PYP in action

Today, I would like to summarise the webinar about PYP programme. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program is aimed at children between 3 and 12 years. The goal is to promote caring attitude, active participation and life-long learning. The education is based on the student-centred approach. 

Each project starts with checking student’s prior knowledge – prior assessment. The presenters mentioned that it is extremely important to check students’ skills and knowledge to find out what steps need to be taken for children to develop. It was suggested that every student can be on a different level in different time. Therefore, they need to develop at their pace, in their own style and use their favourite techniques. Consequently, there is a lot of differentiation at school so that every student develops their skills and knowledge, do not repeat the same things, but is really growing and developing.

When planning lessons, there are some key concepts to consider in order to promote higher order thinking skills.

It is a project based teaching, which means that teaching is done through units of inquiry. The unit of inquiry is explained as a project. Every year, there are six units of inquiry.

 

During the webinar, students were involved in a group work. The task was to prepare oral presentations on the following topics: agency and action, inquiry-based teaching, learner profile and international mindedness. Students were provided with some materials which they had to summarise. The workshop enabled the participants to practice peer-assessment, as well as self-assessment.

Peer assessment 

Good points of the presentation

Which of the points are the most powerful, well-argued

Oral presentation

Weak points of the presentation 

Self-assessment 

I felt confident during my talk 

I looked at my audience when presenting my topic

I was speaking clearly 

I took care of the proper posture 

I kept the audience interested 

I answered questions from the audience 

(Possible answers: yes, rather yes, rather no, no)

What do you think about the inquiry-based learning?

Angelika