Block 1: Friday 11:15 to 12:45

Room: Columbus A&B

presented by Lorne Young, Director of CAS, Upper Canada College

The Synergetics of Student Success workshop integrates the most ancient science from the East with the most recent science from the West. This synergy creates a system of innovative, realistic and practical techniques and strategies that teachers can employ in their classes to help our students achieve success both inside and outside of the classroom. These strategies improve attention and focus, transform stress, positively impact academic achievement and lead the way to the development of character, leadership, integrity and compassion. Research on students in all grade levels has shown significant and measurable improvement in these areas. Teachers and students describe this system as "exciting, life-changing, fun, transformative". In this workshop participants will be actively engaged in the practice of this system and be given the opportunity to join the expanding SyRF (Synergetic Redesigning of Fitness) Systems Research team.

Room: Huron

presented by Hannah C. Tyson, English Instructor, Senior IB Examiner, UWC-USA
Naomi Swinton, Coordinator, Constructive Engagement of Conflict, Bartos Institute, UWC-USA
Anne Farrell, Teacher, IB Group 2 English, UWC-USA

The panelists will demonstrate ways in which diploma students can more fully integrate various areas of the hexagon: academic pursuits, CAS and TOK. Anne Farrell will report on her advanced UWC course, "The Articulate Mammal", in which students explore psycholinguistics, second-language learning and research on the Great Apes as it relates to language and philosophy. These students then design language lessons and tutor peers. Naomi Swinton and Hannah Tyson will discuss their work with "Social Change and Information Technology," another UWC course in which students examine and apply social change applications of technology in a year-long project on border and immigration issues. In both courses, CAS and TOK connections are foregrounded and integrated.

Room: Mayfair

presented by Boyd Roberts, Director, International Global Citizen's Award

Humanity faces unprecedented global challenges. This session (presentation and discussion) considers how schools can address the IB learner profile, and help to develop students as active global citizens now, responding personally to these challenges. Currently being piloted, the innovative International Global Citizen's Award (www.globalcitizensaward.org) encourages and recognizes development of individual students (13+) as "caring", "principled" global citizens. Participating schools cooperate globally and act locally to implement their own versions of the common international model. Although it can build on and incorporate elements of MYP and Diploma Programme, the award can also be offered to non-IB students in IB World Schools.

Room: Arkansas

presented by Karlyn Novillo, Spanish Teacher, Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary School
Kim Korus, Music Teacher, Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary School
Catherine Moore, Art Teacher, Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary School

This session will highlight the importance of collaboration in an IB Primary Years Programme, particularly through the role of the specialists. The presenters will discuss the methods that they have used to create a unified school and a community of learners and how they, as a specialist team, have made connections with the PYP through the programme of inquiry. The presenters will share practical suggestions on ways to incorporate specialists into your PYP school through resources, examples and a multimedia presentation.

Room: Michigan A and B

presented by Stephen Lewis, ,

Noted humanitarian, Stephen Lewis, will pick up where his general session left off, facilitating a dialogue about winning the battle against poverty and disease in the developing world. This session will give members of the IB community a chance to discuss issues and share ideas with Mr Lewis, covering a broad range of topics including issues relating to HIV/AIDS, economic development, international cooperation, and myriad topics in the realm of international politics and policies.

Room: Mississippi

presented by James C. Jupp, MYP Coordinator, Martin Middle School
Cristina Davis, Teacher, Martin Middle School
Kevin Owens, Social Studies Teacher, Martin Middle School
Christina Sloan, Art Teacher, Martin Middle School

This presentation articulates how the IB Middle Years Programme framework can serve to reach poor children of color. This presentation highlights practical narratives of culturally relevant practice using the MYP's framework. Highlighting narratives of culturally relevant practice from language arts, social studies, science, and art this presentation articulates how the MYP, through local practitioner adaptation, can serve as framework of wise practices for poor children of color.

Room: Superior B

presented by Eric Hieser, Executive Director, Sturgis Charter Public School
Chris Andre, Associate Director, Sturgis Charter Public School
Mark Blake, Special Education Resource Teacher, Sturgis Charter Public School
Eric Hillebrand, History Teacher, Sturgis Charter Public School

Sturgis Charter Public School, a non-selective public high school, believes that all high school students deserve the opportunity to be exposed to the knowledge, skills, and habits of the mind that are inherent in IB Diploma Programme courses. While many high schools specify passing scores on placement tests or minimum course and/or grade prerequisites for enrolling in IB courses, Sturgis employs an "IB for All" philosophy by requiring ALL students in grades 11-12 to take ALL of their coursework in the IB Diploma Programme. The panel will discuss the successes and challenges with this "IB for All" approach, including issues regarding special education and support for students who face academic challenges.

Do High Levels of Preparation Lead to Enrollment in Selective Colleges?

Room: Missouri

presented by Vanessa Coca, Research Analyst, Consortium on Chicago School Research
Jamiliyah Gilliam, Qualitative Researcher, University of Chicago
Eliza Moeller, Lead Qualitative Researcher, Consortium on Chicago School Research

The IB program has been used by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) as a part of its strategy to provide greater access to rigorous coursework to low-income and minority students in its neighborhood high schools. Has access to high levels of preparation through the IB program translated into enrollment in selective colleges? This presentation takes an in-depth look at this question through case studies of IB students as they progress from their junior year along the pathway to college enrollment, and examines the role of support in college choice. It concludes by showing the college pathway of IB students compared to their CPS classmates, and whether their college choices matched their level of preparation.

Room: Erie

presented by Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Director of Religion, Chautauqua Institution

When I turned 75 last year, my 17 year old granddaughter asked me how it feels to have more years behind me that ahead of me. After the shock of the question, I attempted to answer her profound question for myself. My musings are the subject of my sharing with the community of IB educators.

My life has been devoted to healing the brokenness of our world. There have been many disappointments, many promising starts that sputtered out in the face of old fears and hidden agendas. But my hope for the future survives, even strengthens, as I get older. The journey has taken me around the globe and has introduced me to women and men, familiar and unknown, who share this hope. In this session, we will work together to discover the sources of strength that can sustain us in all our life long journeys toward justice and peace.

Room: Ohio

presented by Linda Blair, Diploma Programme Coordinator, Thomas Alva Edison High School
Anne Stowe, Diploma Programme Coordinator, South Lakes High School
Cheryl Knutsen, Director of Student Services, Thomas Alva Edison High School
Shannon Chastain-Tully, Director of Student Services, South Lakes High School

Just as a sound structural framework supports the elements of a house, the 4 X 4 block schedule sustains and strengthens the implementation of the IB Diploma Programme. Two forms of block scheduling, alternating day and modified 4 X 4, are used successfully in two suburban, ethnically and economically diverse public high schools. After an overview of the two formats that blend IB opportunities for students with some scheduling dilemmas for the guidance departments, a discussion will ensue among session participants about ways to incorporate the seemingly disparate elements of the block schedule and IB requirements.