AP: different, not easier
A senior prank and the student reaction that followed, got Darcie Flansburg thinking about comparing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) with Advanced Placement (AP).
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Writing, lifelong learning and gender equity
Tony Dickenson teacher, lifelong learner and writer reflects on gender and equity. How should we be encouraging boys to understand the obstacles that girls face every day?
Supporting the vaccination of refugees in Malaysia
Chika Kumashiro-Wilms tells how a simple question asked at school led to a major logistical effort to assist with the vaccination of some refugee communities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Catalysing community-led change
Supporting projects in low-income contexts can reinforce inequalities between ‘supporters’ and ‘activists’ on the ground. EduSpots is a project based in Ghana that aims to address post-colonial issues head on. Cat Davison reports.
Innovate is the journal of the Institute of Teaching and Learning at Sevenoaks School. During 2020 – 21 ITM published seven articles from Innovate 2020 – 21.
Creative rethink
Mark Beverley, Director of the Sevenoaks Institute of Teaching and Learning, explains why schools should rethink the idea of creativity.
High-impact feedback
Elen Harris looks at how Sevenoaks School has developed a model for giving high-impact feedback to students, while saving teachers time.
Encouraging questions
Hélène Bonsall looks at the value of student questions, and asks why they are not asked more frequently in class.
Knowledge or skills?
Chris Taylor wonders if the ‘skills / knowledge’ divide is really so deep and, if not, what are the implications for learning and teaching?
Music and dyslexia
Julia Kiggell suggests that understanding connections between dyslexia and mastering a musical instrument can transform learning.
Slow looking
Charley Openshaw, IB teacher and Head of Art recommends the virtues of careful observation and drawing for wider learning.
Inclusive inspiration
Do ‘inclusive’ leadership styles in teachers motivate students? A study by Paul Parham and Gloria Moss suggests there is a significant correlation
Innovate at Sevenoaks
The Institute of Innovation and Learning invites teachers to connect if you would like to be part of their ongoing work.
Don’t worry, we’re happy
Does getting out of the classroom help you de-stress? Caroline Ferguson, Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) Leader at Bangkok Patana School looks into CAS and stress levels.
Blended learning in an international school
Blending on-line and in-class learning has clear advantages for international schools. But how can it be sustained in practice? Catherine Brandt and Neil Hardy-Johnson report from Dubai.
Using the Field-Tenor-Mode matrix to support EAL writing and textual analysis
Language curricula in international education place increasing significance on student ability to produce and analyse a range of text types. The Language Acquisition and Language B Courses of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programmes are good examples of this trend.
Chris Jay reports how the “Field-Tenor-Mode” analytical approach can build understanding of English texts.
Lenses on Lear
Joe Holroyd reflects on a model for effective Interdisciplinary Learning in his school’s IB Diploma Programme, which involves Literature and Film students working together and has potential to operate across multiple domains.
How to avoid under-performance in IELTs
An increasing number of students in international schools, including those following IB Diploma courses are sitting the IELTS and similar examinations of language competence, but many under-perform. Chris Jay provides some useful guidance on how to avoid pitfalls and achieve success.