary to prove the research question right - disagreeing with the initial hypothesis is perfectly fine. Questions will fall broadly into two categories. Either they will be aimed at solving a problem, for example, through conducting an experiment. Or, they will lead to a research or study around the topic.

The question should not necessarily start with words like, ' Does', 'Will' or 'Is'. Simply stating that ' yes, it is true' or ' no, it is not true' is insufficient. For this reason the highest scoring essays usually have a research question that start with, ' To what extent', 'A study of', 'An analysis of', or ' How far ', or could even just be a statement to analyse.

Students often set a question without contemplating if they are capable of answering it. It is important to evaluate how the relevant data can be collected, as an essay that includes both primary and secondary research will be well supported. However, it should be noted that in some cases it is only possible to use secondary data. This is fine, but it is good to state why. If thinking around the question has started early enough, if there are too many barriers to collecting the data, it may be best to alter the question with the supervisor's help before getting stuck in.

The body of the essay: investigating, analysing and writing

Once the research question has been set and tested, it's time to start collecting primary and secondary data. Keeping a log of the data is a good idea. The results of the research can be put in an appendix and, where appropriate, referred to in the text. In the essay itself the data can be summarised in charts and tables.

Once all the data has been collected, it can be analysed. The outcomes of this should be evaluated against relevant concepts and reading in the chosen subject.

It's a good idea to write out the arguments, structure, and headings before beginning writing so the essay is presented clearly and logically, using any terminology correctly.

The introduction and conclusion

A rough draft of the introduction can be written at an early stage. After having collected, analysed and evaluated the data, the introduction can be adjusted to fit the essay. The introduction should explain why the research question is worth investigating, and how it relates to the subject, in other words, it should set the academic context for the essay.

The conclusion should be written at the end, and should not include any additional research or analysis. It should summarise what has already been stated. Examiners carefully look at this.

The abstract and final sections of the Extended Essay

At the end of writing, the student needs to write the abstract, which is a 300-word summary of the essay. It should include the research question, a very short summary of the analysis and the answer to the research question.
Students also need a title page, contents page, references and bibliography, and any appendices (for example, containing any data). All of these things must be included in the word limit.

Deadlines for the essay

The official IB deadline is different for every school, and schools will let students know. 4000 words cannot all be written the weekend before the deadline. Therefore, careful planning is needed to avoid a last minute crunch. After all, it would be a shame to waste the amazing research and ideas by running out of writing time. Schools tend to set their own internal deadlines for their students to have completed different sections of the project. Therefore it is good to be in constant communication with supervisors and relevant subject teachers. This will allow you to make sure each section is completed along the way.

The viva voce interview

The viva voce is essentially a short interview with the supervisor, in which they ask students to reflect on the strengths and successes of their findings. Also, they could look at any areas that caused unexpected problems, and what can be learned from the research report. It's nothing to worry about. It's just something that can be greatly enhanced with preparation and thinking beforehand. They are also making sure that the report hasn't been plagiarised!

A word of advice

Students often make the mistake of deciding on an easier, less interesting field of research. It would be much better to take on a more complex topic that fascinates them. If there is a subject that they are considering studying at university, now is a good time to really get into that subject. The finished product could help with the university application and interview. As long as the question can be tested with data and the student and supervisor think it is plausible, it is best to go for the more exciting option. The disciplines learnt during the EE are useful for approaching real-life problems, and knowing this can help keep motivation up. Learning to ask, "Do I have enough data about a given situation?", or "What does this data allow me to conclude for the moment?" is never a bad thing!

About the Author

Barbara Macario, Founder of Calla International.
Umberto Cannella, PhD, Manager of the Swiss Space Centre at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.
Calla International is an organisation that creates educational events for IB students to enhance their learning outside the classroom. Calla International also offers free opportunities for students to discuss their Extended Essay research question, proposed topic and research methodology with professional academics, such as Umberto Cannella.
Official IBO assessment criteria for the IB EE can be found here.

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The IB Extended Essay Explained * What is the Extended Essay?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Extended Essay (known as the 'EE'), together with CAS and TOK, is a core component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and is mandatory for all students, regardless of the subjects they are taking. The aim of the EE is to provide students with the opportunity to research a topic of their interest, and showcase their knowledge and reading beyond the classroom syllabus.

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Explains general set up of essay and sources.

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IB Extended Essay is a smaller beast considering that you give it enough time before it turns into a bigger one. All you need to do is relax your mind, de-stress and follow a simple procedure explained further in the article. There is no need to panic. Trust us, listen to us, be like us!

Introduce and elaborate topic that you are researching in your EE.

Section-1: Related arguments, theories and topics form your course learning

Section- 2: Beyond your Course

Quick Note: Don't include a recommendationssection in your EE

With this, we come towards the end of our article on what is an IB extended essay and how to write an extended essay. Like we mentioned earlier, it is not that difficult. All you need is dedication, set timelines and proper research. So, don't worry, there are no rabbits to pull out of your hat today. If you want to score a 36 on 36 in your Extended Essay, make sure you check out our Extended Essay Guide which offers '5 never heard before' tips which will help you write a quality essay.

We want Nail IB to be your virtual companion to hustle through IB. We have a lot of helpful blogs which will help you navigate your way through IB. Apart from our blogs, we offer "Take A Test' module, which helps IB students evaluate their level in the IB Program. Make sure to try a test and see your strengths and weaknesses. And finally, to make sure that you have all the resources that you might need to nail IB, we have curated special student bundles for your convenience.

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IB Program: What Is An Extended Essay And How to Write It? - Nail IB (2020)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
IB Extended Essay is a smaller beast considering that you give it enough time before it turns into a bigger one. All you need to do is relax your mind, de-stress and follow a simple procedure explained further in the article. There is no need to panic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Resources for IB® Diploma Programme mathematics teachers

Support student success for the new International Baccalaureate® (IB®) Diploma Programme mathematics curricula using Texas Instruments (TI) resources.

TI activities and webinars help strengthen:

Mastery of concepts and principles

Logical, critical and creative thinking

Breadth and depth of knowledge

Explore free activities

Analysis and Approaches

Get activities that support core concepts for Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches.

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Get activities that support core concepts for Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation.

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Strengthen teaching practices and learn how to use TI technology and IB® Diploma Programme-aligned lessons effectively.

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Strengthen teaching practices and learn how to use TI technology and IB® Diploma Programme-aligned lessons effectively.

On-demand webinars

Missed a webinar? Watch recorded webinars that support the IB® Diploma Programme.

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Resources for International Baccalaureate® (IB®) | Texas Instruments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore free activities on Analysis and Approaches, and Applications and Interpretation. Support student success for the new IB® curricula.

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"Our work is dedicated to the IB community of learners, educators, and schools - providing practical, effective, and innovative IB Economics resources."

IB Teachers

All of our resources are designed to empower and enhance your teaching of IB Economics -- Workshops, Video Lessons, eBooks, and more!

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Our resources are here to accompany your 2-year studies of IB Economics -- learning new content, reviewing for an assessment, or getting ready for the IB Exam!

IB Schools

Join our global community of IB schools with full access to all of the IB Economics resources! Up to 100 individual users, both students and teachers!

- IB Economics Teacher Reviews -

5 star rating
Internal Assessment Teacher Workshop | April 2021

The most helpful part of Brad’s workshop was the clarity on the structure of the Internal Assessment and the best type of articles to use to get the most out of the IA commentary. I was very grateful for Brad’s continuous ability to answer my ques...

Read More

The most helpful part of Brad’s workshop was the clarity on the structure of the Internal Assessment and the best type of articles to use to get the most out of the IA commentary. I was very grateful for Brad’s continuous ability to answer my questions throughout to ensure that I fully understood what was being communicated and could challenge some of my current practices. Even though the workshop was full, the session was very interactive and felt almost personalized.

Read Less

5 star rating
Market Power Teacher Workshop | December 2020

Wendy | Bulgaria

Brad’s workshop was just what I needed when teaching Market Power. He clearly explained IB expectations, had great teaching strategies, and shared resources that I immediately used in the classroom. Plus, it was super enjoyable, because Brad is ...

Read More

Brad’s workshop was just what I needed when teaching Market Power. He clearly explained IB expectations, had great teaching strategies, and shared resources that I immediately used in the classroom. Plus, it was super enjoyable, because Brad is a remarkable person and dedicated professional. I highly recommend his teacher workshops and all of his online materials -- they are very helpful!

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Daniel | United States

The Launching the School Year workshop was immensely helpful in ramping up for the school year. Having never taught IB DP Economics before, I entered the course not knowing where to begin or what to focus on. I felt like I learned, in four weeks, ...

Read More

The Launching the School Year workshop was immensely helpful in ramping up for the school year. Having never taught IB DP Economics before, I entered the course not knowing where to begin or what to focus on. I felt like I learned, in four weeks, what it might otherwise take me three years to figure out on my own. The workshop not only laid out a clear architecture for thinking about the course; it also gave me ways to think and talk about and plan for the course that I could put to use with my students immediately.

Read Less

5 star rating
Extended Essay Teacher Workshop | March 2021

Jonathan | Mongolia

I highly recommend Brad’s Extended Essay Teacher Workshop, regardless of your level of experience teaching IB Economics. The biggest problem that the majority of us face as IB teachers is the lack of certainty of what and how to guide the EE proc...

Read More

I highly recommend Brad’s Extended Essay Teacher Workshop, regardless of your level of experience teaching IB Economics. The biggest problem that the majority of us face as IB teachers is the lack of certainty of what and how to guide the EE process. Brad’s style of delivery is clear and well paced, and he provided us with solid strategies and resources to guide our students through the Extended Essay process. Another thing that Brad did was that he assumed zero prior knowledge. I loved this, because as a new IB Economics teacher I have felt a bit overwhelmed in the other workshops I’ve attended. The fact that he explained each area of the Extended Essay process in a non-judgemental way made it easy for everyone to ask any question that they wanted. Finally, it comes clear as day that Brad really cares. IB teachers need support, understanding and guidance, not judgment and ridicule. I got so much peace of mind from this workshop and left feeling empowered to guide my students.

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Barbora | Hong Kong

As a new Economics teacher, I was struggling to find the right pace while trying to fill the gap between what IB wanted students to know and what I needed to do as a teacher to facilitate this so my students would be well prepared for their exams....

Read More

As a new Economics teacher, I was struggling to find the right pace while trying to fill the gap between what IB wanted students to know and what I needed to do as a teacher to facilitate this so my students would be well prepared for their exams. I had many questions - do I teach everything? how do I support my students so they not only know the content, the diagrams, the facts but have those critical skills to be able to analyse and evaluate with conviction? how do I know my IA marking is on par with the IB examiners? Not only I got answers to these questions, during the workshop I've also gained valuable skills and resources to teach confidently. Thanks to Brad, I feel my students are now well supported to not only succeed in their exams but become knowledgeable and critical thinker economists.

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Antonina | Uruguay

This is an ideal course for anyone who is NEW to teach IB economics, whether they are familiar with the IB and not Economics, or familiar with Economics but not the IB. Brad covers every aspect of both the course and the IB Diploma Programme. He ...

Read More

This is an ideal course for anyone who is NEW to teach IB economics, whether they are familiar with the IB and not Economics, or familiar with Economics but not the IB. Brad covers every aspect of both the course and the IB Diploma Programme. He gives very useful and practical advice on how to teach, how to allocate time to different aspects of the Syllabus, and provided clarity on how to teach the essential skills of IB Economics to students. I highly recommend Brad's teacher workshops!

Read Less

5 star rating
Internal Assessment Teacher Workshop | January 2022

Matt | United States

This is one of the few IB teacher workshops that fulfilled my expectations completely: it was right to the point, with practical advice on how to teach, to help my students and finally, how to evaluate objectively my students' work on the IA.

This is one of the few IB teacher workshops that fulfilled my expectations completely: it was right to the point, with practical advice on how to teach, to help my students and finally, how to evaluate objectively my students' work on the IA.

Read Less

5 star rating
Internal Assessment Teacher Workshop | January 2022

Svetlana | Ecuador

Brad is a fantastic resource and passionate educator; he does a great job sharing his experience in teaching IB Economics. I was glad to meet him and join his community of IB Economics teachers!

Brad is a fantastic resource and passionate educator; he does a great job sharing his experience in teaching IB Economics. I was glad to meet him and join his community of IB Economics teachers!

Read Less

5 star rating
Extended Essay Teacher Workshop | October 2021

Sofia | Chile

I am so glad that I attended Brad Cartwright’s IB Extended Essay Workshop, since it was insightful, informative, and useful. His practical, specific, and encouraging approach really outlined the role of the supervisor and how to guide the student...

Read More

I am so glad that I attended Brad Cartwright’s IB Extended Essay Workshop, since it was insightful, informative, and useful. His practical, specific, and encouraging approach really outlined the role of the supervisor and how to guide the student to his/her best abilities. Thank you for showing us “what and how” we can bridge the objectives of the tasks and the mark scheme. I would absolutely recommend this, and all of his other workshops, whether you are a new or experienced IB teacher.

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Jane | Spain

The BEST value for the money in the IB teacher workshop market. If you are relatively new in delivering the IB Economics course, your students will see a marked improvement in your delivery of the content from week 1 and will thank you for taking ...

