IB learners have no social life? Let’s break the myth
- 16 February 2023
You must have read loads of blogs about IBDP curriculum being stressful and rigorous. Does that mean learners have no social life? Let’s break the myth. The International Baccalaureate® (IB) learner profile outlines a wide range of human abilities and roles that go beyond academic achievement. IB learners are Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced and Reflective.
Theory of knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay are three elements that make the DP curriculum interesting. Let us look into each of these and understand how they contribute to the social life of an IB learner.
TOK course allows students to explore and reflect on the nature of knowledge and the process of knowing. It provides opportunities for students to think about their own values and actions, deepen their understanding of their place in the world and sensitively consider the contexts and views of others. Students draw comparisons and connections between areas of knowledge. They appreciate and get inspired by the richness of human knowledge.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) is the experiential learning component of the DP. Every student takes part in initiatives they have set forth themselves. Students complete a wide variety of extracurricular community service and athletic options that make their lives outside classrooms an amazing experience.
The extended essay introduces students to the demands and rewards of independent work. Learners do personal research and communicate ideas effectively in order to write an essay in an area of personal interest. This helps students to engage in a personal exploration of the subject and communicate ideas that go beyond traditional wisdom.
IBDP students engage in self-reflection on the nature of knowledge, independent research, and a project that typically entails community service as part of the Diploma Programme (DP) core. Who can now say IB learners have no social life!
Sara Cherian
Manager-Communications
