Hannah Thomas, Director of Professional Learning
On Monday 14 October, our Senior School teachers came together for an immersive professional learning experience, informed by our identity as an IB Continuum school. We gathered to explore innovative strategies to integrate the IB Approaches to Teaching into our practice, reinforcing our commitment to inquiry, collaboration, critical thinking, and fostering international-mindedness.
The words of the esteemed educator John Dewey, “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow,” guided the session. This sentiment lies at the heart of the IB Approaches to Teaching, which are more than a set of strategies—they represent a philosophy that inspires student-centred learning, promotes conceptual understanding, and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration.
The day began with an interactive introduction to the Approaches to Teaching, facilitated by our DP Coordinator, Nick Hanrahan, which gathered valuable data on teachers’ perceptions of and confidence with integrating these approaches. Following this, teachers became “students” in a mini-lessons carousel, experiencing first-hand how these approaches can enhance engagement and deepen learning. We participated in lessons delivered by our talented colleagues—Stephen Henriques, Ryan Taylor, Rhys Briscoe-Hough, Luke Wilson, Kate Stewart, Fabian Navarro, and Pru Schiffman—each showcasing various approaches, including teaching based on inquiry, experiential learning, problem-based learning, teaching focused on conceptual understanding, teaching developed in local and global contexts, and teaching centred on effective teamwork and collaboration, all of which offered practical strategies to apply in our own practice.
We concluded with a reflection, guided by MYP Coordinator, Erin Munn, that considered how we can continue to enhance our teaching practices in alignment with the IB philosophy, building on what we experienced during the day.
A special thanks to Nick, Erin, and all our colleagues for making this such a valuable and dynamic learning experience. It was a true demonstration of the power of collaboration and the transformative impact of the IB Approaches to Teaching.
Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning