As stated in its Mission Statement, the International Baccalaureate "aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect." Our educational programmes for primary and secondary students are designed to be academically challenging as well as to foster cultural awareness and understanding. Schools offering the IB academic programmes are located throughout the world. These schools, known as IB World Schools, offer international education programmes to students from ages 3-19, through the Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programmes. The IB defines "international education" as: • Developing citizens of the world in relation to culture, language and learning to live together • Building and reinforcing students' sense of identity and cultural awareness • Fostering students' recognition and development of universal human values • Stimulating curiosity and inquiry in order to foster a spirit of discovery and enjoyment of learning • Equipping students with the skills to learn and acquire knowledge, individually or collaboratively, and to apply these skills and knowledge accordingly across a broad range of areas • Providing international content while responding to local requirements and interests • Encouraging diversity and flexibility in teaching methods • Providing appropriate forms of assessment and international benchmarking Source: http://www.ibo.org/programmes/ Diploma Programme graduates are viewed favorably by colleges and universities for their unique educational experiences. Established in 1968, the Diploma Programme prepares students for success in and college and beyond by not only providing rigorous academic content, but also by preparing them for working in the global marketplace. The program consists of core requirements - a theory of knowledge course; the creativity, action, service program; and the extended essay - and one course in each of the six subject groups: language, second language, individuals and societies, experimental sciences, mathematics and computer science, and the arts. In 2004, International Baccalaureate began the process of developing an online delivery model for Diploma Programme courses. In close cooperation with Pamoja Education, the IB is developing these courses to offer more opportunities to Diploma Programme students and teachers. Through online learning, Diploma Programme students are able to work collaboratively with students across the globe, enhancing the experience of developing cultural awareness and building a truly international learning experience. The development of online courses in the Diploma Programme also allows IB World Schools to give their students more options in terms of the courses they can take, especially in small schools that can not offer a wide variety of course choices. As the program continues to grow, we plan to open IB online courses to students who are unable to attend an IB World School, thus expanding the reach of the program to more students around the globe. The process for developing and delivering Diploma Programme Online courses involves the work of IB-trained teachers, content-area experts, and online learning experts. The courses are developed Pamoja Education Ltd. In partnership with VHS and FLVS and then go through a rigorous evaluation and modification process to ensure that the course meets IB curriculum standards and is designed with quality online learning pedagogy in mind. Teachers with experience of teaching their course in the face-to-face classroom are trained in the best practices of online education, site-based coordinators are prepared to work with the students in their home schools, and students are provided an orientation in how to be a successful online student. The program is new and is continuing to grow and promises many rewards for IB World Schools, their teachers and their students. In our presentation, we will share the ways in which the IB's highly respected international curriculum are being prepared for online delivery, share success stories and explain our vision for how online learning will increase the reach of the Diploma Programme as well as provide relevant 21st century skills for students growing up in a modern, globalized world.