Read More

The BEST value for the money in the IB teacher workshop market. If you are relatively new in delivering the IB Economics course, your students will see a marked improvement in your delivery of the content from week 1 and will thank you for taking the course! Also, a great opportunity to meet fellow IB Economic teachers from around the world who are committed to improving the classroom learning experience of Economics for their students, as well as help foster a life long interest in the subject.

Read Less

5 star rating
IB Economics New Teacher Workshop | July 2020

Maxine | South Africa

This workshop wasn’t “EXTRA” for my professional development, I would say it was ESSENTIAL! As someone new to the IB curriculum and to teaching Economics the workshop covered all of the vital concepts I needed to know to survive my first semester...

Read More

This workshop wasn’t “EXTRA” for my professional development, I would say it was ESSENTIAL! As someone new to the IB curriculum and to teaching Economics the workshop covered all of the vital concepts I needed to know to survive my first semester of teaching. Brad's workshop contained high quality content that was delivered with passion and a genuine desire to share your knowledge and to present it in a way that becomes useful to teachers even with varying levels of experience. In terms of what we covered and were able I am so glad that I attended Brad Cartwright’s IB Extended Essay Workshop, since it was insightful, informative, and useful. His practical, specific, and encouraging approach really outlined the role of the supervisor and how to guide the student to his/her best abilities. Thank you for showing us “what and how” we can bridge the objectives of the tasks and the mark scheme. I would absolutely recommend this, and all of his other workshops, whether you are a NEW or EXPERIENCED IB teacher. to achieve in only 2 days, the workshop exceeded all of my expectations. The pace was fast but reasonable. Brad answered every question with grace, simplicity, and absolute competence demonstrating his mastery in the field. I loved his energy, passion, and generosity as a facilitator--and it is clear that it is his mission to help us become the best teachers we can be.

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Perry | United Kingdom

I thoroughly recommend Brad’s workshops BOTH for teachers new to IB economics and for those with a few years under their belt. The workshops are well organized and allow for active participation by participants. Even though I have over twenty-year...

Read More

I thoroughly recommend Brad’s workshops BOTH for teachers new to IB economics and for those with a few years under their belt. The workshops are well organized and allow for active participation by participants. Even though I have over twenty-years of experience teaching IB Economics, I have come away with fresh ideas of how to organize the material and have implemented many of them already.

Read Less

5 star rating
Internal Assessment Teacher Workshop | April 2021

Fiona | United Kingdom

The most helpful part of Brad’s workshop was the clarity on the structure of the Internal Assessment and the best type of articles to use to get the most out of the IA commentary. I was very grateful for Brad’s continuous ability to answer my ques...

Read More

The most helpful part of Brad’s workshop was the clarity on the structure of the Internal Assessment and the best type of articles to use to get the most out of the IA commentary. I was very grateful for Brad’s continuous ability to answer my questions throughout to ensure that I fully understood what was being communicated and could challenge some of my current practices. Even though the workshop was full, the session was very interactive and felt almost personalized.

Read Less

5 star rating
Market Power Teacher Workshop | December 2020

Wendy | Bulgaria

Brad’s workshop was just what I needed when teaching Market Power. He clearly explained IB expectations, had great teaching strategies, and shared resources that I immediately used in the classroom. Plus, it was super enjoyable, because Brad is ...

Read More

Brad’s workshop was just what I needed when teaching Market Power. He clearly explained IB expectations, had great teaching strategies, and shared resources that I immediately used in the classroom. Plus, it was super enjoyable, because Brad is a remarkable person and dedicated professional. I highly recommend his teacher workshops and all of his online materials -- they are very helpful!

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Daniel | United States

The Launching the School Year workshop was immensely helpful in ramping up for the school year. Having never taught IB DP Economics before, I entered the course not knowing where to begin or what to focus on. I felt like I learned, in four weeks, ...

Read More

The Launching the School Year workshop was immensely helpful in ramping up for the school year. Having never taught IB DP Economics before, I entered the course not knowing where to begin or what to focus on. I felt like I learned, in four weeks, what it might otherwise take me three years to figure out on my own. The workshop not only laid out a clear architecture for thinking about the course; it also gave me ways to think and talk about and plan for the course that I could put to use with my students immediately.

Read Less

5 star rating
Extended Essay Teacher Workshop | March 2021

Jonathan | Mongolia

I highly recommend Brad’s Extended Essay Teacher Workshop, regardless of your level of experience teaching IB Economics. The biggest problem that the majority of us face as IB teachers is the lack of certainty of what and how to guide the EE proc...

Read More

I highly recommend Brad’s Extended Essay Teacher Workshop, regardless of your level of experience teaching IB Economics. The biggest problem that the majority of us face as IB teachers is the lack of certainty of what and how to guide the EE process. Brad’s style of delivery is clear and well paced, and he provided us with solid strategies and resources to guide our students through the Extended Essay process. Another thing that Brad did was that he assumed zero prior knowledge. I loved this, because as a new IB Economics teacher I have felt a bit overwhelmed in the other workshops I’ve attended. The fact that he explained each area of the Extended Essay process in a non-judgemental way made it easy for everyone to ask any question that they wanted. Finally, it comes clear as day that Brad really cares. IB teachers need support, understanding and guidance, not judgment and ridicule. I got so much peace of mind from this workshop and left feeling empowered to guide my students.

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Barbora | Hong Kong

As a new Economics teacher, I was struggling to find the right pace while trying to fill the gap between what IB wanted students to know and what I needed to do as a teacher to facilitate this so my students would be well prepared for their exams....

Read More

As a new Economics teacher, I was struggling to find the right pace while trying to fill the gap between what IB wanted students to know and what I needed to do as a teacher to facilitate this so my students would be well prepared for their exams. I had many questions - do I teach everything? how do I support my students so they not only know the content, the diagrams, the facts but have those critical skills to be able to analyse and evaluate with conviction? how do I know my IA marking is on par with the IB examiners? Not only I got answers to these questions, during the workshop I've also gained valuable skills and resources to teach confidently. Thanks to Brad, I feel my students are now well supported to not only succeed in their exams but become knowledgeable and critical thinker economists.

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Antonina | Uruguay

This is an ideal course for anyone who is NEW to teach IB economics, whether they are familiar with the IB and not Economics, or familiar with Economics but not the IB. Brad covers every aspect of both the course and the IB Diploma Programme. He ...

Read More

This is an ideal course for anyone who is NEW to teach IB economics, whether they are familiar with the IB and not Economics, or familiar with Economics but not the IB. Brad covers every aspect of both the course and the IB Diploma Programme. He gives very useful and practical advice on how to teach, how to allocate time to different aspects of the Syllabus, and provided clarity on how to teach the essential skills of IB Economics to students. I highly recommend Brad's teacher workshops!

Read Less

5 star rating
Internal Assessment Teacher Workshop | January 2022

Matt | United States

This is one of the few IB teacher workshops that fulfilled my expectations completely: it was right to the point, with practical advice on how to teach, to help my students and finally, how to evaluate objectively my students' work on the IA.

This is one of the few IB teacher workshops that fulfilled my expectations completely: it was right to the point, with practical advice on how to teach, to help my students and finally, how to evaluate objectively my students' work on the IA.

Read Less

5 star rating
Internal Assessment Teacher Workshop | January 2022

Svetlana | Ecuador

Brad is a fantastic resource and passionate educator; he does a great job sharing his experience in teaching IB Economics. I was glad to meet him and join his community of IB Economics teachers!

Brad is a fantastic resource and passionate educator; he does a great job sharing his experience in teaching IB Economics. I was glad to meet him and join his community of IB Economics teachers!

Read Less

5 star rating
Extended Essay Teacher Workshop | October 2021

Sofia | Chile

I am so glad that I attended Brad Cartwright’s IB Extended Essay Workshop, since it was insightful, informative, and useful. His practical, specific, and encouraging approach really outlined the role of the supervisor and how to guide the student...

Read More

I am so glad that I attended Brad Cartwright’s IB Extended Essay Workshop, since it was insightful, informative, and useful. His practical, specific, and encouraging approach really outlined the role of the supervisor and how to guide the student to his/her best abilities. Thank you for showing us “what and how” we can bridge the objectives of the tasks and the mark scheme. I would absolutely recommend this, and all of his other workshops, whether you are a new or experienced IB teacher.

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Jane | Spain

The BEST value for the money in the IB teacher workshop market. If you are relatively new in delivering the IB Economics course, your students will see a marked improvement in your delivery of the content from week 1 and will thank you for taking ...

Read More

The BEST value for the money in the IB teacher workshop market. If you are relatively new in delivering the IB Economics course, your students will see a marked improvement in your delivery of the content from week 1 and will thank you for taking the course! Also, a great opportunity to meet fellow IB Economic teachers from around the world who are committed to improving the classroom learning experience of Economics for their students, as well as help foster a life long interest in the subject.

Read Less

5 star rating
IB Economics New Teacher Workshop | July 2020

Maxine | South Africa

This workshop wasn’t “EXTRA” for my professional development, I would say it was ESSENTIAL! As someone new to the IB curriculum and to teaching Economics the workshop covered all of the vital concepts I needed to know to survive my first semester...

Read More

This workshop wasn’t “EXTRA” for my professional development, I would say it was ESSENTIAL! As someone new to the IB curriculum and to teaching Economics the workshop covered all of the vital concepts I needed to know to survive my first semester of teaching. Brad's workshop contained high quality content that was delivered with passion and a genuine desire to share your knowledge and to present it in a way that becomes useful to teachers even with varying levels of experience. In terms of what we covered and were able I am so glad that I attended Brad Cartwright’s IB Extended Essay Workshop, since it was insightful, informative, and useful. His practical, specific, and encouraging approach really outlined the role of the supervisor and how to guide the student to his/her best abilities. Thank you for showing us “what and how” we can bridge the objectives of the tasks and the mark scheme. I would absolutely recommend this, and all of his other workshops, whether you are a NEW or EXPERIENCED IB teacher. to achieve in only 2 days, the workshop exceeded all of my expectations. The pace was fast but reasonable. Brad answered every question with grace, simplicity, and absolute competence demonstrating his mastery in the field. I loved his energy, passion, and generosity as a facilitator--and it is clear that it is his mission to help us become the best teachers we can be.

Read Less

5 star rating
Launching the New School Year Teacher Workshop | September 2021

Perry | United Kingdom

I thoroughly recommend Brad’s workshops BOTH for teachers new to IB economics and for those with a few years under their belt. The workshops are well organized and allow for active participation by participants. Even though I have over twenty-year...

Read More

I thoroughly recommend Brad’s workshops BOTH for teachers new to IB economics and for those with a few years under their belt. The workshops are well organized and allow for active participation by participants. Even though I have over twenty-years of experience teaching IB Economics, I have come away with fresh ideas of how to organize the material and have implemented many of them already.

Read Less

- IB Economics Student Reviews -

5 star rating
Holy Bible of IB Economics! | Class of 2021

Nicolas | Chile

Like the title says, this website is the holy bible of IB Economics. Everything is extremely organized, all the concepts are explained properly (with lots of details), and it is easy to understand. Also, it is important to mention that there are n...

Read More

Like the title says, this website is the holy bible of IB Economics. Everything is extremely organized, all the concepts are explained properly (with lots of details), and it is easy to understand. Also, it is important to mention that there are notes/presentations to download for every single topic that contains all the information one could possibly need. Mr. Cartwright, you are the man. Props to you for making such an amazing website.

Read Less

5 star rating
Best Economics Teacher Ever! | Class of 2021

Astrid Yap | Hong Kong

Your videos saved my IB Diploma! Everything is so clear now! Your videos are informative and funny, which makes learning fun! I wish all teachers could be like you!

Your videos saved my IB Diploma! Everything is so clear now! Your videos are informative and funny, which makes learning fun! I wish all teachers could be like you!

Read Less

5 star rating
Changed my life! | Class of 2021

Pratiti | India

I've been using this website since Covid-19 took over and it has helped me so much for studying IB. The notes are really useful and the courses so well organized that it makes it easy and enjoyable to learn heavy content. I highly recommended! B...

Read More

I've been using this website since Covid-19 took over and it has helped me so much for studying IB. The notes are really useful and the courses so well organized that it makes it easy and enjoyable to learn heavy content. I highly recommended! Brad is amazing!

Read Less

5 star rating
Outstanding Resources and Real-life Examples!

David | United Kingdom

This website is a goldmine of resources for any Economics student! As an IB Economics HL student, I loved Brad's presentation style--direct, entertaining, easy to understand--but the real-life examples he uses are clutch....so clear and understan...

Read More

This website is a goldmine of resources for any Economics student! As an IB Economics HL student, I loved Brad's presentation style--direct, entertaining, easy to understand--but the real-life examples he uses are clutch....so clear and understandable. Plus, the resources are downloadable and incredibly useful. This site is a must for any IB Economics student!

Read Less

5 star rating
Fastest Way to a 7! | Student Member | Class of 2021

Anthony | Peru

I thought the course was well structured in the sense that it goes from small simple concepts, then building upon each other to reach a well-rounded knowledge about the topic. That is good for comprehension when you learn something new. The thing ...

Read More

I thought the course was well structured in the sense that it goes from small simple concepts, then building upon each other to reach a well-rounded knowledge about the topic. That is good for comprehension when you learn something new. The thing I most enjoyed and found very useful was that towards the end of the unit, the videos start focusing on possible real-life scenarios which make the viewer think of what to write and add in an evaluation for a test. The best part is that all possible "textbook" answers are given throughout the videos which are great when writing an evaluation. Having all textbook answers focused my thinking on solutions in the evaluation that are not mentioned in the textbook, for example, discussing ethical and or social consequences in addition to the economical ones.

Read Less

5 star rating
This Guy Is Amazing | Class of 2022

Bridgett | Canada

This guy is ah-mazing! He has clearly deconstructed & explained, what my professor made clear as mud. I totally get it now! Thank you! Brad is by far one of the best instructors of Economics and being a member of this site has changed my ex...

Read More

This guy is ah-mazing! He has clearly deconstructed & explained, what my professor made clear as mud. I totally get it now! Thank you! Brad is by far one of the best instructors of Economics and being a member of this site has changed my experience in class!

Read Less

5 star rating
Recommended to Anyone Planning on Getting a 7! | Class of 2022

Diego | Switzerland

To anyone on wondering if they should subscribe, I recommend that your absolutely do so! I was getting high 5s and low 6s on my Econ tests. However, after purchasing the course I managed to raise my grade to consistent 7s. The beauty of this site...

Read More

To anyone on wondering if they should subscribe, I recommend that your absolutely do so! I was getting high 5s and low 6s on my Econ tests. However, after purchasing the course I managed to raise my grade to consistent 7s. The beauty of this site is that all of videos are organized into easy to follow topics. If there was ever any topic I didn't fully understand in class, I would watch one of Brad's videos and confidently walk into class the next day knowing I was going to ace my next test! Subscribe! You won't regret it.

Read Less

5 star rating
The Best Thing I Did for My Studies! | Class of 2022

Sergio | United States

I loved this website! Worth every cent! I can't stop telling my friends about how lucky I am to have essentially my own IB Economics tutor whenever I want--and for 12 bucks a month! Brad describes complex Economic information with such clarity a...

Read More

I loved this website! Worth every cent! I can't stop telling my friends about how lucky I am to have essentially my own IB Economics tutor whenever I want--and for 12 bucks a month! Brad describes complex Economic information with such clarity and with a passion that is contagious. If you are a serious IB Economics student, you're crazy not to subscribe! It's the best thing I did!

Read Less

5 star rating
The Best thing that Happened to my IB Economics Studies | Class of 2023

Emilia | Nicaragua

I enjoy watching every video, and I am exited to about my studies of IB Economics now! I bought a year's access and it is totally worth it. Brad uses real-world examples making it very easy for me to follow along and understand. He is also supe...

Read More

I enjoy watching every video, and I am exited to about my studies of IB Economics now! I bought a year's access and it is totally worth it. Brad uses real-world examples making it very easy for me to follow along and understand. He is also super engaging and I actually like listening to his voice, which is definitely important when watching videos. He seems like he would be the cool and genuine teacher if this were a school. Thanks to finding this site I have a strong feeling I will do really well in IB Economics--I'm already getting 6s instead of 4!

Read Less

5 star rating
Best Way to Get a 7! | Class of 2022

Matias | Guatemala

IB Economics is one of the most challenging courses, as it has many theories and a complex vocabulary. Brad's teaching helped me overcome these challenges by providing me with two skills that many online tutors lack; being clear and concise. With...

Read More

IB Economics is one of the most challenging courses, as it has many theories and a complex vocabulary. Brad's teaching helped me overcome these challenges by providing me with two skills that many online tutors lack; being clear and concise. With Brad's careful clear analysis and concise explanation of each topic, you will be ready to score a 6 or 7 on the IB exams easily! My biggest regret is not suggesting this course to my other IB Economics peers who struggled.

Read Less

5 star rating
Best IB Economics Resource Ever! | Class of 2022

Rampranav Navendran | India

OMG! I am so grateful of coming across this website. Doing economics for the first time and also at the HL level was stressful but now I am able to understand the concepts, and I'm scoring 6s regularly now! I AM SO ECSTATIC!

OMG! I am so grateful of coming across this website. Doing economics for the first time and also at the HL level was stressful but now I am able to understand the concepts, and I'm scoring 6s regularly now! I AM SO ECSTATIC!

Read Less

5 star rating
AMAZING TEACHER! | Class of 2021

Ana Batista | Portugal

THIS WEBSITE IS AMAZING! You have helped me so much with your videos. I FINALLY UNDERSTAND ECON! Thank you so much for your positivity and support. I'm getting 6s and 7s now!

THIS WEBSITE IS AMAZING! You have helped me so much with your videos. I FINALLY UNDERSTAND ECON! Thank you so much for your positivity and support. I'm getting 6s and 7s now!

Read Less

5 star rating
Holy Bible of IB Economics! | Class of 2021

Nicolas | Chile

Like the title says, this website is the holy bible of IB Economics. Everything is extremely organized, all the concepts are explained properly (with lots of details), and it is easy to understand. Also, it is important to mention that there are n...

Read More

Like the title says, this website is the holy bible of IB Economics. Everything is extremely organized, all the concepts are explained properly (with lots of details), and it is easy to understand. Also, it is important to mention that there are notes/presentations to download for every single topic that contains all the information one could possibly need. Mr. Cartwright, you are the man. Props to you for making such an amazing website.

Read Less

5 star rating
Best Economics Teacher Ever! | Class of 2021

Astrid Yap | Hong Kong

Your videos saved my IB Diploma! Everything is so clear now! Your videos are informative and funny, which makes learning fun! I wish all teachers could be like you!

Your videos saved my IB Diploma! Everything is so clear now! Your videos are informative and funny, which makes learning fun! I wish all teachers could be like you!

Read Less

5 star rating
Changed my life! | Class of 2021

Pratiti | India

I've been using this website since Covid-19 took over and it has helped me so much for studying IB. The notes are really useful and the courses so well organized that it makes it easy and enjoyable to learn heavy content. I highly recommended! B...

Read More

I've been using this website since Covid-19 took over and it has helped me so much for studying IB. The notes are really useful and the courses so well organized that it makes it easy and enjoyable to learn heavy content. I highly recommended! Brad is amazing!

Read Less

5 star rating
Outstanding Resources and Real-life Examples!

David | United Kingdom

This website is a goldmine of resources for any Economics student! As an IB Economics HL student, I loved Brad's presentation style--direct, entertaining, easy to understand--but the real-life examples he uses are clutch....so clear and understan...

Read More

This website is a goldmine of resources for any Economics student! As an IB Economics HL student, I loved Brad's presentation style--direct, entertaining, easy to understand--but the real-life examples he uses are clutch....so clear and understandable. Plus, the resources are downloadable and incredibly useful. This site is a must for any IB Economics student!

Read Less

5 star rating
Fastest Way to a 7! | Student Member | Class of 2021

Anthony | Peru

I thought the course was well structured in the sense that it goes from small simple concepts, then building upon each other to reach a well-rounded knowledge about the topic. That is good for comprehension when you learn something new. The thing ...

Read More

I thought the course was well structured in the sense that it goes from small simple concepts, then building upon each other to reach a well-rounded knowledge about the topic. That is good for comprehension when you learn something new. The thing I most enjoyed and found very useful was that towards the end of the unit, the videos start focusing on possible real-life scenarios which make the viewer think of what to write and add in an evaluation for a test. The best part is that all possible "textbook" answers are given throughout the videos which are great when writing an evaluation. Having all textbook answers focused my thinking on solutions in the evaluation that are not mentioned in the textbook, for example, discussing ethical and or social consequences in addition to the economical ones.

Read Less

5 star rating
This Guy Is Amazing | Class of 2022

Bridgett | Canada

This guy is ah-mazing! He has clearly deconstructed & explained, what my professor made clear as mud. I totally get it now! Thank you! Brad is by far one of the best instructors of Economics and being a member of this site has changed my ex...

Read More

This guy is ah-mazing! He has clearly deconstructed & explained, what my professor made clear as mud. I totally get it now! Thank you! Brad is by far one of the best instructors of Economics and being a member of this site has changed my experience in class!

Read Less

5 star rating
Recommended to Anyone Planning on Getting a 7! | Class of 2022

Diego | Switzerland

To anyone on wondering if they should subscribe, I recommend that your absolutely do so! I was getting high 5s and low 6s on my Econ tests. However, after purchasing the course I managed to raise my grade to consistent 7s. The beauty of this site...

Read More

To anyone on wondering if they should subscribe, I recommend that your absolutely do so! I was getting high 5s and low 6s on my Econ tests. However, after purchasing the course I managed to raise my grade to consistent 7s. The beauty of this site is that all of videos are organized into easy to follow topics. If there was ever any topic I didn't fully understand in class, I would watch one of Brad's videos and confidently walk into class the next day knowing I was going to ace my next test! Subscribe! You won't regret it.

Read Less

5 star rating
The Best Thing I Did for My Studies! | Class of 2022

Sergio | United States

I loved this website! Worth every cent! I can't stop telling my friends about how lucky I am to have essentially my own IB Economics tutor whenever I want--and for 12 bucks a month! Brad describes complex Economic information with such clarity a...

Read More

I loved this website! Worth every cent! I can't stop telling my friends about how lucky I am to have essentially my own IB Economics tutor whenever I want--and for 12 bucks a month! Brad describes complex Economic information with such clarity and with a passion that is contagious. If you are a serious IB Economics student, you're crazy not to subscribe! It's the best thing I did!

Read Less

5 star rating
The Best thing that Happened to my IB Economics Studies | Class of 2023

Emilia | Nicaragua

I enjoy watching every video, and I am exited to about my studies of IB Economics now! I bought a year's access and it is totally worth it. Brad uses real-world examples making it very easy for me to follow along and understand. He is also supe...

Read More

I enjoy watching every video, and I am exited to about my studies of IB Economics now! I bought a year's access and it is totally worth it. Brad uses real-world examples making it very easy for me to follow along and understand. He is also super engaging and I actually like listening to his voice, which is definitely important when watching videos. He seems like he would be the cool and genuine teacher if this were a school. Thanks to finding this site I have a strong feeling I will do really well in IB Economics--I'm already getting 6s instead of 4!

Read Less

5 star rating
Best Way to Get a 7! | Class of 2022

Matias | Guatemala

IB Economics is one of the most challenging courses, as it has many theories and a complex vocabulary. Brad's teaching helped me overcome these challenges by providing me with two skills that many online tutors lack; being clear and concise. With...

Read More

IB Economics is one of the most challenging courses, as it has many theories and a complex vocabulary. Brad's teaching helped me overcome these challenges by providing me with two skills that many online tutors lack; being clear and concise. With Brad's careful clear analysis and concise explanation of each topic, you will be ready to score a 6 or 7 on the IB exams easily! My biggest regret is not suggesting this course to my other IB Economics peers who struggled.

Read Less

5 star rating
Best IB Economics Resource Ever! | Class of 2022

Rampranav Navendran | India

OMG! I am so grateful of coming across this website. Doing economics for the first time and also at the HL level was stressful but now I am able to understand the concepts, and I'm scoring 6s regularly now! I AM SO ECSTATIC!

OMG! I am so grateful of coming across this website. Doing economics for the first time and also at the HL level was stressful but now I am able to understand the concepts, and I'm scoring 6s regularly now! I AM SO ECSTATIC!

Read Less

5 star rating
AMAZING TEACHER! | Class of 2021

Ana Batista | Portugal

THIS WEBSITE IS AMAZING! You have helped me so much with your videos. I FINALLY UNDERSTAND ECON! Thank you so much for your positivity and support. I'm getting 6s and 7s now!

THIS WEBSITE IS AMAZING! You have helped me so much with your videos. I FINALLY UNDERSTAND ECON! Thank you so much for your positivity and support. I'm getting 6s and 7s now!

Read Less

About Us

Find out more about bradcartwright.com and who we are here!

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The world's most innovative site for IB Economics resources

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Find resources for history curriculum by historical era.

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Support for Smithsonian's History Explorer is provided by the Verizon Foundation

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lessons/videos/teacher guide on topics related to climate change, sustainability, protecting land, and building healthy cities (scroll near bottom of page for breakdown by age)

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Youth Engagement

Nature Lab is The Nature Conservancy's youth curriculum platform.

Connect With Nature Middle school children birdwatch and learn about the species of birds during the First State National Park's Bioblitz outside Wilmington, Delaware. On May 20 and 21, 2016, the Nature Conservancy and the National Parks Service partnered with National Geographic to execute the First State National Park's first Bioblitz. Over the course of the two-day event, over 800 observations were recording and more than 300 species were identified. More than 30 volunteers, 200 middle and high school students, and 100 community members participated in nature walks, species inventories and educational science experiments. © Devan King/TNC

Nature is the fantastic factory that makes the building blocks of all our lives-food, drinking water, the stuff we own and the air we breathe. That's why The Nature Conservancy and its 1000+ scientists have created Nature Lab: to help students learn the science behind how nature works for us and how we can help keep it running strong.

Wildfires: Impact of Climate Change

The impacts of climate change can be seen in ecosystems in many ways. Some effects can be minor, and some can be more detrimental to the overall health of the ecosystem. Since ecosystems can manage changes well for a certain amount of time, changes can often be seen through long term research. Explore how wildfires leave a measurable impact on an ecosystem.

Ocean Heroes: Coastal Frontline Communities and Climate Justice

The health of the oceans is suffering, and this has affected some of us more than others. Coastal communities, and those who are less-advantaged because they have less access to resources and face increased societal oppression, are more at risk from rising sea levels and storms. But there's some amazing groups working around the world to make change.

Nature Lab at Home!

