IB Courses at MacDowell<\/h2>\n
Full IB Diploma Programme candidates and IB certificate candidates can choose from these IB certified courses:<\/p>\n
- \n
- English A1 (Higher Level\/Group 1)<\/li>\n
- Spanish Ab Initio (Standard Level\/Group 2)<\/li>\n
- History of Americas (Higher Level\/Group 3)<\/li>\n
- IB Biology (Standard Level\/Group 4)<\/li>\n
- Math Studies (Standard Level\/Group 5)<\/li>\n
- Visual Art (Higher Level\/Group 6)<\/li>\n
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
IB Diploma Programme Core<\/h2>\n
Earning the IB Diploma is an accomplishment that requires commitment, dedication, and organization from junior and senior students as they successfully complete IB courses in six subject areas and the DP core. The core encompasses three components that challenge students to apply new content knowledge, critical thinking and communication skills, and evaluate their personal and academic growth as IB scholars.<\/p>\n
Below are details about DP core components: Theory of Knowledge (TOK); Extended Essay (EE); and Creativity, Activity, & Service (CAS).<\/p>\n
Extended Essay (EE)<\/h3>\n
Students investigate a topic of personal interest to them, which relates to an IB subject. Students receive advice and guidance from a teacher or essay \u201cadvisor\u201d with expertise or experience on the EE topic\/DP subject. Three mandatory reflection sessions take place to help guide the topic and provide feedback on ideas. Students research and write this 4,000-word essay from January of junior year to January of senior year.<\/p>\n
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)<\/h3>\n
In this core class, students research and discuss real-world topics, asking themselves, \u201cHow do I know that?\u201d Students see where their knowledge comes from, how it is created, and try to become active participants in learning rather than passively accepting what they are told. TOK curriculum and class discussions emphasize asking good questions, using language carefully and precisely, supporting ideas with evidence, arguing coherently, and making sound judgements.<\/p>\n
Creativity, Activity, and Service Program (CAS)<\/h3>\n
The Creativity, Activity, Service or \u201cCAS\u201d program asks students to demonstrate attributes of the IB Learner Profile in real and practical ways, to grow as unique individuals, and to recognize their role in relation to others. Students will develop skills, attitudes, and dispositions through a variety of individual and group experiences that provide students with opportunities to explore their interests and express their passions.<\/p>\n
CAS is organized around three strands.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Creativity:<\/strong> Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance.<\/li>\n
- Activity:<\/strong> Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle.<\/li>\n
- Service:<\/strong> Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
CAS + Occupations<\/h4>\n
All adolescents at MacDowell participate in occupations. Every semester, students select from a host of non-academic activities to participate in twice a week. Occupations engage the adolescent in enrichment activities that support their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. They range from physical activities like working on stage crew or in the school greenhouse to running for student government and applying to and joining the National Honor Society. Occupations naturally support IB\u2019s CAS program. Most MacDowell students\u2019 CAS experience comes from the occupations they engage in during junior and senior years.<\/p>\n
CAS Project<\/h4>\n
A CAS project is a collaborative, well-considered series of experiences that work toward a larger goal. The purpose of this project is to ensure participation in sustained collaboration. A CAS project involves collaboration between a group of students or with members of the wider community. The project offers students the opportunity to be responsible for\/initiate part of the entire project.<\/p>\n
At MacDowell Montessori School, the CAS project is typically done in collaboration with the National Honor Society service project of one to two months\u2019 duration, which requires that students:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Design with a purpose,<\/li>\n
- Set specific goals and collaborate extensively with peers,<\/li>\n
- Reflect on and deliver a presentation about their project.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
CAS Portfolio<\/h4>\n
The CAS Portfolio is a digital folder of CAS Material. This folder is created in Google Drive and shared with the CAS Coordinator. Students are responsible for filing reflective assignments, presentations, and videos into the folder.<\/p>\n
Read more on the Diploma Programme curriculum<\/a>.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive two-year international college-preparatory curriculum.Students have the option of being full diploma candidates or they may take select IB courses as certificate candidates. Successful completion of an IB course and IB exams may lead to college credit and\/or advanced placement. The IB Diploma Programme and IB certificate studies take […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"parent":38,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mpsschoolsites.wpenginepowered.com\/macdowell\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2022\/12\/dp-model-en-300x300.png\")
The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive two-year international college-preparatory curriculum. Students have the option of being Full Diploma candidates, or they may take selected IB courses as Certificate candidates. Successful completion of an IB course may lead to college credit and\/or advanced placement.\n\nMacDowell\u2019s Diploma Program marks the conclusion of our K3-12 Program. The International Baccalaureate program is a perfect fit to support the development of the adolescent.\n\nWhat is an IB education<\/a>\n\nDownload MacDowell's IB Policies and Procedures:\n\nAdmissions<\/a>\n\nAssessment Policy<\/a>\n\nIB Special Education Policy<\/a>\n\nLanguage Policy<\/a>\n\nAcademic Honesty<\/a>\nCurriculum<\/h2>\n
- \n \t
- IB Courses Offered at MacDowell:<\/li>\n \t
- English A1 (Higher Level\/Group 1)<\/li>\n \t
- Spanish Ab Initio (Standard Level\/Group 2)<\/li>\n \t
- History of Americas (Higher Level\/Group 3)<\/li>\n \t
- IB Biology (Standard Level\/Group 4)<\/li>\n \t
- Math Studies (Standard Level\/Group 5)<\/li>\n \t
- Visual Art (Higher Level\/Group 6)<\/li>\n \t
- Theory of Knowledge (Core Requirement)<\/li>\n \t
- Creativity, Action, Service (Core Requirement)<\/li>\n \t
- Extended Essay (Core Requirement)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Why should I take the IB Exams?<\/h2>\nTaking IB exams is a major commitment for seniors. While all students participate in the IB curriculum, \u201ctesters\u201d spend extra time studying for exams, writing papers, and giving presentations. One answer is college credit. Earning a score of 4 or better (out of 7) on an exam will typically result in college credit. Research has also shown that the more exams a student takes, and the better their scores lead to higher success in college. Another answer is because of the challenge. These exams are HARD. They give students a great chance to see the rigor that will be expected of them in college. Finally, it's a great chance to set academic goals, and achieving them can be a great confidence booster.\n
