Rethinking Curriculum and Re-Energizing Teaching

Audience: Middle Years Programme
Session: Block 5: Saturday 2:00 to 3:15, Room: Pacific I

Participants will engage in an examination and discussion of the curriculum revision and alignment process based on the IB Middle Years Programme pedagogical model developed by the Corning Public School District. They will reflect on ways to strengthen the learning process and improve the achievement levels of all students through the integration of the MYP and local curricula. In particular, they will examine the curriculum alignment and articulation process created and implemented in Corning. There will be a presentation of the actions taken and the results observed to date as well as an opportunity for discussion of the rewards, challenges, and future possibilities of such a project.


Eileen Bowen, District IB Programmes Coordinator, Corning City School District

Eileen Bowen is a member of the Curriculum and Instruction team of the Corning City School District in upstate New York. Her duties include curriculum and professional development at the secondary level. The school district is currently authorized to offer the Diploma Programme at both district high schools and the Middle Years Programme as a whole-school program to all 6th through 10th grade students. Ms Bowen continues to be the District Coordinator for the implementation of all IB programmes in the Corning School District as well as the MYP Coordinator for the district.


Organization website: http://www.corningareaschools.com

Suzanne Knowlton, Regional Consultant, IB North America,

A Language B teacher and Vice Principal at Elmwood School in Ottawa, Suzanne Knowlton also coordinated the school's Diploma Programme and was instrumental in developing its Middle Years Programme. In 2001, she was seconded to the IB New York office as a Programme Specialist. She is a chief Consultant to the Corning School District for curriculum alignment and integration with the IB. Ms Knowlton has also recently served as an advisor to the Canadian International School of Hong Kong and to the Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls in Abu Dhabi.