What is an IB World School?

Home / Program international -BI/IB / What is an IB World School?

What is an IB World School?

Since, June 9, 2017, our school is an IB (International Baccalaureate) authorized school to offer, to all its clientele, the primary program. The school must therefore comply with certain very specific standards, which are summarized below.

1. Transdisciplinary learning

Transdisciplinary learning is learning that is relevant between disciplines, across disciplines and beyond disciplines. In this way, the IB ensures that learning is interesting, relevant, challenging and engaging. Students’ interests and questions are at the heart of cross-disciplinary learning, where the focus is on the commonalities between human beings without regard to disciplinary boundaries.

2. Social constructivism (a pedagogy of questioning and research)

At the heart of this approach is the belief that people learn better and more sustainably when they are actively involved in their own learning. This means working sometimes alone, but often with others. He discusses, he learns to find good arguments to defend his ideas, he becomes more creative, he seeks to understand phenomena in depth. He learns to question, to ensure that information is correct, to avoid the pitfalls of superficiality and to cooperate with others. In a nutshell, this approach encourages students to ask questions and seek out information. Key concepts (asking questions) By means of 7 general concepts, students examine the various facets of the phenomena studied: the nature of the phenomenon, its role, how it works, how it evolves, its impact, its origins, people’s perception of the phenomenon, our responsibility, and so on. (for more details, see menu: key concepts) Search modules (finding information) Students are encouraged to explore, observe, manipulate, experiment and delve into written, audio and graphic documents. Over the course of a year, they take part in 6 research modules on a variety of subjects chosen to make learning interesting and meaningful. (see menu: our search modules) In the vocabulary of education, this pedagogy is called social constructivism, because students gradually construct, with others, the meaning of words and their understanding of scientific, social, cultural and religious phenomena.

3.Learning community profile (developing international awareness)

The IB Learning Community Profile outlines ten skills that IB World Schools emphasize. These skills, and others related to them, can help students become responsible members of local, national and global communities. This international sensitivity that the school must develop is based on the fact that an individual who is familiar with the social, cultural or religious characteristics of human beings different from himself is better able to appreciate their richness and draw inspiration from them. The pedagogical activities experienced by the children and staff are aimed at a better understanding of peoples and a convincing and convinced mutual respect. In this respect, the International Baccalaureate requires that this international sensitivity be present in the research modules, but also that it be developed through the ten skills of the learning community profile .

4.Transdisciplinary Themes (General Culture and Reflection)

The goal is to broaden our students’ minds by helping them acquire essential knowledge across a variety of fields. The International Baccalaureate (IB) requires students at all levels to explore six major universal questions, known as transdisciplinary themes:

Who we are (human identity)
Where we are in space and time (history and geography
How we express ourselves (the arts)
How the world works (science)
How we organize ourselves (society and systems)
Sharing the planet(planetary interdependence)

These questions are explored each year through a research module, where students study various concepts from the Ministry of Education’s curriculum. (For more details, see menu: Transdisciplinary Themes and Research Modules

5. Approaches to Learning

To learn how to think critically, seek relevant information, and process it effectively, students must develop specific skills. Through Approaches to Learning, students acquire essential skills that will benefit them throughout their academic journey and life. The five key competencies in this approach are:

Thinking skills
Communication skills
Research skills
Social skills
Self-management skills

(For more details, see menu: Approaches to Learning)

6. Ongoing Assessment, Self-Assessment, and Peer Feedback

Assessment plays a critical role in supporting learning. At the primary level, students’ progress in key areas of the Primary Years Program (knowledge, concepts, approaches to learning, and action) is continuously tracked. Their progress is documented in various records, including a portfolio. This information is shared with the student and their parents in a way determined by the school. Assessments come from three sources: the teachers’ perspective on the student’s progress, the student’s self-reflection, and peer feedback. Students learn to evaluate their work, behavior, and that of others by setting clear criteria for assessment. Self-assessment and peer feedback are crucial for personal growth. Understanding what you know and what you don’t know is key to moving forward in life.

7. The Action

The ultimate goal of all learning activities is for students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world situations. They must demonstrate responsible behavior through concrete actions that reflect their understanding. (For more details, see menu: The Action)

8. Language Learning

As part of the Primary Years Program, students learn additional languages. In addition to French, students also study English and Arabic. This multilingual approach fosters an openness to the world, which is encouraged by the international education program. Furthermore, learning multiple languages offers cognitive benefits, such as improved flexibility in thinking, enhanced analytical abilities, and the ability to think in various languages. These advantages also serve as valuable assets in the professional world.