IBEC Curriculum Planning & Instruction — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is backward design in IB curriculum planning?

Designing from resources
Starting with textbooks
Planning assessment before instruction (Correct answer)
Beginning with teacher comfort

Correct answer: Planning assessment before instruction

Backward design in IB curriculum planning is a strategic approach where educators begin by identifying the desired learning outcomes and how they will be assessed. Only after clarifying what students should know and be able to do, and how their learning will be measured, do teachers then plan instructional activities. This ensures that all teaching and learning experiences are purposefully aligned with clear goals and expectations.

Question 2: How does IB promote concept-based instruction?

Through isolated facts
With weekly quizzes
By organizing content around big ideas (Correct answer)
By skipping assessments

Correct answer: By organizing content around big ideas

IB promotes concept-based instruction by organizing curriculum content around enduring 'big ideas' or universal concepts rather than just isolated facts. This approach helps students make meaningful connections across subjects and contexts, fostering a deeper, more transferable understanding of knowledge. By focusing on concepts, students develop critical thinking skills and the ability to apply their learning in new situations.

Question 3: What is the purpose of the written curriculum in IB?

For decoration
For substitute teachers
To provide learning goals and structure (Correct answer)
To store student names

Correct answer: To provide learning goals and structure

The written curriculum in IB programmes serves as a foundational document that clearly articulates the learning goals, content, and structure for a course or unit. Its purpose is to provide a clear roadmap for educators, ensuring consistency in teaching and learning, and communicating expectations to students and parents. This detailed planning helps ensure that all essential elements of the IB framework, such as concepts, skills, and assessment objectives, are addressed systematically.

Question 4: What is transdisciplinary learning?

Sticking to one subject
Unrelated topics
Blending disciplines around themes (Correct answer)
Skipping complex topics

Correct answer: Blending disciplines around themes

Transdisciplinary learning, particularly emphasized in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), involves exploring a central theme or 'unit of inquiry' by drawing knowledge and skills from multiple subject areas. Instead of teaching subjects in isolation, it encourages students to make connections across disciplines to gain a holistic understanding of real-world issues. This approach fosters a more integrated and meaningful learning experience.

Question 5: How do inquiry-based approaches support learning?

Discourage questions
Eliminate structure
Encourage exploration and curiosity (Correct answer)
Avoid uncertainty

Correct answer: Encourage exploration and curiosity

Inquiry-based approaches are central to IB education because they empower students to ask questions, investigate, and construct their own understanding through active exploration. This method fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, making learning more engaging and personally relevant. By actively seeking answers, students develop a deeper and more lasting comprehension of concepts.

Question 6: Why is vertical planning important?

To add school events
To review daily meals
To align learning outcomes across grade levels (Correct answer)
To skip testing

Correct answer: To align learning outcomes across grade levels

Vertical planning is crucial in education because it involves collaboration among teachers across different grade levels to ensure a coherent and progressive learning experience for students. Its purpose is to align learning outcomes, concepts, and skills from one grade to the next, preventing gaps or unnecessary repetitions in the curriculum. This strategic alignment helps students build upon prior knowledge and develop increasingly complex understandings as they advance through the IB continuum.

Question 7: What role do learning objectives play?

Increase grading time
Make students memorize rules
Clarify expected outcomes (Correct answer)
Fill report cards

Correct answer: Clarify expected outcomes

Learning objectives clearly define what students are expected to know, understand, and be able to do by the end of a lesson, unit, or course. They provide a clear roadmap for both teachers and students, guiding instruction and focusing learning efforts. By clarifying expected outcomes, learning objectives help students understand the purpose of their learning and enable teachers to design appropriate assessments.

Question 8: How are interdisciplinary units structured in MYP?

With quizzes from one subject
Through isolated assignments
Via collaborative planning and shared themes (Correct answer)
With stand-alone lessons

Correct answer: Via collaborative planning and shared themes

In the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), interdisciplinary units are structured through collaborative planning among teachers from different subject areas. They work together to identify shared themes or global contexts that allow students to explore concepts and develop skills across multiple disciplines. This collaborative approach ensures a cohesive and meaningful learning experience that highlights the connections between subjects.

Question 9: Why is student voice important in curriculum planning?

To create disruptions
To lengthen the curriculum
To enhance relevance and motivation (Correct answer)
To replace teachers

Correct answer: To enhance relevance and motivation

Incorporating student voice in curriculum planning is crucial because it makes learning more relevant and engaging for students. When students have a say in what and how they learn, they feel a greater sense of ownership and motivation, leading to deeper engagement and improved learning outcomes. This approach aligns with the IB's focus on student-centered learning and developing agency.

IBEC Curriculum Planning & Instruction

What is backward design in IB curriculum planning?