International Baccalaureate

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This article refers to the organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. For information about the French baccalauréat programme or the "option internationale du baccalauréat" (a.k.a French international baccalaureat) examination, see this article.

The International Baccalaureate (IB), formerly the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), is an international educational foundation founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland.^[1]

The organization's name and logo were changed in 2007 to reflect a new image and mission. Consequently, "IB" can refer to either the organization itself, any of the three programmes or else to the diploma or certificates awarded at the end of the diploma programme.

This article is part of the International Baccalaureate series.

IB programmes: Primary Years Programme Middle Years Programme Diploma Programme

Institutions: The IBO United World Colleges

Lists: IB people IB schools DP schools MYP schools PYP schools

IBDP curriculum: Group 1 subjects Group 2 subjects Group 3 subjects Group 4 subjects Group 5 subjects Group 6 subjects Extended Essay Theory of Knowledge Creativity, Action, Service

Contents 1 Programmes 1.1 IBDP 1.2 IB PYP and MYP 1.3 Community Service Component 2 References 3 External links

[edit] Programmes

This organization governs and administers three programmes of curricula for elementary (primary), middle, and high (or secondary) school levels which are, by design, international in nature, that is: able to be offered and acceptable for university entrance qualification, in countries throughout the world. Furthermore, curriculum content is intended to be free of the sort of national bias one might find in national curricula taught in individual countries.^{[citation needed]} Of the International Baccalaureate, Mary Hayden states in International Schools and International Education,

"The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) is a burgeoning political global player, with a full complement of programmes covering the K-12 range, its experience in evaluating the suitability of institutions for participation in its curricula and examinations, and its support for the work of teachers in international school through its extensive range of workshop activities and school-based curricular development." (9) ^[2]

[edit] IBDP

The International Baccalaureate is primarily known for the IB Diploma Programme, a standardized curriculum and assessment regime for students aged 16–19 that ultimately leads up to a battery of exams^[3]. Parallels are often drawn to the Advanced Placement programme; however, the Diploma Programme is much broader in scope^{[citation needed]} and considers "internal assessment" in addition to exam scores when awarding final marks.

[edit] IB PYP and MYP

The IB also offers programmes for younger students: the IB Primary Years Programme, ranging from age 3 to 12, and the IB Middle Years Programme, ranging from 11 to 16^[4][5]. These programmes are primarily standardized curricula^{[citation needed]} and are much less rigid due to the lack of assessment or examination components.

[edit] Community Service Component

The IB requires students throughout the Middle Years Program and Diploma Program to complete community service. The student can volunteer with the agency of their choice upon approval of their school coordinator. Students in the MYP must complete 15 hours of service as a seventh grader, and that number increases with their continuation of the program. For instance, as an eighth grader, one must complete twenty hours of service, twenty five hours their freshman year and so on.

The IB is a non-governmental organization (NGO) affiliated with the United Nations through being signatory to UNESCO's Peace Education plan that is integrated into the IB curriculum.^[6]

[edit] References

1. ^ "Overview of the International Baccalaureate Organization". http://www.ibo.org/who/. Retrieved on 2006-12-07. 
2. ^ Mary Hayden (2007). "Quality in Diversity". in Mary Hayden and Jeff Thompson. International Schools and International Education. pp. 1-15. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=MoQwEmPkxMMC&oi=fnd&pg=PT5&dq=international+school+ibdp&ots=wnO4AMjuVu&sig=onNdiHXb57cblWrorbeP8m_TVuU. 
3. ^ "International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme". http://www.ibo.org/diploma/. Retrieved on 2007-05-08. 
4. ^ "International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme". http://www.ibo.org/pyp/. Retrieved on 2007-05-08. 
5. ^ "International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme". http://www.ibo.org/myp/. Retrieved on 2007-05-08. 
6. ^ http://www3.unesco.org/iycp/Report/IBO.pdf

[edit] External links

• International Baccalaureate Organization official site