Grades 3-8 | Use our week-long thematic family guides to lead at-home enrichment activities! With videos and learning activities, including a weekly hands-on project to get outside safely, kids can explore nature right in their community. Download individual weekly guides below.

Planeta Bala

Discover Nature Lab content in Spanish, including virtual field trips, teaching guides, and a new series created with Nickelodeon, Planeta Bala. || Descubre más recursos diseñados para jóvenes en español, incluyendo guías para maestros, vídeos educativos, y una nueva serie, Planeta Bala.

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Nature Lab is our hub for youth curriculum that gives teachers, students and families customizable, interactive lesson plans to explore and understand nature.

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Stem activities K-12

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We Engage Students In NASA's Mission

K-12 students can dig deeper into STEM topics and experience the thrill of exploration and discovery.

NASA makes vital investments in a diverse portfolio of learning opportunities and activities designed to reach as many U.S. students as possible - from kindergarten through graduate school. NASA seeks to build the next generation STEM workforce and broaden student participation to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM fields.

For Kids and Students

We Inspire An Interest In STEM

NASA offers a wide array of unique experiences designed to engage K-12 students nationwide in the agency's missions, people, and resources.

Educators are a significant part of students' lives and play a key role in connecting NASA to the Artemis Generation. NASA STEM fully supports formal educators in classrooms and informal educators in museums, science centers, afterschool programs, and similar organizations, all of whom bring the excitement of the agency's missions to students.

For Educators

Colleges, Universities, Technical and Vocational Institutions

NASA leverages its unique missions and programs to enhance and increase the capability, diversity, and size of the nation's future STEM workforce.

NASA has a portfolio of activities and opportunities dedicated to attracting, engaging and educating students in all institutional categories and levels across the nation. These range from internships and fellowships, research and development opportunities, challenges and competitions, pre-college and college STEM experiences, virtual learning, faculty support, as well as institutional support.

For Colleges and Universities

Latest STEM News and Features

get social with nasa stem engagement

Discover More STEM Topics From NASA

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We're launching learning to new heights with STEM resources that connect educators, students, parents and caregivers to the inspiring work at NASA. Find your place in space!

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Poem a day, primary source sets, lesson plans, American history, science facts...

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The Library of Congress offers classroom materials and professional development to help teachers use primary sources from the Library's vast digital collections.

Blog: Teaching with the Library of Congress
All Posts

Blog: Minerva's Kaleidoscope: Resources for Kids and Families
All Posts

For Teachers

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Education Resources from the Library of Congress | Library of Congress

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The Library of Congress offers classroom materials and professional development to help teachers use primary sources from the Library's vast digital collections.

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Art lessons to accompany any grade level or subject

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Resources to accompany lessons: black line maps, interactive maps, videos, articles, infographics, etc (all grades, range in subject areas)

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Act now! For Giving Tuesday, your gift to the National Geographic Society will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Make your tax-deductible contribution today and make TRIPLE the impact for Explorers working to preserve threatened species around the world.

Donate today!

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Education Resources | National Geographic Society

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Inspire learners to explore National Geographic through interactive lesson plans, maps, storytelling and a wide variety of resources to illuminate their world.

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Humanities lesson plans and teacher guides; Art/Culture, History/Social Studies, Literature/Lang Arts

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How does popular culture engage history? In this lesson plan, students will examine The Searchers, one of the most widely acclaimed Western movies of all time, to explore interpretations of race, gender, and family-both in the time period depicted by the film and the time period in which the film was produced.

This lesson plan uses A. A. Lamb's painting Emancipation Proclamation and resources from BlackPast to explore the successes and shortcomings of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Reconstruction amendments, as well as the roles played by Black people in securing their own freedom.

Use Aaron Douglas's mural Into Bondage to introduce the stories of famous Harlem Renaissance figures, including Langston Hughes, and to explore the history and importance of Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the end of Black enslavement in the United States.

Kerry James Marshall's painting Voyager, depicting two partially obscured Black figures standing aboard a ship, refers to an actual ship, Wanderer, which was among the last slave ships in the United States, illegally transporting more than 400 individuals from West Africa to Georgia in 1858-even though the importation of enslaved people had been banned in 1808. Use the painting as an entry point to discuss the Transatlantic slave trade and introduce students to the NEH-funded database Slave Voyages project.

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How does popular culture engage history? In this lesson plan, students will examine The Searchers, one of the most widely acclaimed Western movies of all time, to explore interpretations of race, gender, and family-both in the time period depicted by the film and the time period in which the film was produced.

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All subjects, all grades (Stem and Health included)

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PBS LearningMedia | Teaching Resources For Students And Teachers

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Inspire your students with thousands of free teaching resources including videos, lesson plans, and games aligned to state and national standards.

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History lessons, assessments (US History, World History, Civics)

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We're committed to providing educators accessible, high-quality teaching tools. That's why all our lessons and assessments are free. Please consider donating to SHEG to support our creation of new materials. All gifts are made through Stanford University and are tax-deductible.

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Demos, labs, HW, questions...in a variety of science areas

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Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.

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Total of 36 videos on YouTube on various topics

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Back

Virtual Learning Experiences: All - YouTube

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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"Everything begins with an idea." - Earl Nightingale
When I started on my Project-Based Learning journey, I always wondered what other teachers were already doing with PBL in classrooms around the country and world. I remember joining Ning sites and finding other teachers who were doing PBL, it was like a dream come true to chat and discuss and learn.

With the growth of Twitter, blogging, and conference I was able to meet educators from around the world who have inspired me to go deeper into Project-Based Learning. Their ideas were what got me started documenting projects and step-by-step practices that would enhance any PBL experience.

PBL is growing because it engages and empowers students to learn experientially and share that learning in new and unique ways that go well beyond the classroom. Yet, many teachers are asking: How do we plan and implement PBL? How do we "fit it in" our current curriculum? How do we assess it using our current grading guidelines? How do we manage this type of learning?

These are all real concerns and questions that cannot be dismissed. PBL takes time to plan, implement, manage, and assess. Then it takes time to tweak, improve, and highlight.

If you asked any teacher, administrator, parent, school board member, student, or community member to list their top goals for an academic program, you would see achievement, 21st-century competencies, equity, and motivation all at the top.
Project-based learning is shown to work in all kinds of schools, in all different grade levels, with students of varying backgrounds and abilities.
So, if this is what the research says about PBL, then why do we still have so many schools falling into the test prep trap? Why do some many teachers feel like they cannot make the jump into PBL? Why haven't we seen a nationwide movement towards PBL as a best and effective practice for all students?
It comes back to HOW to do PBL in the midst of standards and curriculum. I've put together a free workshop to show you the 5-step process to do just that.
I'm holding three workshops this week (for K-5, 6-12, and school leaders):

You can sign-up to be a part of the training right here! If you can't make the time, please sign-up so you can get the recording.

Ideas to Get You Started

I've listed 100+ PBL ideas below to help get you started on the project-based learning journey. The ideas below that are hyperlinked will send you to the project that is already developed. Those that are not yet hyperlinked are some of our ideas for future projects. I can't wait to share them out when they are finished. In the meantime, use them to get inspired and give you some ideas to start PBL with your students.

Grades K-2

5. Better Playground Project

7. Catching the Tooth Fairy Project

8. Illustrate A Short Story Project

10. Build a Snowman Project

11. The Superhero Project

13. The First National Holiday Project

14. Make Your Own Animal Project

Grades 3-5

17. Life as a Rock Project

18. Natural Disaster Project

21. Pinball Machine Project

27. Create Your Own City Project

28. Carnival Games Project

30. Analog Oregon Trail Project

Grades 6-8 ELA

33. Book to Movie Project

34. The Storyboard Project

35. Press Release Project

36. Book-In-An-Hour Project

37. The Ultimate Debate Project

38. Junk Sculpture Project

41. Live In Your Shoes Project

42. A Character on Social Media Project

43. Lit Circles Talkshow Project

Grades 6-8 Social Studies

46. Digital Voting Project

47. The Making of a U.S. President Project

49. Civil War Tour Guide Project

50. Unknown American Hero Project

51. Fallen Empire Project

55. The Honor Code Project

56. The Cultural Exchange Project

57. The Constitution Right Now Project

Grades 6-8 Science

Grades 6-8 Math

72. Curveball/Whiffleball Project

73. Rollercoaster Tycoon Project

74. Raising of Chicago Project

82. Create a Safari Project

83. The Basketball Shot Project

Grades 9-12 ELA

85. Lit Circles Reality TV Project

87. The Novel Documentary Project

88. Character Cribs Project

89. Fiction Mirrors Reality Project

90. The Bystander Project

92. Dystopian vs Utopian Project

93. 10 Laws of Power Project

Grades 9-12 Math

99. Election Data Analysis Project

101. Amazon vs Apple Data Analysis Project

103. Google vs Facebook Data Analysis Project

104. Crypto vs Regular Currency Project

106. Making Sense of Nutrition Label Project

107. Rebuilding the Pyramid Project

108. Linear vs Exponential Technology Project

109. The Moneyball Project

Grades 9-12 Science

112. Rubber Band Car Project

114. Rube Goldberg Project

115. Chemistry Mythbusters Project

116. Biology Mythbusters Project

117. Physics Mythbusters Project

118. Envi/Sci Mythbusters Project

119. The Waste Problem Project

120. DNA Barcoding Project

121. Tiny Theme Park Design Project

Grades 9-12 Social Studies

123. Become a Dictator Project

124. Time Machine Project

125. The Hamilton Project (using current language to tell a history)

126. The American Dream Project

127. The Making of a Revolution Project

129. The Role of Art Project

130. WWI Documentary Project

131. WWII Documentary Project

132. Cold War Spy Project

Next Steps
It comes back to HOW to do PBL in the midst of standards and curriculum. I've put together a free workshop to show you the 5-step process to do just that. You don't need to start from scratch, instead, you can get a jumpstart on the process.
I'm holding three workshops this week (for K-5, 6-12, and school leaders):

You can sign-up to be a part of the training right here! If you can't make the time, please sign-up so you can get the recording.
Are you ready to hit the ground running? Let's get started!

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100+ Project-Based Learning Ideas for Every Age

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This blog series was authored by our own A.J. Juliani, Head of Learning & Growth. "Everything begins with an idea." - Earl Nightingale When I started on my Project-Based Learning journey, I always wondered what other teachers were already doing with PBL in classrooms around the country and world.

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All subject areas: Project Based Learning

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All subject areas: Project Based Learning

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our expanding library of project ideas that are standards-aligned, and cover a range of grade levels and subject areas.

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Project Based Learning Lesson Plans & Worksheets | Lesson Planet

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Project based learning lesson plans and worksheets from thousands of teacher-reviewed resources to help you inspire students learning.

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How Can I Support My Child as an IB Parent? | Lanterna Education

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So your child is going through the IB, what can you do to support them? In this article we share our tips for how IB parents can help out!

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The PYP is a strong curriculum framework, building knowledge, skills, attitudes and conceptual understanding, as well as encouraging students to take action and become life long learners. This learning and personal development does not stop once the school day ends. As IB PYP parents, the reinforcement and consolidation of student learning and development away from the classroom is critical and powerful. Through the Learner Profile, the PYP aims to develop the whole child, fostering positive attitudes and skill development.

The Learner Profile strives to build global citizens and life long learners, challenging us all to be the best that we can be in the home and school. As parents, using this language and terminology in the home can be a powerful way of reinforcing these ten personal attributes. Below are some ways of encouraging your child to continue their personal development using the Learner Profile.

Students who are COMMUNICATORS express their ideas by speaking, drawing and writing. They can also communicate using mathematical language and symbols. They also communicate in more than one language. They are good listeners as well. Being a good listener is an important part of communicating with others.
How can parents help to develop students who are Communicators at home?
Students who are RISK-TAKERS try new things and consider new ideas. They try to solve problems in a lot of ways. They have the bravery to tell people what they think is right.
How can parents help to develop students who are Risk-Takers at home?
Students who are PRINCIPLED have a sense of fairness and are honest with themselves and with others. They understand that sometimes there are rules and they follow them. They have an understanding of moral reasoning.

How can parents help to develop students who are Principled at home?

Involve your child in deciding on the rules for a game or activity and then ensure that they stick to the ones that have been decided upon.

Encourage your child to play games that involve teams. Discuss with your child the qualities of a team player. What sort of person would they want on their team?

When your child wins a game insist that he or she is a well-mannered winner. They might thank their opponent or shake hands with them if it's appropriate.

When playing a game, don't change the rules or let your child win. Being a gracious loser is just as important as being a good winner.

Use the learner profile language when discussing home rules.

Students who are THINKERS work to solve problems independently. They can imagine many solutions to a question or challenge. Thinkers make good decisions and can predict the outcomes of their actions. They think creatively and critically.
How can parents help to develop students who are Thinkers at home?

Encourage your child to try to think of solutions to problems independently.

Pose different real-life problems and questions to your child:

"I'm not sure how to arrange the glasses so they can all fit in the cupboard."

"I wonder how much the groceries in the cart will cost... how can we make an estimate?"

"We need enough cookies for the 25 people in your class. What kind of change should we make to our recipe?"

Ask your children questions when they are working on a problem:

An OPEN-MINDED student knows that all people are different. They listen to the points of view of others and consider many possibilities before making a decision. They celebrate the differences that make all people unique.
How can parents help to develop this Open-Minded trait at home?

Encourage your child to try new things - new foods, new games and new activities.

