A programme designed to open doors and improve one’s sense of self.
The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) will guide you to your perfect career.
It will shape you into a caring, globally-minded individual.
“To develop internationally-minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship
of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.”
—IBO (www.ibo.org)
Learn the right way.
There are two schools of thought when approaching education:
The old way.
The first is the traditional one that most of us recognize. It targets memorization and emphasizes the amount of knowledge that one can pick up. Answers are pre-determined and students are asked to replicate what their teachers tell them. Learning revolves around a textbook, and most of class is spent listening to a lecture. Students spend a great deal of time preparing and reviewing for tests. Competing with other students to get a perfect score is the primary goal. This approach may be effective in elementary education, but when it comes to higher levels, it can have a negative effect on intrinsic motivation or curiosity.
The better way.
The second method is quite different. lt is all about inquiry, critical thinking, and creativity. There is never just one answer. Students are free to discover new ways to solve problems. In a curriculum that focuses on ingenuity, resourcefulness, and inspiration, teachers no longer act as lecturers, but as coordinators and guides for their students. Lesson content is based on the progress of the student. It is a pedagogical approach that values individuality over competition, and curiosity over replication.
Our Way
Both approaches have their advantages, but the second—the one we believe in at Teikyo University Kani High School—has many more. Packing as much knowledge into one’s brain in a limited amount of time is outdated and inefficient. Artificial intelligence, technology, and the internet have replaced this need. Cramming information before a test in order to have a competitive chance against your peers, then forgetting everything you studied moments after the test is not productive and can often be demoralizing. What is effective is developing the ability to explore, think about, and generate knowledge on your own. This is what it means to be an INQUIRER.
IB Learner Profile
- Inquirers
- We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
- Knowledgeable
- We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
- Thinkers
- We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and to take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
- Communicators
- We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
- Principled
- We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
- Open-minded
- We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
- Caring
- We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
- Risk-takers
- We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
- Balanced
- We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
- Reflective
- We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our
strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
—IBO (www.ibo.org)
