IB

IB – Preparing Students for Diverse Futures

  • News
Monday, 21 Oct, 2024

Recognised across the world, the IB is a rich and rigorous programme that encourages curiosity, deeper learning, critical thinking and independence – the core values of a Montessori education.

 

Matthew Voudouris (an MMC IB alumni) is fascinated by architecture, particularly the careful design and construction involved in building vast sports amenities, such as Marvel Stadium and the MCG. He’s pursuing this passion by studying a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Melbourne and plans to follow up with a Master of Architecture.

However, the former MMC student is also a talented musician and composer and while studying the intricacies of Architecture, he is also completing a Diploma in Music, specialising in Composition, at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

“I started playing piano when I was five and had piano lessons for 12 years and when I began the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) at Melbourne Montessori College, I did Music HL so I could build my performance and composition experience,” says Matthew.

Matthew joined MMC in kindergarten and completed his entire education at the school. When he graduated in 2021, he became the first MMC student to attend the IB schools Victoria and Tasmania award ceremony for students who achieved a score of 40 or more out of a possible 45 in the IBDP.

 

Aligning with the Montessori approach

“The IBDP was an extension of the Montessori approach to education. There were lots of opportunities to discover subjects that particularly interested me, and to explore those at a higher and deeper level. The small classes at Melbourne Montessori College also ensured I had plenty of support from my teachers,” says Matthew.

“It certainly prepared me for university. I know how to manage my time and to build good relationships with my lecturers and tutors. The programme also taught me that you have to be proactive and independent in your learning and to enjoy the process of learning.”

 

What is the International Baccalaureate Diploma?

At MMC, students in Years 11 and 12 can choose the IBDP or the VCE Vocational Major (VM), formerly the MCP. The IBDP is an alternative to the VCE that is recognised by universities across the world.

Students undertake six subjects and can choose to do three of those subjects at Higher Level, so in greater depth. There is also a DP core consisting of three areas: Creativity, activity, service (CAS), the extended essay and Theory of Knowledge (TOK).

Subjects currently available at MMC are: Biology, Business Management, English Language and Literature, Film, French Ab initio, History, Mandarin Ab initio, Math Analysis, Math Applications, Physics, Psychology, Spanish Ab initio and Sports Exercise and Health Science.

As more students choose to undertake the International Baccalaureate, the school is constantly reviewing the subjects available, and listens closely to which subjects are of interest to the next group of candidates. If enough students are interested in pursuing something that isn’t currently part of the IB curriculum, every effort is made to introduce it.

“The core topics are incredibly valuable because they encourage students to think critically and to think about how knowledge is produced,” says Casper Buisman, Head of IB.

“The 4,000-word extended essay is the first research paper students will write in their life. They pick a topic, formulate a research question and undertake the research — and that is a challenge. The third element of the core, CAS, recognises that the IBDP is not just about study and achieving high grades and it encourages a balanced lifestyle.”

The 4,000-word extended essay is the first research paper students will write in their life. They pick a topic, formulate a research question and undertake the research — and that is a challenge.

The IB strengths

Holistic approach: One strength of the programme, and a reason why it aligns so closely with a Montessori education, is the holistic nature. It is student-centred and helps every individual develop critical thinking, communication, principles, balance and ethics.

A second language: All students study a second language, including ‘Ab initio’, which means students have no prior knowledge of that language but learn to engage with the language and its culture during the two-year IBDP programme. Learning a second language has been proven to be beneficial to brain development.

University success: A recent independent study has highlighted that university placements for IB students is around 10% higher than for VCE students and IB students also have higher completion rates compared to young people who complete VCE.

 

The MMC approach to the IB

“The IB offers a lot of choice and rigour — it’s for students who want to learn something new and who are open to change and to a challenge,” says Emma Rees, who teaches IB English Language and Literature and Spanish Ab initio.

“As someone teaching the IBDP, I feel a great deal of freedom to be able to introduce my students to things that are interesting and that inspire them to follow a new journey in a subject. At MMC, the IB environment is collaborative and our small classes ensure that, as teachers, we really know our students and how they learn.

“So, while we meet the standards and requirements of the IB curriculum, we also still value student choice and allow our students to make choices and decisions so we create a curriculum that excites them.”

Students do not have to possess exceptional academic skills – they need to be balanced, good workers who are engaged in and enjoy learning.

– Casper Buisman

Building connections to the real world

The IBDP at MMC also closely connects students to the broader community, reflecting the programme’s international and outward-looking focus.

Beach clean-up days, volunteering for a range of charities and finding ways to connect what they are learning in the classroom with the society and world around them are an integral part of the IB experience.

“In Spanish, we visited the NGV to look at the work of Spanish artists and I am hoping that next year I can take some of our students to Spain to do the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage,” says Emma.

“It is a rigorous program but it is often seen as prestigious and only for the very best academic students and that is not the intention of the IBDP,” says Casper.

“Students do not have to possess exceptional academic skills – they need to be balanced, good workers who are engaged in and enjoy learning. They are young people who want to develop themselves, who are curious and who are preparing themselves for the next phase of their life.”

 

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