IB Asia Pacific Newsletter

January - March 2006

Diploma Programme

Getting the most out of workshops

Last September a level system was introduced into workshops in an effort to make them more responsive to teachers’ needs. Workshops for subjects for which a relatively large numbers of schools enrolled, or are likely to enrol, candidates are divided into three levels. Level 1 workshops are designed for teachers who have not yet begun to teach the course. These teachers are usually, but not always, from schools that are either seeking authorization, or have been granted authorization but have not yet commenced teaching the Diploma Programme. Teachers who have recently joined, or are about to join an authorized school but have not taught the DP course before, should, as a general rule, attend these workshops. Please note that large schools who have been authorized for quite some time may have their own orientation and induction processes for new teachers into the DP. In cases like these, it may be appropriate for new teachers to attend level 2 workshops, rather than level 1 workshops. That is a judgement best made by the DP co-ordinator at the time.

Level 2 workshops are designed for teachers who are currently teaching the course, but have not yet taken more than one group through the examinations yet. Level three workshops are designed for teachers who have taken at least two groups through the examinations.

Workshops for subjects for which a relatively small number of schools enrolled candidates remain in a ‘mixed experience’ format. They are given the code LM i.e. level mixed. These workshops will invariably have a mixture of teachers with different backgrounds and levels of experience teaching to subject.

The table below might help explain the appropriate workshops

Experience	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level M
Not taught the DP subject before	X			X
Am currently teaching subject but have not yet taken my first group through exams		X		X
Am currently teaching subject and have taken one group through exams		X		X
Have taken more than two groups through exams			X	X

The classification of these workshops will vary over time as more schools become authorized and the level of enrolment in subjects changes.

To get the most out of your professional development in these workshops it is essential that you register for the appropriate level of workshop – a teacher who needs a level one workshop will be wasting their time and the schools money attending a level 3 workshop and vice versa.

By the way, deadlines for registrations are much earlier than they have been in the past. Don’t miss – register early!

New deadlines for DP authorization application

As from 31 March 2006, new deadlines for applications for authorization will operate. The new deadlines for all Part A applications for authorization will be fifteen (15) months before teaching the Programme is planned to commence. For example, if your school plans to commence teaching the Programme in September 2007, the deadline for your application Part A is 1 July 2006.

These earlier dates are designed to assist schools to plan thoroughly for the implementation of the DP. The Letter of Intent must be submitted 6 months prior to the submission of Part A application.

New Part A and Part B applications will be available on the website shortly. Part B must be submitted no later than two months prior to the authorization visit, the date for which will be negotiated with the regional office.

In summary:

Letter of Intent, at least six months prior to Part A submission

Part A application, 15 months prior to the planned commencement date

Part B application, at least 2 months prior to the authorization visit.

Details of the authorization process are to be found on our website.

Important reminder about five-year reviews

Remember that if your school is a May session school, its self-study and supporting documents are due to the regional office no later than 28 April.

May schools currently undertaking their Five year reviews are:

Bangkok Patana School - Hill
Beijing World Youth Academy
Guangdong Country Garden School
International School Brunei (BHD)
International School of Phnom Penh
Overseas Family School
The British International School, Indonesia
The Int'l School Karachi
The Int'l School of Penang (Uplands)
The Shanghai High School

For November session schools, the due date is 30 October.

Central Coast Grammar School
Ivanhoe Grammar School
King Khalid Islamic College
Montessori School
Presbyterian Ladies College
Prince Alfred College
St. Margaret's College
St. Paul's Grammar School
Tintern Anglican Girls' Grammar
Wesley College

It is essential that the materials reach the regional office by this time so that the review panel can give your schools report the attention it deserves.

Laurie Ince, DP Regional Manager

Nigel Forbes-Harper, DP Associate Regional Manager

Deirdre Chang, Personal Assistant

Email: ibapdp@ibo.org

Are you a new DP Coodinator?

Congratulations. We hope that your induction into this position has been effective and thorough. In most cases, school administrations do an excellent job ensuring that DP co-ordinators are well supported. However, sometimes IBNET passwords and other vital information about your school may be lost as one co-ordinator leaves and is replaced by another. If you find yourself in this situation, please contact helpdesk@ibo.org in Cardiff to ask for assistance. Recently, a number of new DP co-ordinators have contacted the regional office for this information, but unfortunately we were unable to help as we do not have access to that type of information.

When exam results are released

In last year’s May session a small but nonetheless important number of students experienced difficulties in gaining access to their DP co-ordinator. This was a most distressing and anxious time for those students and their families. Please remember that it is the school’s responsibility to ensure that students will have easy access to appropriate school personnel for at least the week following the release of examination results. As most of you know there are invariably questions students have about their results and university admission, as well as consideration about EURs. Of course, the best person is the DP co-ordinator, but where this cannot be arranged other arrangements should be put in place and made clear to students and their parents.