Programmes

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

THE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
November 2010
 
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed for students aged 11 to 16. The MYP (grades 7 – 10) serves as a transition between the Primary Years Programme (grades K-6) and the Diploma Programme (grades 11-12).

The period of early to mid-adolescence is a particularly critical phase in terms of personal and intellectual development. The MYP focuses on the cognitive and affective changes, which take place in young people, aged 11-16. The aim is to equip them with skills to participate actively and responsibly in an ever-changing and increasingly interrelated world. A further aim is to develop learners who possess the attributes of the IB LEARNER PROFILE. A corollary is to foster lifelong learning and a keen interest in and compassion for the global community.

THE MYP FRAMEWORK
The curriculum is delivered through eight Subjects and through the Areas of Interaction. The subjects include: Language A (English), Language B (French and Mandarin), Humanities (History, Geography, Civics, Business), Mathematics, Sciences, Arts (Visual, Drama, Music), Technology and Physical Education. The five Areas of Interaction offer students the chance to focus their learning through these contexts: Human Ingenuity; Environments; Health and Social Education; Community and Service; and Approaches to learning. The Personal Project forms the culminating component of the MYP.

MYP CURRICULUM
An octagon with eight academic areas or subject groups surrounding the five areas of interaction illustrates the curriculum.

MYP AREAS OF INTERACTION
The five areas of interaction provide the main focus for developing the connections between the disciplines, so that students will learn to see knowledge as an interrelated, coherent whole.

1. HUMAN INGENUITY
Students explore the processes and products of human creativity.  They learn to appreciate and develop the human capacity to influence, transform, enjoy and improve the quality of life.   They develop their confidence to become risk-takers.
2. ENVIRONMENTS
Students explore the interdependence of school, local and global environments. They develop their awareness and understanding of their responsibilities to preserve and protect a variety of environments.
3. HEALTH AND SOCIAL EDUCATION
Students explore their own physical, social and emotional health and how they interact with others in the wider community. They develop their awareness and understanding of how to lead healthy, meaningful lives.
4. COMMUNITY AND SERVICE
Students explore their relationship to various communities. They explore ways to participate in both local and global communities. They are encouraged to take an active part and develop principled, caring citizenship.
5. APPROACHES TO LEARNING
Students develop their thought processes, learning strategies and skills - tools that enable them to take responsibility for their own learning. Students develop an awareness of how they learn best and become reflective, open-minded learners as well as effective communicators.
 

MYP ASSESSMENT
Assessment is integral to the learning process. As a team, the CDNIS faculty aims to improve student learning through the use of effective assessment tools and practices. The IB supports the professional judgment of the teacher in deciding the levels of achievements of individual students and does not provide externally set examinations.

Criterion-related Assessment
The MYP assessment model is also described as criterion-related as it is based upon pre-determined criteria that all students should have access to. The MYP identifies a set of objectives for each subject group, which are directly related to the assessment criteria of that particular subject group. The level of student success in reaching the objectives of each subject group is measured in terms of levels of achievement described in each assessment criterion. (Page 40, From Principles to Practice, IBO, 2008)  During reporting periods (end of Term 1 and 2), students will receive criterion-related grades on a scale of 1-7. General grade descriptors  provide written descriptions of each of the grades from 1-7.

In order to determine term and final grades for the MYP, each subject teacher will apply the final criterion levels against IB MYP grade boundaries. Please click below to see the subject-specific criteria and grade boundaries.

MYP PERSONAL PROJECT
Students undertake an independent research project as part of their MYP. Students base their project on a topic of personal interest and a focus on one of the Areas of Interaction. The Personal Project is completed in the final year of the MYP and is displayed at a Personal Project Exhibition. To learn more, click here.