The Diplomma Programme Core<\/h2>\nExtended Essay:<\/b> The extended essay is an independent piece of research students produce as part of the Diploma Program. All students who pursue the diploma engage in this work. The work starts in their Junior year and culminates in the submission of a 4,000-word essay in the spring of their senior year. This essay provides students with the opportunity for students to investigate a topic of personal interest to them, which relates to one of the students\u2019 six DP subjects. Students are supported throughout the process of researching and writing the extended essay, with advice and guidance from a teacher in the subject of their essay. Three mandatory reflection sessions take place with their supervisors, to help guide the topics and provide feedback on ideas.\n\nThe research process helps students to develop skills in:\n
- \n \t
- Formulating research questions<\/li>\n \t
- Engaging in personal exploration<\/li>\n \t
- Communicating Ideas<\/li>\n \t
- Developing an argument<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nExtended Essay Timeline<\/b>\n\nIB DP Year 1\n
- \n \t
- January-February \u2013 Introduction to EE, topic brainstorming, Choose DP Subject.<\/li>\n \t
- April \u2013 Finalize Topic, Create Research Question<\/li>\n \t
- April \u2013 Formal Reflection Session #1 with EE Advisor<\/li>\n \t
- May \u2013 Extended Essay Advisor Approves Topic and Research Question<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSummer Between IB DP Years 1 and 2\n
- \n \t
- August \u2013 Complete Preliminary Research and source gathering<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIB DP Year 2\n
- \n \t
- October \u2013 Complete Research<\/li>\n \t
- November \u2013 Complete Detailed outline<\/li>\n \t
- November \u2013 Formal Reflection Session #2<\/li>\n \t
- December \u2013 Complete Rough Draft<\/li>\n \t
- January \u2013 Complete Final Draft, \u201cViva-Voce\u201d Interview, Submission<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTheory of Knowledge<\/b>\n\nThe class attempts to answer the question \u2013 \u201cHow do you know?\u201d It will ask you to critically engage in discussions about real-world topics, and ask yourself \u201cHow do I know that.\u201d We will see where our knowledge comes from, how it is created, and try and figure out how you can be active participants in learning rather than passively accepting what you are told. Critical Thinking involves such things as asking good questions, using language with care and precision, supporting your ideas with evidence, arguing coherently, and making sound judgments. TOK is designed to help you reflect and further develop these critical thinking processes.\n\nCreativity, Activity, and Service Program<\/b>\n\nOverview<\/b>\n\nThe Creativity, Activity, Service or \u201cCAS\u201d program exists to strengthen and extend students\u2019 personal and interpersonal learning. CAS enables students to demonstrate the attributes of the IB Learner Profile in real and practical ways, to grow as unique individuals, and to recognize their role in relation to others. Students will develop skills, attitudes, and dispositions through a variety of individual and group experiences that provide students with opportunities to explore their interests and express their passions.\n\nCAS is organized around three strands, which are defined below:\n\nCreativity: Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance.\n\nActivity: Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle.\n\nService: Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need.\n\nCAS + Occupations<\/b>\n\nAll adolescents at MacDowell participate in Occupations. Every semester, students select from a host of non-academic activities to participate in twice a week. These \u201cOccupations\u201d serve to engage the adolescent in enrichment activities that support their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. They range from physical activities like working in the bike shop, stage crew, and greenhouse to athletic activities like running and rugby to student groups such as student government and the National Honor Society. Because of the nature of occupations, they naturally support IB\u2019s CAS program. Most of our students\u2019 CAS experience comes from the occupations they engage in during their 11th and 12th-grade years.\n\nCAS Project<\/b>\n\nA CAS project is a collaborative, well-considered series of experiences that work toward a larger goal. The purpose of this project is to ensure participation in sustained collaboration. A CAS project involves collaboration between a group of students or with members of the wider community. The project offers students the opportunity to be responsible for or to initiate part of the entire project.\n\nAt MacDowell Montessori school, the CAS project is typically done in collaboration with the National Honor Society service project. During this project, you will design with a purpose and specific goals and collaborate extensively with your peers. The length of the project is typically 1-2 months but can last longer depending on the scope of the project. After the project, students will reflect on and then give a presentation about their project.\n\nCAS Portfolio<\/b>\n\nThe CAS Portfolio is a digital folder of CAS Material. This folder is created in Google Drive and shared with the CAS Coordinator. The CAS Coordinator will work to make sure CAS experience documentation materials get into the folder. Students are responsible for getting reflective assignments, presentations, and videos into the folder.\n\nRead more on the Diploma Programme curriculum<\/a>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_mc_calendar":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6252","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/macdowell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/macdowell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/macdowell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/macdowell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/macdowell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/macdowell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6252\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/macdowell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/macdowell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- August \u2013 Complete Preliminary Research and source gathering<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIB DP Year 2\n
- Activity:<\/strong> Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle.<\/li>\n
- Creativity:<\/strong> Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance.<\/li>\n