From Inquiry to Impact: The IB Diploma Core and Learning for a Changing World
At the heart of the IB Diploma Programme lies the DP Core, a trio of experiences that develops not only academic excellence but the capacity to think critically, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to the world. Comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), the DP Core equips students with the real-world skills they need to thrive in a complex, rapidly changing global landscape.
Learning with Purpose
The Core encourages students to move beyond content mastery to inquire, reflect, and act. Through the Extended Essay, students pursue an independent investigation into a topic of personal interest, whether exploring global food insecurity, the ethics of gene editing, or local urban planning. These essays allow students to apply the concepts, methods, and skills from their subjects to real issues that matter, giving them a taste of authentic research and university-level thinking.
In the CAS programme, students put values into action. Kevin Chu, for example, recently contributed to a Sustainability Panel at St Catherine’s School focusing on strategies for managing waste in schools and mobilising school communities to commit to sustainability goals. Andrew Carrano is volunteering at Our Big Kitchen, where he will help prepare meals for people experiencing homelessness. Inspired by the IBO’s Global Youth Action Fund 2025, Plai Garnjana-Goonchorn, and Mickey Chen have commenced a CAS project that involves reaching out to support and collaborate with Thai students in Bangkok who face barriers to higher education due to limited English proficiency, particularly in preparing for the IELTS exam. Through this student-led tutoring initiative, they aim to build meaningful partnerships and provide targeted assistance that empowers other learners to pursue university opportunities and achieve their academic goals.
Thinking Critically, Reflecting Deeply
In Theory of Knowledge, students learn to question the foundations of knowledge itself. Why do we trust scientific models? How do cultural perspectives influence historical interpretation? TOK develops the capacity to analyse how knowledge is constructed, fostering intellectual humility and the ability to evaluate claims in an age of information overload.
Throughout the Core, reflection is central. Whether through a TOK journal, CAS portfolio, or EE supervisor meetings, students are continually asked to examine their learning, choices, and growth. This habit of critical reflection builds self-regulation, metacognition, and resilience, skills essential for lifelong learning and leadership.
The Extended Essay: A Capstone for Inquiry and Purpose
The Extended Essay (EE) serves as a capstone to the IB learning experience, offering students the opportunity to engage in a sustained, independent research project on a topic of personal significance. More than an academic exercise, the EE challenges students to bring together the knowledge, skills, and values they’ve developed across the Diploma Programme — from critical analysis and ethical reasoning to curiosity and perseverance.
Whether exploring questions in global politics, environmental science, literature, or economics, students often use the EE to investigate real-world problems and reflect on their place within them. Many choose topics that align with their passions or point toward future academic and career interests, making the EE not only a rigorous piece of scholarship, but also a meaningful step toward lifelong learning and purposeful action.
Connecting to Global Challenges
The Core is also a powerful platform for engaging with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These global goals, ranging from climate action and quality education to gender equality and reduced inequalities, serve as a framework for many student projects and inquiries.
By embedding the SDGs into academic and co-curricular learning, the IB Core programme will develop globally minded learners who understand the challenges facing the world and are empowered to contribute to real solutions.
Preparing for the Future
The IB Core is not simply an “add-on” to the academic programme—it is the engine that drives the IB’s and Cranbrook’s vision of education for a better world. It connects disciplines, fosters empathy and ethical reasoning, and challenges students to move from inquiry to impact.
As our students prepare for university and beyond, the Core ensures they do so not only with knowledge, but with the critical thinking, compassion, and courage to use that knowledge wisely.
Nicholas Hanrahan
Head of IB Continuum and Diploma Programme Coordinator