Expose your child to different festivals, celebrations and traditions and be sure to present them in a non-judgmental way.

Encourage your child to really listen to others when they speak.

Introduce literature about many different cultures into your home library. Be sure that it is appropriate and reflects the culture in an appropriate way.

Students who are BALANCED are healthy and are aware that eating properly and exercising is important in their lives. They understand that it is important to have a balance between the physical and mental aspects of their bodies. They spend time doing many different things. They balance work and play.
How can parents help to develop students who are well-balanced at home?

Encourage your child to participate in a wide variety of structured activities.

During less structured time, also be aware of the activities that your child is participating in. Too much time in front of the computer or television is not desirable. Generally active kids should take time for quiet reading or reflection; students who spend a lot of time drawing or reading, should be encouraged to also exercise and play.

Discuss the food groups with your child. Spend a few minutes during a mealtime deciding if what your family is eating is balanced.

Spend time as a parent or family doing many different things.

Students who are REFLECTIVE know what they are good at and what they're not. They make changes where they can. They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and consider their personal strengths and weaknesses in a constructive manner.

How can parents help to develop students who are Reflective at home?

Spend some time reviewing their report card with them. They should have the opportunity to look at this document and consider it as well. Discuss it with them and truly consider their thoughts on their strengths and areas for improvement.

Consider the goals that your child could set for the next term. Make a list not only of the goals, but of specific actions that can be taken to achieve these goals. You might want to list action that your child will take independently as well as action parents will take to support them. For example, if one of the goals your child sets for herself is to improve her writing, her action might be to keep a journal and write in it for at least 10 minutes each night. As a parent, you might decide that the two of you will participate in shared writing, for 30 minutes each week and produce a book of narratives together.

Consider non-academic strengths and areas for improvement. Set goals and create an action list.

Students who are CARING want people around them to be happy and are sensitive to their needs. They think about the world and work to take care of their community and the environment. They remember to treat others how they themselves would like to be treated.
How can parents help to develop students who are Caring at home?
Students who are INQUIRERS are curious about the world. They can conduct research independently. They love learning and discovering new things and will carry this love of learning with them throughout life.
How can parents help to develop students who are Inquirers at home?

Encourage areas of your child's interest by visiting the library to borrow books that explore these topics.

Develop an understanding of the Internet. Work with your son or daughter when the Internet is being used and try to instill the understanding that some Internet sites are not reputable.

Model being an inquirer. Admit when you don't know the answer to a problem or a question and seek out answers in front of your child.

Students who are KNOWLEDGEABLE have explored relevant and significant concepts and can remember what they have learned. They can draw on this knowledge and apply it in new situations.
How can parents help to develop students who are Knowledgeable at home?

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The PYP is a strong curriculum framework, building knowledge, skills, attitudes and conceptual understanding, as well as encouraging students to take action and become life long learners. This learning and personal development does not stop once the school day ends. As IB PYP parents, the

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9 posters

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About the talk

It is imperative to start everyday with a positive mindset by enhancing our self-belief, encouraging emotional resilience, and promoting positive relationships.

Tune into this wellness session with PYP teacher, Bronwyn Gowty, to investigate how to enhance your self-belief through emotional resilience strategies that promote positive relationships.

Toddle your all-in-one collaboration platform for the IB PYP & MYP

Toddle streamlines planning, assessments, reports, projects, portfolios, and family communication - all from one place!

Book a free demo

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Self care - social, emotional, spiritual well-being - Toddle Learn

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About the talk It is imperative to start everyday with a positive mindset by enhancing our self-belief, encouraging emotional resilience, and promoting positive relationships. Tune into this wellness session with PYP teacher, Bronwyn Gowty, to investigate how to enhance your self-belief through emotional resilience strategies that promote positive relationships.

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Think outside the box: Unpacking theory of knowledge (TOK) - Toddle Learn

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About the session The Diploma Programme’s TOK course is an opportunity for students to reflect on the question: how do you know what you claim to know? Focused on the interpretative nature of knowledge, planning this course is exciting, and often challenging, for educators. At this masterclass, you…

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About the session

The new assessment component of the TOK course, the TOK exhibition, is inspired by the British Museum's 'A History of the World in 100 Objects.' With the first assessment this year, the exhibition focuses on how TOK manifests itself in the world, with students showcasing three objects connected to any one of the course themes.

At this student panel, hear how students around the world have approached the selection of their objects and knowledge question prompts, and planned their commentaries. We have students from Amman Academy, American School of Bilbao, and The Cathedral and John Connon School.

Disclaimer - This webinar is organised independently of and not endorsed by the IB. Toddle's events and webinars are organised to enable exchange of practices and ideas within the educator community and are not a replacement for the IB official workshops. Views and opinions expressed by the speakers are their personal views and should not be construed as official guidance by the IB.

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Preparing for the TOK exhibition - Toddle Learn

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About the session The new assessment component of the TOK course, the TOK exhibition, is inspired by the British Museum's 'A History of the World in 100 Objects.' With the first assessment this year, the exhibition focuses on how TOK manifests itself in the world, with students showcasing three objects connected to any one of [...]

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About the session

What are the tools and skills that students need for CAS and for lifelong learning? How can CAS be used as a means of promoting social justice and peace in the school environment and beyond? Join experienced IB educator and author, John Cannings, as he answers these questions in his masterclass. Discuss useful strategies to activate student initiative, and facilitate the development of important life skills.

Disclaimer - This webinar is organised independently of and not endorsed by the IB. Toddle's events and webinars are organised to enable exchange of practices and ideas within the educator community and are not a replacement for the IB official workshops. Views and opinions expressed by the speakers are their personal views and should not be construed as official guidance by the IB.

Get learning insights delivered to your inbox!

Choose the curriculum relevant for you:

Get learning insights delivered to your inbox!

Choose the curriculum relevant for you:

The all-in-one collaboration platform for educators.

Toddle streamlines planning, assessments, reports, projects, portfolios, and family communication - all from one place!

Book a free demo

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CAS: An opportunity for life - Toddle Learn

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About the session What are the tools and skills that students need for CAS and for lifelong learning? How can CAS be used as a means of promoting social justice and peace in the school environment and beyond? Join experienced IB educator and author, John Cannings, as he answers these questions in his masterclass.

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Click on "Add comment" below and list: your name, school, position, subject taught, email.

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You study hard for that pesky major exam as if your life depended on it. And after what seemed like eternity, that big test is finally here! But here's a problem: although you managed to pull several all-nighters, you still feel unprepared or anxious even.

Did you know that anxiety as a response is perfectly normal? Considering the time and effort you've spent for the big exam day, you are allowed to feel pre-exam jitters. Experts call this episode of intense, unnerving fear before or during an exam " test anxiety " which, when patiently dealt with, shouldn't be too bad.

Generally, students may experience two different kinds of test anxiety: low anxiety and high anxiety. A student who experiences low anxiety before an exam does not lose focus, and is still completely at ease with their thoughts. One who suffers from high anxiety, on the other hand, feels an immediate anxious reaction toward the exam. This emotion is counterproductive and often results in panic and escapism. Ultimately, test anxiety can be motivational- as long as you put emotions under control.

But who wants to feel anxious? Are there ways to completely calm your nerves before the big test? Here, we have pulled together a foolproof list of proven ways to do just that. Use these page jumps to explore further!

Refocus Your Energy

Stressing over that big exam is in no way helpful to your sense of calm. You can either face it head on or ignore it for as long as you can but it will hit you right in the gut whether you like it or not. If you think you're helpless against pressure to do well in your test, consider refocusing your energy into something that will fuel your will to study. Remember the old adage "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

First of all, put that gadget away! Let's be honest; we have become more attached to our devices now more than ever before. It's true that our phone is almost like an extension of ourselves, as it contains all of our connections. That buggy laptop also has everything we've worked hard for all these years in the university. However, if you resist checking your social media on these devices, don't expect to finish studying on time-or to complete any task for that matter! Don't be stuck in the middle of this gadget frenzy.

Here's the thing: if you can devote 1 to 2 hours each day to purely studying, you'll be on the right track. While they say people these days have short attention spans, studies prove otherwise. In fact, research says the mind has the ability to completely focus for up to 2 hours a day. If you are a morning person, devote at least two hours to studying. If you're a night owl, go at it at night! It's important that you use your most creative and most motivated time of the day to focus on the task at hand: studying for that big test!

Study Ahead

So, you successfully made it through high school and college and thought graduate school would be just as easy. Long story short, it's a completely different, even fiercer ballgame that's taking its toll on you-but it's too late back out! Truth is, grad school is so much more demanding than high school and college combined. It requires your 100% all the time, especially during quizzes and exams. You cannot just wing it this time around; you need to come to class prepared.

After more than a decade of studying, you probably think that you've got this thing figured out. You have developed study habits that have worked for you, and evidently helped achieve your goals. But if there is one thing that you shouldn't ever take for granted, it's being prepared. Studying ahead allows you to understand your lessons better.

Memory recall works best when the information is repeated multiple times. You cannot expect to remember the entire lesson in Managerial Accounting, for example, instantaneously. Devoting enough time to studying the course outline prior to taking a class or an exam is the best and most proven trick, and probably the oldest one in the book.

Do Not Cram

When exposed to a tremendous amount of stress, our bodies tend to react in various ways. Our heart rate increases, we sweat heavily, or we experience blurry eyesight indicating that we are in trouble. Did you know that after about 20 minutes following that stress attack, memory recall takes a considerable decline? This is the main reason why cramming is never helpful.

You read that right. Last-minute studying may have saved you in the past but it does more harm than good in the long run. Your brain can only pick up so much in a short amount of time and being too stressed won't help. In worst cases, it may even lead to permanent damage in your memory receptors, preventing you from recalling anything at all. Information retrieval is dependent on how well developed your memory is, and it is important that you refrain from stress to keep your brain healthy.

If you're dealing with a do-or-die exam that you need to focus on, set a schedule and never deviate from it. Pulling all-nighters is never enough; you need to consistently find time in your daily and weekly routine to study and review. Ultimately, it all boils down to a strategy that works for you.

Eat and Drink Well

Does food intake really affect a student's performance during an exam? Apparently so. This leads us to think twice before munching on those fast food chicken nuggets and king-sized burgers.

It goes without saying that a balanced diet keeps us healthy but for a graduate student who is about take a major exam, eating healthy helps maintain focus. Remember to not skip a single meal to not only for the obvious nutritional benefits but also to avoid drastic drops in your blood-sugar. You definitely do not want that, especially not before that big test!

When taking an exam, imagine your brain running a marathon. We all know that marathoners need endurance to finish the race. Eating healthy during an exam, which is a stressful time for the brain, is important to promote mental alertness from start to finish.

Also, make sure that you eat a healthy dinner before the exam day but eat at least three hours before bed. We don't want that dinner to interfere with your sleep. And of course, eat breakfast! We can never emphasize this enough: do not skip breakfast on your exam day! Research shows that breakfast eaters are more equipped to perform better in tests. Be sure to include slow-release carbohydrates and fish high in Omega-3 fats in your diet.

Try Aromatherapy

The history of aromatherapy dates back to ancient Greece. During the Chinese civilization, aromatherapy was used as a mood enhancer. The Egyptians developed the distillation machines that were used to extract essential oils from various plants used for embalming the dead.

Today, the best kinds of aromatherapy are considered a luxurious indulgence that only a handful of people have access to. The good news is, there are many cost-effective ways to actually enjoy the calming effect of essential oils. Apart from its medicinal purposes, one of its many wonders is its effects on focus and concentration. A little of it goes a long way.

Diffusing a few drops of peppermint oil will transform your entire room into a calm and soothing place for hours of arduous studying. It is an inexpensive and minty way to improve memory, focus and your mood. It will help you stay focused, alert and awake. A relaxing environment increases brain retention rates, so you are sure to remember your note for that big test.

Rosemary and sage get the job done. Aside from making keeping the air smelling fresh, these herbs also improve concentration. Forget about burning sage to depict witchcraft movies; it is a life hack fit for graduate students like you!

Sleep

There is no better way to prepare for an exam than getting a good night's rest. It is a proven way to perform well in your test. However, students tend to bargain sleep with extra study time which isn't exactly a good idea.

Sacrificing sleep is bad for your brain. It may allow you to finish the remaining few hundred pages of reading assignments, but it will affect your memory and lead to poor performance. A study has shown that the more time we spend awake, the weaker our memory becomes. If we force ourselves to stay awake when we're supposed to be sleeping, the neurons in our brains become saturated. This leads to decrease in memory retention and causes the brain to go to an overdrive. Sleeping before your big test to allow the neurons in your brain to regenerate and form new connections.

Aside from a renewed sense of motivation and energy, sleep improves brain function. And when do you need your brain to work at its best? During an exam day of course! So go ahead, get some well-deserve good night's sleep.

Stay in Control

Don't allow test anxiety get the best of you. While it's perfectly normal to feel stressed in anticipation of that major exam, it is never okay for you to lose control.

The competitive education system leads students to perceive recreational activities as a waste of time. With a societal expectation to do well, students are pressured to excel. This leaves them with no outlet to de-stress and socialize. Stress is an inevitable effect of this overachieving and isolationist lifestyle of students especially in graduate school.

Yes, stress may undermine success, but taking control of the situation can be life-changing. We all know that stress is deeply ingrained in our psyche. No one is exempt from feeling it. But it's not about coping with stress; it's how you respond to stress that's crucial! When something doesn't seem right, you can always turn the negativity into something positive. Transform that feeling of anxiety into motivation to perform better! Resilience is key in this process. It is easier said than done but it starts with continuously thinking and speaking positive thoughts. These are your emotions; it's your job to take control!

Skim Through Your Notes

Making personalized notes is probably the most effective way to study. Your precious notes may save you from failing your exam! It is important that you devote some time writing down ideas that easily slip your mind. Note taking is a skill you are bound to master as you go on with your academic endeavor.

Note taking keeps key ideas and concepts organized and easily accessible when you prepare for your major examination. Skim through your notes before the exam. Also, make sure to review past exams (if any) from the same professor. This will allow you to familiarize the type of test that you are about to take, which is just as important as knowing exactly what to study.

Skimming through your notes is like performing a memory exercise of sorts. Don't forget to use memorizing techniques like flashcards and mnemonics.

Breathe

Did you know that three deep breaths go a long way? After spending long days studying and many sleepless nights of constantly battling with academic-related stress, just breathe.

When you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed, breathing exercises can help decrease your stress level. The trick is to make a conscious effort to breathe slowly. Sighing is also actually a great reflex and breathing technique that counts as an effective lung exercise. Take a deep breath in, hold it for a few seconds, and breathe out with a big sigh. You can repeat this method for as many times as you need.

Breathing properly is the fastest way to calm your nerves, relax your body, put your mind at ease, and take control of your emotions-just the four things you need right before an exam! Luckily, we can do as much deep breathing as we need to relieve stress!

Focus on the Task at Hand

The inevitable has come. Today is your exam day. There is no better way to ace that test other than to FOCUS. Be mindful of your environment, but stay completely focused on your exam. Remember, you've put in so much work preparing for this day and you can't let all that go to waste! Breathe easy and calmly recall everything you studied. You are ready for success!

While you're at it, remind yourself that it's only a test. Your grade will not define your full capacity as a student. Most importantly, your grade doesn't define the person that you are. Pass or fail, give yourself a pat on the back for surviving the day-and for doing everything you possibly could to prepare for it.

No matter how much you try to hide or deny it, you can't help but stress over an exam-and you are allowed to feel that way. Acknowledge and accept that feeling while doing what you must to make it through.
Good luck!

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10 Foolproof Ways to Calm Your Nerves Before the Big Test

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You study hard for that pesky major exam as if your life depended on it. And after what seemed like eternity, that big test is finally here! But here's a problem: although you managed to pull several all-nighters, you still feel unprepared or anxious even.

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C.I.G. is supported in part by its readers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Read more here.

1. Change Your Personal Definition of Anxiety

2. Prepare and the Grade Will Take Care of Itself

3. Relax and Breathe

4. Activate Tunnel Vision

5. Change Your Perspective

6. Now Go Conquer the World (and Your Test)

Anxiety on test day can make you feel like you're alone in the wilderness.

You might feel trapped in your own mind, afraid that one wrong answer could collapse your entire semester (or future career.) The next thing you know, your mind has wandered so far that you've only managed to answer a couple of questions. Meanwhile, the clock ticks faster and faster.

If this experience sounds familiar, you're far from being the only one. In his book Anxiety in Schools, psychology professor Jerrell Cassady notes that between 25 and 40 percent of students experience test anxiety to some extent.

Just the thought that a quarter of your class is also worried can be enough to settle you down. We'll talk more about that later.

The cause of test anxiety can be any combination of cultural, genetic, or behavioral factors. Fortunately, the human brain is one of the most adaptable mechanisms in the world. It may not seem like it in the heat of the battle, but it's possible to feel calm and even excited on test day.

This post will outline 5 strategies that I've learned over the years that can help mitigate the test anxiety you're feeling - whatever variety it might be.

If you watch the Olympics or other prominent athletic competitions, you'll notice that reporters always ask participants the same question during interviews: "Were you nervous?"

99% of the time, he or she will respond by saying something along the lines of, "No, I was excited."

How can this be? These elite athletes are performing on a global stage, often with their livelihoods at stake. As Simon Sinek points out, it has to do with how they interpret physical and mental stimuli.

Take a moment to consider the signs of anxiety: fast heartbeat, sweaty palms, butterflies, and so on. Now consider the signs of excitement: fast heartbeat, sweaty palms, and butterflies. They're indistinguishable.

The athletes, whether purposely or not, trained themselves over years of practice to interpret nerves as excitement.

So, next time you start to feel "anxious" before a test, remind yourself: this is exciting.

You'll be surprised how effective this tactic is-trust me.

When Bill Walsh took over as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, his work was cut out for him. The organization had endured several embarrassingly bad seasons prior to his arrival, and as a result, the media, fans and even some players expected the 49ers to fail.

That was until Walsh implemented a new philosophy.

Instead of setting long-term goals like winning the Super Bowl, Walsh prioritized the tiniest details each and every day: wearing uniforms properly, executing plays in practice down to the inch, eating healthy, and getting adequate rest.

If the players could do these little things right every single day, the score of the game would take care of itself.

There are strong parallels between Walsh's coaching philosophy and test preparation. Boosting confidence in the classroom starts long before test day. This means taking care of the little things: taking notes every class and reviewing material consistently instead of cramming the night before the exam.

The compound effect of this slow, steady preparation is the confidence that you need to ward off those nerves on test day.

The downside of thorough preparation is obvious: it's time-consuming, especially for college students who juggle multiple classes, jobs, and extracurriculars. The key is to find a level of preparation that you can tolerate without overwhelming yourself.

Then, on test day, think, "I've prepared as best I can; now the grade will take care of itself."

Many of us (myself included) don't breathe in the manner humans are actually designed to breathe. The right way to breath is to use the diaphragm (the muscle under the lungs) to expand the belly. Instead, we take short, shallow breaths using our chest, which limits oxygen intake.

Left unchecked, this breathing pattern can cause an endless cycle of stress: we feel tense, so we take shallow breaths. These shallow breaths cause more tension, and so on and so on until you're in a low-grade state of anxiety all the time. Needless to say, this isn't ideal when you're trying to recall material from last week or write an essay on the spot.

Breathing deeply with the diaphragm, however, has an abundance of benefits including lower blood pressure and relaxed muscles. This technique can do more than just calm you down, though. It can improve cognitive function as well. A 2016 study from The Journal of Neuroscience discovered a direct link between proper breathing and the ability to recall and recognize objects more quickly.

It may seem like an oversimplification, but breathing could be the difference between passing and failing a test.

Does this sound familiar?

You're about 15 minutes into an exam when you glance up and see someone hand in their test and strut out of the room glowing with confidence. You look back down at your own test and notice that you're not even past the first page.

The natural instinct here is to panic: Should I be further along? How can he/she already be finished? I wonder how far along the rest of the class is.

If you catch yourself in this thought trap, it's important to remember two things:

1. Even if the whole class finishes before you, it doesn't affect your ability to do well on the test.

2. Paying attention to anything other than your own test is a waste of time and energy.

These can be tough to keep in mind, especially for competitive students, but reminding yourself that your test is the only one that matters is liberating.

There's no need to rush here: read things carefully, allow yourself to comprehend everything, skip around if you're stuck, and work at your own pace. The smartest kid in the room isn't the one who turns in the test first (of course, it's also not the one who gets the highest score.)

I know it feels like everyone's observing your pen strokes with a spotlight, but I promise they're not. Stay in your own lane.

Simply understanding where a single test fits in the grand scheme of your life may be the most effective tactic to minimize test anxiety.

Take a moment to consider how much the test matters: unless your degree or acceptance into grad school rides on a single test, chances are you can recoup any losses from a less-than-great performance.

I bombed my fair share of tests in college, but not a single one of those negatively affected the position I'm in today (nor do I even remember any of my test scores, whether they were good or bad.)

Sure, you want to get good grades - but what's more important is what you actually learn and retain, along with the experiences and relationships you're building outside of class.

As you may have heard in this interview with Tony Stubblebine, a lot of companies these days don't care whatsoever about your GPA. Some don't even want to see a resume - they'd much rather see a portfolio or testimonials.

Does this mean you can slack off and play 78 hours of Fortnite instead of studying for your tests? Probably not. But it does mean that, as long as you're applying yourself outside the classroom, your test scores are not the deciding factor of your future.

By implementing these tips, you're well on your to stress-free test-taking. Just remember: breathe and control what you can control. Most importantly, remind yourself that no single test defines you as a student or a person.

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How to Overcome Test Anxiety - 5 Strategies That Work

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C.I.G. is supported in part by its readers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here. Change Your Personal Definition of Anxiety Prepare and the Grade Will Take Care of Itself Relax and Breathe Activate Tunnel Vision Change Your Perspective Now Go Conquer the World (and Your Test) Anxiety on test day can make you feel like you're alone in the wilderness.

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Before the test:
You've done the studying, but you're still jittery. Nervousness can potentially distract you prior to - and even during - a test. What can you do to ensure that you're confident when you sit down and raise your pencil? Read on.
1. Pace Yourself
Don't wait until the last minute to study. Cramming before a test rarely yields good results because you can't fully absorb the information into your brain. At the same time, you don't necessarily want to study too early and then forget everything. Instead, find a happy medium: once the test date is assigned, set a timetable for reviewing material, even if at first it's only for 15 minutes a night.

As the big day nears, spend more time on the parts that confuse you. Pacing yourself allows you to take your time, relax, learn the material, and most importantly, ask the teacher ahead of time if something isn't completely clear to you. If you set a steady pace for studying, you'll be good to go.
2. Exercise
Get all that excess energy out when you're nervous! You can't spend every waking minute exercising your brain or you'll burn out. So why not exercise your body for a while? Take a bike ride to a study buddy's house, go for a jog, or play a game of basketball with your big brother. If you don't feel comfortable taking that much time away from studying, just stand in the middle of your room and do jumping jacks for 5 minutes. You'll feel exhilarated and ready to dive back into your notes.
3. Pre-pack Everything
Don't go into a test unprepared. The night before, pack extra pencils and pens, paper, and make sure the textbook, novel, or calculator that relates to the material is zipped in your backpack. You don't want the added stress of realizing you forgot something crucial immediately before the test starts.
4. Meditate
Like exercise, meditation can be a great way to clear your mind. It doesn't matter if you have no idea how to do it - you don't even have to bend your body like a pretzel or chant! Simply take a break for about 20 minutes and sit somewhere comfortable. Close your eyes and let your mind wander. Think about your friends, your favorite television show, what you want to do over the weekend, anything that makes you happy, or even nothing at all. A quick meditation will leave you refreshed and more confident about your studying.
5. Review Your Notes
Get to class a few minutes early on the test day, so you can review your notes. If you've been pacing yourself, everything should be familiar. In fact, you'll probably know all the answers!

After the test:
Congratulations, the test is over! Unfortunately for some, the stress doesn't automatically disappear once you hand in your exam - you want to know how you did, what you got right, what you got wrong. How can you be calm until you get your grade back? Here are some ideas.
1. Exhale!
Take a deep breath in, and let it out. You've survived the test, and it probably wasn't even that bad. Be sure to acknowledge that you did it, it's over, and now you have the freedom to concentrate on other things. Whew!
2. Reward Yourself
After all, you deserve it! Go get an ice cream cone, buy the CD you've been saving up for, or take a break from homework to watch a movie. You've been working hard, so treat yourself.
3. Hang Out
Unless you were studying together, chances are you didn't get to really hang out with your friends much prior to the test. Now you can de-stress with your buddies and get back to normal. Have fun!
4. Put Your Notes Away
Resist the urge to obsess over your notes when the test is over. While it's definitely okay to check your answers, try not to relive the test in your mind. That might just add unnecessary stress to waiting for the results. Look over your notes or a textbook quickly to see if you got that borderline question correct, and then store those notes until you get the test back.
5. Believe in Yourself
Always think positive - after all, you won't know otherwise until your teacher hands back the test. So sit back and keep telling yourself that you worked hard, you know the material, and you were well prepared. With that combination, the results should be just fine. And what to do if you know you did your best to prepare, but the grade doesn't reflect your hard work? Think of that test as a way to see what you need more help with rather than a judgment on how smart you are. Maybe you need to look at the way you're studying, or ask for help in certain areas. Keep everything in perspective: one bad grade is not the end of the world.

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De-Stress for That Test: A Before and After Guide | Scholastic

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Before the test: You've done the studying, but you're still jittery. Nervousness can potentially distract you prior to - and even during - a test. What can you do to ensure that you're confident when you sit down and raise your pencil? Read on. 1. Pace Yourself Don't wait until the last minute to study.

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Overview

Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. These exercises may help you relax and find relief.

Anxiety is a typical human reaction to stress. But too much anxiety can get in the way of living a healthy, happy life. If you feel caught up in your anxiety, try one or a few of the following exercises anytime and anywhere to find relief. The goal is to perform exercises that can quickly help you relax.

Why anxiety exercises work
They address your body's stress responses - such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and tense muscles - and help replace them with what your body feels when you're relaxed.

When you're feeling anxious, you might notice that your heart rate and breathing get a bit faster. You may also begin to sweat and feel dizzy or lightheaded. When you're anxious, getting your breathing under control can relax both your body and mind.

To get your breathing under control when you're anxious, follow these steps:

1. Sit in a quiet and comfortable place. Put one of your hands on your chest and the other on your stomach. Your stomach should move more than your chest when you breathe in deeply.

