What Research Says About the IB Programme Standards and Practices

Many thanks to those that attended my session at the 2007 IB North America regional conference. I look forward to continuing the conversation with those that I met at the conference and those that are interested in the topic but don't know who I am.

My hypothesis:
Implementing school-wide practices that reflect the IB programme standards and practices will result in improved student outcomes.

It is a simple and compelling idea but those of you in schools know that it takes a lot of work: thinking, planning, doing, coordinating, collaborating, reflecting.

I have been an IB programmes advocate for many years. Equally so, I am a firm believer in the potential of the IB programme standards and practices as a driver for continuous improvement in schools. The three programmes challenge schools to organize themselves and their curriculum to match their local standards with the IB philosophy for the benefit of students.

My presentation was an initial step in helping reveal the strong overlap between school improvement research and the IB programme standards and practices. The overlap is not accidental, but it was not planned either. The coincidence comes from like-minded practictioners learning from their and others' experience in schools that have succeeded in meeting their communities' shared goals.

I have shared my presentation with several individuals who attended the Chicago conference and am happy to share it with others. (Send me a request via e-mail to dogden@alumni.princton.edu) In return I only ask that you share with me how you have challenged, confirmed or refined my hypothesis and my presentation.

Cheers,

David