IB Asia Pacific Professional Development:
The Role of IB Programme Networks
The IB Asia Pacific Regional Office acknowledges and values the contributions networks make in supporting schools in their programme development. This document is designed to assist networks and to provide them with guidelines as to their purpose and activities. It also outlines the regional office’s role in supporting networks.
The Status of IB Networks:
In the Asia Pacific region, networks are unofficial, sub-regional groups which are established by and for programme-specific IB practitioners, and which operate independently of the IB regional office.
The Purpose of IB Networks:
The purpose of networks is to provide programme-specific support and communication to schools at all stages of implementation.
Communication with the IB Asia Pacific Regional Office:
The contact person between the regional office and networks will be:
- Primary Years Programme: Mignon Weckert, mignon.weckert@ibo.org
- Middle Years Programme: Curtis Beaverford, curtis.beaverford@ibo.org
- Diploma Programme: Stephen Keegan, stephen.keegan@ibo.org
Please also cc relevant regional representatives with any correspondence
- Australasia: Greg Valentine, greg.valentine@ibo.org
- China and Mongolia: Wang Hong, china@ibo.org
- Japan & Korea: Kyoko Bernard, japan@ibo.org
- South Asia: Farzana Dohadwalla, farzana.dohadwalla@ibo.org
It is an expectation of IB networks that they will communicate the following information to the Regional Office contact person:
- Yearly schedule of meetings
- Agendas for meetings
- Minutes of meetings
- Contact people for the network
- Newsletters and any relevant correspondence/information
With this information, the regional office can better support networks. If the regional office is aware of agenda items in advance, then IB representatives may be able to contribute to the discussion and provide guidelines and assistance if necessary.
Network minutes provide the regional office with a higher awareness of the relevant issues and/or discussion points in the region.
IB Asia Pacific Regional Office’s Role in Supporting Networks:
Networks provide support to IB schools and the IB Asia Pacific regional office has a responsibility to assist them in this support. The regional office will attempt to support networks by attending or sending a representative to network meetings, if possible. If a yearly schedule of meetings is provided, the regional office may be able to coordinate attendance around travel schedules.
Networks should contact the regional office at any time so that programme representatives can assist in supporting IB schools.
Activities of IB Networks:
Networks provide a variety of support to schools and the regional office.
Community Development: Networks promote communication between IB Schools and with the regional office.
- Liaise with the regional office for input and updates
- Disseminate information to IB schools through newsletters, etc
- Gather members together to
- share good practice
- explore issues/challenges relevant to the country or region and to share strategies and solutions
- Provide feedback to the regional office on relevant topics
Professional Support: Networks promote formal and informal professional development opportunities for and between IB Schools, with activities that supplement recognized regional IB-approved professional development activities.
The following are examples of the activities that networks currently offer and in which schools can participate:
- Job-a-like Sessions: IB practitioners, coordinators and administrators assemble to share good practice, implementation of the programme, ideas and pedagogy. These sessions can be subject specific, role specific or year level specific. They assist schools in developing and understanding of the programmes, in areas such as the learner profile, international mindedness, inquiry-based learning, areas of interaction, exhibition, personal project, extended essay, etc.
- Forums: Stakeholders and programme coordinators gather to discuss issues and share strategies on programme implementation in their local context.
- Information Updates: Networks organise meetings in which to discuss the latest IB publications and highlight relevant programme updates from the Regional Office.
- Open House: Schools invite other implementing teachers/coordinators and administration to visit the school either to see the programme in action or after school to view classrooms and discuss implementation with teachers. This activity could be rotated around different schools.
- Ongoing Communication: The network provides ongoing communication and support outside of meeting times through various forms of communication such as: web sites, e-mails, blogs, newsletters, etc.
- Induction Sessions: The network invites schools to share induction models, resources and activities to support staff who are new to programmes.
- Guest Presenters: The network organises for featured guest speakers, educators, and/or experts from educational organizations to present to the network. (Important note: In the organization of guest presenters, networks are required to uphold IB Intellectual Property Policies, and respect the terms and conditions for IB-trained workshop leaders and examiners. For further information, please refer to Guidelines for providers of IB-related training activities.)
- Sharing Sessions: Stakeholders discuss and share specific elements of the programme and implementation to improve practice. This is often facilitated by an experienced person in that area (e.g. a trained IB workshop leader). It provides opportunities for participants to share their experiences, expertise and knowledge with each other in a supportive environment.
Please Note:
The above are not IB-approved professional development activities. However, as IB-related activities they do support a school’s fulfilment of Standard A2, Practice 12, which states: “The school takes advantage of the international network of IB schools teaching the same programme through e-mail or personal exchanges and attendance at conferences and workshops.” Schools which support staff participation in network activities are meeting aspects of this practice.
Schools are invited to record the full range of IB-related and non-IB training activities in a Supplementary PD Record, to be acknowledged in the authorization and evaluation process.
IB Professional Development
- Unpacking the Standards and Practices
- Role of IB Networks
- Role of IB Associations
- Associations Criteria for Recognition
- Guidelines for Providers
- In-School Workshops
- Recognition of externally provided development
- Rules and Policy for use of IB Intellectual Property
- Supplementary PD record
- Examiner Terms and Conditions
- Workshop Leader Terms and Conditions
- Workshop Planner