2. Take a slow and regular breath in through your nose. Watch and sense your hands as you breathe in. The hand on your chest should remain still while the hand on your stomach will move slightly.

3. Breathe out through your mouth slowly.

4. Repeat this process at least 10 times or until you begin to feel your anxiety lessen.

Have you ever heard the "finding your happy place" expression? Painting a mental picture of a place that makes you feel relaxed can actually calm your brain and body.

When you start to feel anxious, sit in a quiet and comfortable place. Think of your ideal place to relax. While it can be any place in the world, real or imaginary, it should be an image that you find very calming, happy, peaceful, and safe. Make sure it's easy enough to think about so you can return to it in your mind when you feel anxious in the future.

Think of all the small details you'd find if you were there. Think about how the place would smell, feel, and sound. Envision yourself in that place, enjoying it comfortably.

Once you have a good picture of your "happy place," close your eyes and take slow and regular breaths through your nose and out of your mouth. Be aware of your breathing and continue focusing on the place you've imagined in your mind until you feel your anxiety lifting. Visit this place in your mind whenever you feel anxious.

When you feel anxious, you might notice strain or tension in your muscles. This muscle stress can make your anxiety more difficult to manage in the moment you're experiencing it. By relieving the stress in your muscles, you can usually reduce your anxiety levels.

To quickly relieve your muscle tension during moments of anxiety:

1. Sit in a quiet and comfortable place. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Breathe slowly into your nose and out of your mouth.

2. Use your hand to make a tight fist. Squeeze your fist tightly.

3. Hold your squeezed fist for a few seconds. Notice all the tension you feel in your hand.

4. Slowly open your fingers and be aware of how you feel. You may notice a feeling of tension leaving your hand. Eventually, your hand will feel lighter and more relaxed.

5. Continue tensing and then releasing various muscle groups in your body, from your hands, legs, shoulders, or feet. You may want to work your way up and down your body tensing various muscle groups. Avoid tensing the muscles in any area of your body where you're injured or in pain, as that may further aggravate your injury.

Counting is a simple way to ease your anxiety. When you feel anxiety washing over you, find a quiet and comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes and slowly count to 10. If necessary, repeat and count to 20 or an even higher number. Keep counting until you feel your anxiety subsiding.

Sometimes this relief occurs quickly, but other times it might take a while. Stay calm and patient. Counting can relax you because it gives you something to focus on besides your anxiety. It's a great tool to use in a crowded or busy space like a store or train where other anxiety exercises might be more challenging to carry out.

Anxiety exercises take practice
Relaxation is a skill you learn. Much like physical exercise, it takes practice.
Choose an anxiety exercise and try it until you're feeling less anxious.
If one exercise doesn't work, try a different one.

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in your current state and surroundings, gently and without judgment. Staying present can help you create a calm state of mind when you feel your thoughts racing and anxiety building.

To bring yourself outside your thoughts into the present:

1. Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit and close your eyes.

2. Notice how your breathing and body feel.

3. Now shift your awareness to the sensations you observe in your surroundings. Ask yourself What's happening outside of my body? Notice what you hear, smell, and feel in your environment.

4. Change your awareness several times from your body to your environment and back again until your anxiety starts to fade.

It can be hard to think clearly when you feel anxious. Sometimes anxious thinking can make us believe harmful thoughts that are untrue or make us do things that make our anxiety worse. It can be helpful to break or interrupt your anxious thoughts so you can think clearly and react appropriately to your thoughts.

Here's how to break your anxious thought cycle:

Ask yourself whether endless worry is a problem for you. If the answer is yes, it's good to be aware of that.

Try different ways of interrupting your anxious thought process, such as:

Singing a silly song about your anxiety to an upbeat tempo, or speaking your anxieties in a funny voice.

Choose a nice thought to focus on instead of your anxiety. This could be a person you love, your happy place, or even something you look forward to doing later that day, such as eating a nice dinner.

Listen to music or read a book.

Be conscious when you shift your attention from your anxiety to a task at hand and notice how you feel.

Do you feel worse?
Anxiety exercises may not work for everyone and may actually make symptoms worse for people who have a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). If you have GAD, consult your doctor for more effective treatment options.

Anxiety can intrude on thoughts and activities, and sometimes it's hard to make anxiety go away. But know that it's possible to get relief, even if you feel caught up in it. Next time you're feeling anxious, give one of these anxiety exercises a try.

Also, check out the best apps for anxiety. From nature sounds to acupressure, these apps offer a variety of techniques. However, if your anxiety often interferes with your daily life, happiness, and activities, consider seeing a mental health expert for further help.

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Anxiety Exercises: 6 Exercises for Relief and Relaxation

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Try one or more of these six exercises that you can do anywhere to help relieve your anxiety, relax your mind, and get back to your life.

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Anxiety Exercises: Mindfulness, PMR & Breathing Exercises for Anxiety Relief

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Experiencing anxiety symptoms? Learn how exercises like progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness and square breathing can provide anxiety relief.

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Kognity’s platform works wonders for exam preparation for both you and your students. Enjoy these free resources to kick-start the countdown.

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Exam stationary How to fill out answer booklet

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New MNIB Webpage - MNIB Teacher resources

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Use the links below to access resources shared by MNIB teachers in local workshops and roundtables.

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Looking for the best IB advice from a successful former IB student? You're in the right place.

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332 resources for only £15.00 a year: Subscribe below now!
Here is a link to my latest article in TES on the dos and don'ts in the role of the form tutor.

New FREE resource: "Safe distancing edition" of the Interactive Classroom Activities booklet can be found here.

This website contains 332 resources (as of February 12th 2021), and a wealth of advice for IB Coordinators and teachers to help set up and sustain an International Baccalaureate Programme in your school. While prominently for the Diploma Programme, this website also contains resources for Middle Years Programme and Careers-Related Programme Coordinators and teachers. It also contains teaching and learning materials for teachers in any national curriculum.

Resources in this site include reports, thesis, lesson plans, schemes of work and videos covering all of the different aspects of the role of International Baccalaureate Coordinator. The documents in this site range from the day to day support for teachers and students in the teaching and running of the programme and coping with the demands of the course. It also covers initiatives used on a yearly basis and detailed support longer term projects such as preparing for the five-year review, with a wide range of resources for all of the International Baccalaureate's Standards and Practices.

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Latest Resource. January 21st 2021February 12th 2021: Job Descriptions.

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332 resources for only £15.00 a year: Subscribe below now! Here is a link to my latest article in TES on the dos and don'ts in the role of the form tutor. New FREE resource: "Safe distancing edition" of the Interactive Classroom Activities booklet can be found here.

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Time and Space 1: Changing English

IB Learner Profile: Inquirers

We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

Get yourself into good habits right at the start of the course by trying to read beyond the articles provided here or by your teachers. You could begin by browsing the OxfordWords blog, a repository of hundreds of articles about all things language-related, including how language is constantly changing and evolving. In the spirit of being an inquirer, why not choose an article that you enjoy and try leading part of a lesson using this as your starting point?

Lang and Lit Concepts: Culture

Language is one of the ways by which different cultures can be defined and distinguished from one another. During this section, you will visit different parts of the anglophone (English-speaking) world and learn about various cultures. As you learn, consider how the changes to English over time and space can tells us things about the different cultures in which the language lives.

Guiding Conceptual Question: Time and Space

How do conventions evolve over time?

Time and Space 2: Taboo

"Not one of them would sit down, or eat a bit of anything... On expressing my surprise at this, they were all taboo, as they said; which word has a very comprehensive meaning; but, in general, signifies that a thing is forbidden... When any thing is forbidden to be eaten, or made use of, they say, that it is taboo." Captain James Cook, 1777

Slaying Holofernes; oil on canvas by Artemisia Gentileschi, Naples, 1610. Find out more about the daring Italian artist who followed in Carravagio's footsteps and broke Counter-Reformation taboos at a time when women were confined to still-life painting.

IB Learner Profile: Caring

We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

IB Learners care about others, and care about the impact they have on others. They don't stand aside when they see injustice or cruelty, and seek ways to actively improve the lives of others. The notion of 'action' is tied intimately to caring; so at some point while you investigate the following topics pause and draw up a resolution. This could be as small as altering the words you use to describe others, or something larger like delivering a presentation in an assembly about the way the language we use can be culturally sensitive.

Lang and Lit Concept: Perspective

The concept of perspective suggests that works and texts have a range of potential meanings. The potential can arise, for example, from authorial intent, reader bias, and from the time and place in which a work or text was written. You'll discover that uses of language you might find offensive, from another perspective is inoffensive - and visa-versa. Part of being an IB student is learning to respectfully challenge received wisdom and the opinions of others, and to have your own preconceptions challenged in return.

Guiding Conceptual Question: Time and Space

To what extent do texts provide insights into different cultures?

Time and Space 3: Other Times, Other Places

Learner Profile:

TBC

Lang and Lit Concept: Representation

"Representation refers to the relationship between texts and meanings. In any given text, whether literary or non-literary - however one makes that distinction - the relationship between form, structure, and meaning is a central concern. Perspectives differ on the extent to which language and literature does, can, or should represent reality." IB Lang and Lit Guide

Conceptual Guiding Question: Time and Space

How do texts reflect, represent or form a part of cultural practices?

Readers, Writers, Texts 1: The Media, Journalism and the Internet

"It is important to bear in mind that political campaigns are designed by the same people who sell toothpaste and cars." Noam Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent, 1979

IB Learner Profile: Knowledgeable

We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

How do you get your knowledge of the world? Which newspapers do you read, or news programmes do you watch, if any? How wide or narrow is the range of sources you use to keep abreast of current affairs? An IB Learner should strive to be knowledgable about ideas of global significance, and watching or reading the news from a variety of sources can help you broaden your horizons in this regard.

Lang and Lit Concept:

TBC

Guiding Conceptual Question:

How do texts adhere to or deviate from conventions associated with genre or text type?

Readers, Writers, Texts 2: The Language of Persuasion

IB Learner Profile: Thinker

We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

Many of the articles and discussions you will have in this section will challenge you to think more critically about sources of information, and the methods with which the 'real world' is presented to you through the mass media. You may have to swallow some of your assumptions about the purposes of those creating, programming and writing content for mainstream consumption. Being able to recognize when you are being covertly persuaded, for example, relies on you being media literate, and critically aware.

Lang and Lit Concept: Communication

Because speeches are inherently a communicative task, these sets of resources have been placed under the concept of communication. Concepts you'll encounter in this section include how a writer facilitates communication through the style and structure of rhetoric. Writers often have a particular audience in mind, and discovering what assumptions have been made about this audience's views might make communication with you - an unintended audience - more difficult. You might also question the way a reader and writer must co-operate for a text to be effective.

Conceptual Guiding Questions:

In what ways can diverse texts share points of similarity?

How does language use vary among text types and literary forms?

How do texts offer insights and challenges?

Readers, Writers, Texts 3: Advertising and Representation

"Everyone always feels personally exempt from the affects of advertising. So, wherever I go, what I hear more than anything else is: 'I don't pay attention to ads, I just tune them out. Ads have no effect on me.' Of course, I hear this most often from people wearing Abercrombie T-Shirts, but there you go." Jean Kilbourne, Killing Us Softly, 2007

IB Learner Profile: Principled

We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

How principled are you when it comes to the products you consume? Advertising and the mass media are powerfully persuasive and, in today's digital world, positive messages are amplified and strengthened to the point where they are difficult to resist. As you study this section of the course, consider your own principles in light of the brands you purchase, the products you consume - and the messages you believe.

Lang and Lit Concept: Representation

How far that the texts we read represent the truth of our human experience has long been a contentious issue, and none more so than in the beauty industry and the mass media connected to it. Once you have studied the topic of representation in advertising, you will see how the lives of men and women, and the things that they desire and expect from life, are drastically changing across many parts of the world. But do these changes result in a change in the topics that men and women like to read about - and a shift in the way they like to see themselves reflected in texts - or will you find the same old issues of stereotyped representation appearing time and again in the texts you study?

Guiding Conceptual Questions:

How important is the cultural or historical context to the production or reception of a text?

How do conventions of texts evolve over time?

Intertextuality 1: Making Connections

Intertextuality is a term coined by Julia Kristeva in 1966 explaining that there are two relationships going on whenever we read a text: there's the relationship between us and the author (the horizontal access) and between the texts and other texts (the vertical axis). It's the vertical axis that gives us our definition of intertextuality.

IB Learner Profile: open-minded

We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

This part of the course could have been tailor-made by somebody with the value of open-minded in mind. In order to fully understand and appreciate the concept of Intertextuality, you will have to be open to all kinds of texts, and even open to the idea that, in order to understand and appreciate one text, you have to have read many other - possibly unrelated - texts first!

Lang and Lit Concept: Creativity

TBC

Guiding Conceptual Questions:

How valid is the notion of a classic text?

How do conventions and systems of reference evolve over time?

TOK Interlude: Words Words Words

"Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed, will be expressed by exactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten. Already, in the Eleventh Edition, we're not far from that point. But the process will still be continuing long after you and I are dead. Every year fewer and fewer words, and the range of consciousness always a little smaller. Has it ever occurred to you, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?" George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, (1948)

IB Learner Profile: Open-Minded

We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

The ideas in this section are intimately tied to work you will do in your Theory of Knowledge course, as language is one of the "ways of knowing," a primary means of engaging with knowledge and understanding. As you explore language and words as a sign system, keep in mind your own spirit of open-mindedness - especially when the theories and suggestions in this section might seem a bit bewildering, esoteric or obscure.

Lang and Lit Concept: Creativity

The strange and esoteric nature of some of the concepts discussed in this section may require you to have an imaginative and creative response. When it all feels a bit much, remind yourself of the Lang and Lit guide's definition of creativity: creativity highlights the importance of the reader being able to engage in an imaginative interaction with a text which generates a range of potential meanings from it.

Guiding Conceptual Questions: Readers, Writers, Texts

In what ways is meaning constructed, negotiated, expressed and interpreted?

How are we affected by texts in various ways?

IB Learner Profile: Reflective

We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

Many people, including some studying this course, live in comfortable, well-developed circumstances in societies that have adopted capitalism and free market economics. And it's true that this system has delivered success and wealth to many countries, institutions and individuals. But, how many of us take the time to wonder about the hidden side of capitalism? As you read this play, be reflective about the societies we live in, and about our global economic systems. What is the human cost of the comfort and convenience most of us enjoy?

Lang and Lit Concept: Communication

In Glengarry Glen Ross, language as a means of communication has been twisted. Language is used by (almost) all the characters in the play only as a tool to manipulate potential customers or each other. Deception is at work on every level. We see lying and fantasy as a way of thinking and operating: certainly there is little truth to anything anyone says to anybody, even when it seems to support a friendship or express a philosophy. As you read through the play, think about language as a tool of communication and ask how certain uses of language can hide and conceal the truth.

Jonathan Pryce plays Shylock in The Globe Theatre production of The Merchant of Venice, 2016.

IB Learner Profile: Caring

We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

IB Learners care about others, and care about the impact they have on others. They don't stand aside when they see injustice or cruelty, and seek ways to actively improve the lives of others. In many ways, The Merchant of Venice is a play about the way people choose to treat each other: why does Antonio abuse Shylock on the Rialto? Why does Shylock doggedly pursue his 'pound of flesh'? Pause at one or two moments in the play and reflect on what may have been different if characters had shown each other more empathy, compassion and caring.

Lang and Lit Concept: Perspective

The Merchant of Venice has a reputation as a 'problem play', the problem being it seems to fall back on stereotypes of Jewish people in order to satisfy the expectation of a 17th century audience. As a Jew, Shylock would have been an archetypal villain, incapable of human emotion such as pity, mercy or kindness. At several points in the play other characters level this charge against Shylock. However, the way the play is written allows for other interpretations of Shylock's character, and the viewer is left to wonder whether Shakespeare was trying to represent Jewish people in a more progressive way than his culture would normally accept. During your reading of The Merchant of Venice, keep track of the possible perspectives one might have on Shylock's character.

IB Learner Profile: Balanced

We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives - intellectual, physical, and emotional - to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.

Your study of literature will be assessed in two ways: Paper 2 (at the end of the course) and in an oral examination called the Individual Oral. You are allowed to choose the literary text that you want to prepare for the Individual Oral. Pygmalion is a great text for you to think about using, as it contains many passages that connect to concepts you will have studied in other parts of the course. Some students enjoy this activity as it does not require spending lots of time writing essays, and allows you space to work on other aspects of the IB; this is called having intellectual balance in the learner profile. Other students find the Individual Oral stressful and even a little nerve-wracking (affecting what the learner profile calls emotional balance). The important thing to do is to remain balanced: if you gather your thoughts regularly throughout the course and record them in your Learner Portfolio, and hone preparation techniques that work for you, you'll find this is a great way to boost your internal assessment score.

Lang and Lit Concept: Transformation

Transformation is a central theme of Shaw's play: Pygmalion 's all about turning a poor girl into a duchess! Eliza's metamorphosis is indeed stunning. You could even go so far as to call it a 'Cinderella story.' But remember: Cinderella turned back into a poor girl before she finally found her prince. Pay attention and you'll notice that not all the attempts at transformation here are successful. There are plenty of false starts and false endings. By play's end, Shaw's made one thing very clear: be careful what you wish for.

This illustration by Dariga Idrissova was inspired by Murakami's short story, the title-piece of this collection.

IB Learner Profile: Open-minded

We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

In these stories, a man sees his favourite elephant vanish overnight; a newlywed couple suffers attacks of hunger that drive them to hold up a McDonald's; and a young woman discovers a little green monster who burrows up through her backyard and can read her thoughts. You never know what is going to happen in one of Murakami's stories - or even which reality you're going to find yourself lost inside. When you feel bewildered or wonder what it all might mean, remember the IB Learner Profile and try to approach this literary work with an open mind.

IB Lang and Lit Concept: Perspective

A criticismthat is sometimes levelled against Murakami's writing is that his narrators, from book to book, seem remarkably similar. Most are young men of a certain age (mid-twenties to mid-thirties) who have dropped out of mainstream society and seem to be searching for answers to questions of life and purpose that they haven't properly formulated yet. His female characters tend to be ambiguous, often taking supporting roles and having hidden thoughts and motivations - yet they leave a huge impact on the hero's life and are often a reason for the strange journey they undertake. As you read the stories in this collection, ask whether these criticisms are wholly fair and explore the effect reading through the eyes of men (or occasionally women) has on your perspective on The Elephant Vanishes.

IB Learner Profile: Open-minded

We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

Culture is a broad topic and, thanks to a process called enculturation, it is very difficult not to judge other cultures through reference to what is usual in your own culture. When reading Broken April, it is important to keep in mind this cultural bias. Try to be open minded and judge the culture in the text objectively. Of course, Kadare is trying to reveal something about Albanian culture: blood feuds, ritual revenge, and the narrowness of this patriarchal society are all criticised by Kadare. But a sharp reader will recognise the plurality of voices in his work, and be able to find the nuance in his presentation of this strange and twisted culture.

Lang and Lit Concept: Culture

Culture describes the values, goals, beliefs, convictions and attitudes that people share in society. Broken April describes a culture that may be very different to your own - or may share surprising similarities. While you're reading this work, keep in mind the principles of internationalism that the IB is founded upon, and ask how reading literary works can give us insights into and appreciation of people in cultures that may be very different.

Published in 1979, The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories retells classic fairy tales in a disturbing, blood-tinged, explicit way. Angela Carter revises Sleeping Beauty, for example, from an adult, twentieth-century perspective. You might think that fairy tales are the sorts of stories to read to children in bed to lull them to sleep - not these versions! Her renditions are intended not to comfort but to disturb and titillate.

IB Learner Profile:

TBC

Lang and Lit Concept: Transformation

Transformation in one form or another is a concept you'll come back to time and again when studying this text. You'll learn about the appropriation and re-telling of Charles Perrault's stories from Carter's fresh, feminist perspective; you'll see how the male gaze transforms the way women look at themselves; and finally you'll discover the stages in the 'rites of passage' by which children are separated from the world they know and love and follow a path that leads to adulthood.

The Border Town by Li Chen; serial sketch; this work is part of a series inspired by Shen Congwen's novel. It depicts Cuicui listening to her grandfather play the flute, with her yellow dog curled up by her side.

IB Learner Profile: Principled

We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

Shen Congwen was a champion of literary integrity and artistic independence - even when his principled beliefs put him in conflict with the government of an entire country. Although his work has recently been re-adopted by his home country, for decades he was neither published nor read in China and never wrote another novel after 1949. What's more, he wrote highly principled characters: in this story Cuicui feels a natural desire to to leave her elderly grandfather, but is conflicted by her sense of duty. As you read, take a moment or two to reflect on the principles you hold dear, and ask what you would do should these principles be threatened by either external forces - or your own internal thoughts and fears.

Lang and Lit Concept: communication

How do writers 'speak' to readers through texts? Shen Congwen passed away in 1988 - and the world he writes about in Border Town has largely vanished in 21st century China. To what extent is his work a vehicle for communicating a picture of the past that could easily be forgotten? By studying literature as an art of communication, we are exploring the relationship between readers and writers from the present and the past; in this case, hearing a voice from the past and a faraway land that few of us will ever get to see.

Words inspire images and images inspire words. This 1893 painting by John William Waterhouse was inspired by La Belle dame sans Merci and is an example of how interdisciplinary creativity can be fostered by great works of poetry.

For many, John Keats fits the quintessential image of a tortured-artistic-genius. Born on 31st October 1795 as the eldest son of Thomas and Frances Keats, his origins were working class. His father was a stable-keeper and it is rumoured the poet might have been born in the stables of the public house in Smithfields, London, where his father worked (and which was owned by his maternal grandfather). His early years and family life were happy and comfortable: the poet grew up with brothers George and Thomas and sister Fanny, who was born in 1803. Despite their working-class background the family were comfortable enough to let John attend a small village school in Enfield. Far from the studious, bookish and sensitive child we might expect, John's classmates reported that he was robust and healthy - and he particularly enjoyed fighting!

IB Learner Profile: Inquirers

We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

Reading Keats' poems, especially his wonderful ode sequence, can be thought of as a type of inquiry. All composed in a few short months, the odes ask you to contemplate abstract concepts such as what it means to suffer, the nature of happiness and sadness, the point of art, what is beauty, and more. These are not the kinds of subjects to which you can find easy answers - so best to approach these poems in the spirit of inquiry and curiosity.

Lang and Lit Concept: Creativity

By studying John Keats' writing, you're joining a long history of those who have been inspired by this brilliant genius who died before achieving his greatest work. You should take a moment to consider how great acts of artistic creativity are able to outlast the grinding of time and the capriciousness of critics who, at various points, have either ridiculed or elevated Keats' work. In some literary circles Keats's sensuousness was deemed as effeminate, even unmanly, while he remained fairly obscure to the wider public. However, things gradually began to change. A group of Cambridge undergraduates known as the Apostles dedicated themselves to revaluate and celebrate Keats's work. Among these students were Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Richard Monckton Milnes, who both became majorly responsible for fostering Keats's legacy in the Victorian era.

IB Learner Profile: Risk-Takers

Students approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have
the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

One of the most powerful and disturbing poems in this collection is The Devil's Wife, where Duffy adopts the voice of a convicted child murderer to explore notions such as the nature of evil, the limitations of the justice system and the phenomenon of 'trial by media.' One of her intentions was to re-humanize a person who was called 'the most evil woman in Britain.' This approach is not without certain dangers for a person of Carol Ann Duffy's standing and reputation. While you study The Devil's Wife, consider the risk she was taking when writing and publishing a poem like this.

Lang and Lit Concept: Identity

Much of literature through the ages and (despite some recent redressing of balance) even today is patriarchal, presenting the world from a male perspective. The phrase 'dead white man' has been applied to the canonical lists of literary texts prescribed by schools and universities. The World's Wife poems were intended by Carol Ann Duffy to rectify this sorry imbalance. The poems - and through them, the voices of heretofore-silenced women - are witty, smart, adventurous, playful, sharp and complex, revealing the plurality of identities that were, until now, lost in the shadow of the stories of great men.

The principal object, then, which I proposed to myself in these Poems was to choose incidents and situations from common life, and to relate or describe them, throughout, as far as was possible, in a selection of language really used by men; and, at the same time, to throw over them a certain colouring of imagination, whereby ordinary things should be presented to the mind in an unusual way; and, further, and above all, to make these incidents and situations interesting by tracing in them, truly though not ostentatiously, the primary laws of our nature: chiefly, as far as regards the manner in which we associate ideas in a state of excitement.
William Wordsworth defines his literary agenda in the Preface of his Lyrical Ballads, 1798William Wordsworth,

IB Learner Profile: Reflective

We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

Appreciating the natural world is a sort of therapy for Wordsworth. It is a prescription designed to cure the alienation modern man feels in the industrialized, urban environment, so much so that, in The World is too much with us, he would abandon orthodox religion just to catch a 'glimpse' of nature which would 'leave him less forlorn' (lines 12-13). Wordsworth accuses us of being 'out of tune', but offers a sort of salvation through reflection. This tenet, that forms a major part of his personal philosophy, is arguably more important in today's world as it was in Wordsworth's time. While reading the poems, take a moment to reflect on the current condition of the natural world, your place within it and the actions you might take to mitigate the widespread destruction of wildlife and wild places that modern societies and economies depend upon.

Lang and Lit Concept: Creativity

"There will also be found in these volumes little of what is usually called poetic diction; I have taken as much pains to avoid it as others ordinarily take to produce it; this I have done for the reason already alleged, to bring my language near to the language of men, and further, because the pleasure which I have proposed to myself to impart is of a kind very different from that which is supposed by many persons to be the proper object of poetry." Wordsworth's explains his concept of poetry.

Creativity is central to the activities of reading and writing. Writing is, very obviously, a creative act of imagination. In reading, too, creativity is required to interpret and understand a text, and to explore its range of potential meanings. When people first read Wordsworth, they sometimes wonder what all the fuss is about! His poems seem so straightforward compared to the convoluted structures and elevated diction employed by earlier poetic traditions. Nevertheless, at the time his poems were thought to be creative, daring and even revolutionary. As you read Wordsworth, try to come to a clear understanding of the ways he is a creative writer.

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Time and Space 1: Changing English The Tower of Babel; oil painting by Peter Bruegel the Elder (1563). One of the core concepts that you will return to time and time again in your study of IB English is that Language changes in relationship to time and space.

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IB Maths Resources from Intermathematics

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This is a work in progress which I will be adding to over the next few weeks. For now, see: Number Loving is both a blog and resource bank run by 2 UK teachers, it hosts a large amount of lesson co…

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