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Quarter Four, 2007
Networks and Associations
International Baccalaureate South Australia Teacher-librarian Network
The number of IB schools in South Australia continues to grow, so there are now around 80 teacher librarians on the IBSAT Network mail list. Meetings are held each term and are generally well attended, with support being provided by peers through the sharing of ideas and interesting discussions. Topics considered in 2007 were: the role of the teacher-librarian in International Baccalaureate schools - developing a role statement, with explicit reference to the Learner Profile and IB Curriculum Frameworks; Book Week – “READiscovering” the Learner Profile through the short-listed books; IB & IT - Information Literacy across the IB Programs; and Countering the “cut & paste culture” - how to work with teachers to ensure that units have depth. It is wonderful to experience such collaboration between teacher librarians from both government and independent sectors and from across the different IB programs.
Alison Hicks
Teacher Librarian
Gilles Street Primary School
Adelaide, South Australia
International Baccalaureate South Australia Teacher-Librarian Network facilitator
Association of IB Schools in Japan and Korea Update
Since the last IBAP newsletter, all three programme groups affiliated to the AIBSJK have held meetings at various locations around Japan. Group members should receive minutes from these meetings via their group chairs, however, if anyone else is interested, they can either write to the group chair (contact details below) or refer to our new website for details.
New website? Yes – you can now view AIBSJK information at: http://www.senri.ed.jp/ib/aibsjk/index.htm General information is posted on this site, plus there is a password protected section for member schools (that is all schools within our region that are authorised IB World Schools). Member heads and coordinators have been sent the username and password already – please contact Gwyn Underwood if you have not received it.
We also have a separate MYP East Asia Network Group (affiliate of the AIBSJK) website here: http://www.senri.ed.jp/ib/mypeang/index.htm
Again, there is a general information page, with a password protected member section. MYP-EANG members have been sent the username and password – please contact Gwyn Underwood if you have not received it.
Similar PYP and DP sites will be added soon, and the group Chairs will contact you with details when they are ready.
Some general highlights from the recent meetings are as follows:
MYP Network group
- The last MYP meeting was held on 16 November at Tokyo International School (TIS). Fifteen members attended, plus Kyoko Bernard, IBO Representative for Japan, and Patrick Ritter, IBAP MYP Regional Manager from the IBAP regional office in Singapore.
- Patrick noted the role of the IB Network groups are very important to the regional office, and encourages participation and continued development. In order to facilitate the expansion of Japanese MYP schools, coordinators are asked to recommend bilingual teachers for a special workshop leader training session to be held in Japan next year.
- Kyoko Bernard reported the majority of schools due to be authorised for the MYP in Japan will be “Article 1” schools (schools following the national curriculum). This is significant as it demonstrates the flexibility of the MYP in allowing these schools to run bilingual programmes and satisfy national restrictions while using the MYP.
- The official Japanese translations of the IB Learner Profile and a Glossary of translated MYP are available in the member section of the MYP-EANG webpage.
- Michael Izzard (Chinese International School, Hong Kong) gave a presentation and demonstrated MYP unit planning software he is developing. Interested persons can look at a demonstration here: www.monogold.com/myp.htm.
PYP Network group meeting
- The last PYP meeting was held on19 November at K International School (KIST), Tokyo. Eight schools were represented, plus Kyoko Bernard, IBO Representative for Japan, and Bill Fenton from the IBAP regional office in Singapore.
- The chair position now rotates to Osaka International School, with Dr. Clarence Coombs (PYP coordinator and Librarian) assuming the position for next two years.
- Bill Fenton (IBAP MYP Regional Manager) commented on the ongoing growth of PYP in Asia.
The next programme group and AGM meeting times and contact details are as follows:
PYP Network Group meeting – 4 April 2008 @ Osaka International School. (Clarence Coombs, ccoombs@senri.ed.jp PYP Network Group Chair)
MYP East Asia Network Group meeting - 25 April 2008 @ location: To be confirmed. (Gwyn Underwood, gunderwood@senri.ed.jp, MYP East Asia Network Group Chair)
DP Coordinators Group meeting – 26 May 2008 @ Fukuoka International School. (Peter Heimer, pheimer@senri.ed.jp, AIBSJK Vice-Chair)
Gwyn Underwood Peter Heimer
AIBSJK Chair AIBSJK Vice-Chair
Networks and Associations in the region
AAIBS
The AAIBS was established specifically to assist schools in Australasia, providing a network of professional support, information and service. The AAIBS has information on entrance requirements for universities throughout the region.
SAIBSA
SAIBSA members are authorized or implementing schools and its education practicioners. SAIBSA aims to facilitate communication with authorized and implementing IB schools in the South Asia sub-region and with the South Asia sub-regional office.
AIBSIJK
The AIBSIJK originated as an association for Heads and Diploma Programme coordinators to meet to exchange information. With the introduction of the MYP and PYP, the association has evolved into a larger organization with the three programme groups (PYP, MYP and DP) meeting separately for programme-specific meetings. All IB World Schools in Japan and Korea (with Taiwan schools now guests and pending official acceptance) are automatically granted membership. The programme groups are generally open to candidate and interested schools. Please refer to the association website for more details, or contact:
Gwyn Underwood (Chair) gunderwood@senri.ed.jp
Peter Heimer (Co-chair) pheimer@senri.ed.jp.
IB Americas region →
The IB Americas includes IB World Schools in 31 countries and territories in Central, North and South America. IB World Schools in the Americas are state/public, private, magnet, charter, international, parochial and secular and serve a broad and diverse range of students in urban, suburban and rural communities.
Useful links →
IB Africa, Europe, Middle East region →
IB Africa, Europe and Middle East (IBAEM) covers a diverse range of cultures, languages and economic realities. In a continually changing region, the IB delivers its education standards beyond borders. More than 80 countries in the region offer IB programmes today.
Useful links →
IB Asia Pacific region →
The IB Asia Pacific region supports more than 400 schools offering more than 560 programmes in 27 countries. We are responsible for authorizing new schools, evaluating IB World Schools, providing professional development services in the schools and in sub-regional locations, and ensuring that the IB Diploma Programme is recognized by universities worldwide.
Useful links →
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