Post by Dave on Jul 4, 2010 7:59:40 GMT -5
International Program Catches On in U.S. Schools
CUMBERLAND, Me. — SAT, ACT, A.P. ... I.B.?
The alphabet soup of college admissions is getting more complicated as the International Baccalaureate, or I.B., grows in popularity as an alternative to the better-known Advanced Placement program.
The College Board’s A.P. program, which offers a long menu of single-subject courses, is still by far the most common option for giving students a head start on college work, and a potential edge in admissions.
The lesser-known I.B., a two-year curriculum developed in the 1960s at an international school in Switzerland, first took hold in the United States in private schools. But it is now offered in more than 700 American high schools — more than 90 percent of them public schools — and almost 200 more have begun the long certification process.
Many parents, schools and students see the program as a rigorous and more internationally focused curriculum, and a way to impress college admissions officers.
To earn an I.B. diploma, students must devote their full junior and senior years to the program, which requires English and another language, math, science, social science and art, plus a course on theory of knowledge, a 4,000-word essay, oral presentations and community service.
CONTINUED AT:
www.nytimes.com/2010/07/03/education/03baccalaureate.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=general&src=me
While reading the article, I became interested in exactly what is taught in the "Theory of Knowledge" module or course. Here's a good write-up:
www2.rdale.k12.mn.us/cgi-bin/chsib/File/Theory%20of%20Knowledge%20Syllabus.pdf
Here's what teacher Mr. Hermanson has to say to his students about it:
mrhermansonenglish.com/toksyllabus.doc
And someone selling his book to help teachers manage the IB program has this to say:
"Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is the only IBO course which is taken by every IB student around the world and is therefore an important course for all schools offering the IB program. Many times Theory of Knowledge has been a problematic course for schools because the subject material is often unfamiliar to teachers and many times philosophically challenging for students."
www.teaching-point.net/ibtok.html