Self-directed Learning

Check in and Check out, 10 essential ideas to connect learners

Student Engagement: Why Check-In and Check-Out Activities Support Learning with 10 Essential Ideas

Introduction Student engagement is vital for effective learning, and one powerful way to enhance it is through check-in and check-out (CICO) activities. In the effort to meet academic standards and cover content, teachers can easily dive straight into the lesson, often overlooking the importance of beginning and ending each class with a simple check-in and …

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AI in the Classroom: Balancing Technology with Human Agency

Maximizing AI in the Classroom: Aligning IB ATL Skills with UNESCO’s AI Education Guide

Introduction With AI’s rapid growth, education is facing a potentially exciting or terrifying change, depending on how educators respond to it. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) integration into classrooms is not a distant future, if it hasn’t already happened. AI’s ability to generate content, quickly analyze large amounts of data, design learning experiences, offer real-time feedback to students, and so …

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Navigating Challenges in Designing Interdisciplinary Learning Experiences

Introduction My previous review of interdisciplinary teaching and learning in the MYP programme was a while ago. COVID had prevented schools from implementing interdisciplinary units (IDUs) for a couple years. There are many teachers who have not had a chance to check out the updated MYP interdisciplinary subject guide (published February 2021). We have started to plan IDUs to be …

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student agency

Foster Student Agency through QUEST Framework

Introduction We piloted a course called Agency in Action last academic school year (2022–2023). The purpose of the course was to provide structure and guidance for students to develop self-directed learning projects. Each lesson lasted for 40 minutes, and students had approximately 12 hours to complete their projects per semester. We took advantage of this …

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student-led entrepreneur projects

How to increase student agency through entrepreneur project?

Introduction In order to increase student agency and foster community, I started an entrepreneur project at my new school, ESF Discovery College, with MYP Year 1 – Year 5 students. This blog post describes my experience with the project. Giving students the chance to direct their own learning is essential in my opinion as a …

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Debunk Myths of Student Agency

Introduction Although student agency is a topic that is frequently discussed in education, it is also one that is sometimes misinterpreted. Teachers frequently assert that they are providing students with agency by letting them choose what they want to do. Giving students choices is only one aspect of actual student agency, though. Agency involves encouraging students’ …

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