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Send us Fan Mail What does the growth of IB in India tell us about the opportunities—and challenges—of bringing IB philosophy into different educational cultures? In this episode, Jon talks with longtime IB educator Gayatri Mehta about the place of IB within India’s remarkably diverse educational landscape. Their conversation moves from families seeking rigorous, internationally recognized education to the challenges students and teachers face when moving from finding the “right answer” to inquiry, questioning, and making meaning for themselves. Gayatri also reflects candidly on the adjustment teachers make when they stop seeing teaching primarily as explaining and begin creating space for students to think. Ultimately, the conversation moves beyond how IB might grow in India to a more interesting question: What can IB and India learn from each other—and how can education give students the confidence and agency to challenge ideas for themselves? Course resources: Description on the IB Website  Subject Brief Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail In this second conversation about the new MYP themes, Adrian Von Wrede-Jervis takes us beyond the framework itself to a bigger question: How do we help students make meaning for themselves? Adrian challenges the idea that concepts are simply transferable from one subject to another. Instead, he suggests thinking of concepts as places where disciplines—and students—can meet, compare perspectives, and translate meaning. That leads to a powerful metaphor: Our goal shouldn't be to give students better maps of the world. We should be helping them become mapmakers, able to make sense of unfamiliar situations long after a teacher is there to provide the map. We also explore the first three new MYP themes, relevance and reflection, and what all of this might mean for concept-based teaching across subject areas. Links: LinkedIn post "Against learning: Reclaiming a language for education in an age of learning"  link to the Immordino-Yang study on how she discovered "transcendent thinking"            Follow-up to this article in Scientific American The Affective Learning Lab - Influential in Adrian's thinking  Finally, Adrian's article in LinkedIn writing about how his thinking on concepts has changed Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail What is the IB Diploma Programme really like from a student perspective? How are IB DP students navigating CAS, the Extended Essay, TOK—and now AI in education? Twin sisters Avantika and Anantika Nair, rising seniors at Washtenaw International High School in Michigan, share an unusually thoughtful look at their IB student experience. They discuss their transition from the MYP to DP, challenging HL courses, Extended Essays in physics, and how IB has encouraged them to think creatively and become more open-minded learners.  We also explore their CAS-inspired community leadership and their evolving relationship with artificial intelligence. Their perspective on AI in IB education is especially compelling: use AI to generate practice, review concepts, and improve efficiency—but not as a substitute for thinking, creativity, or doing the learning yourself. Links: LinkedIn - Anantika, Avantika Website: Wellness4Washtenaw Instagram: Wellness4Washnetaw Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail Four years ago, IB Matters first spoke with Jiana Shah when she was a 14-year-old MYP student. We caught up with her again as she entered the Diploma Programme. Now, Jiana returns for a third conversation, having completed an IB education that began in kindergarten. Jiana reflects candidly on the challenges and rewards of the DP, from Math AA and a surprisingly useful Chemistry IA to her Extended Essay, CAS experiences, and a remarkable change of heart about Theory of Knowledge. She also shares a student’s perspective on using AI without allowing it to do the thinking for you. As she prepares for university studies in Milan and Paris, Jiana looks back on how IB shaped the way she learns, questions, researches, and sees the world—and why, despite the challenges, she “would not have it any other way.” Here is the link to Jean's episode when she was 14 (S3:E9) Here is the episode when she was 16 - entering the DP (S Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail We are re-connecting with Adrian Von Wrede-Jervis to get his thoughts on the changes occurring in the MYP. Specifically, Adrian and I begin a conversation about the MYP themes and how we might think of them in the context of the students' learning arc. We are planning on at least three episodes where we will start to unpack the actual themes. This will allow a little more time to help listeners find out about what's going on in those themes.  We will take the first three themes in the next podcast, but we'll also talk a bit about how concepts can be used in those themes and how we can link learning to those transdisciplinary concepts that Adrian is suggesting. In general, how do they use concepts?  In the final podcast, we think about the future - where does AI position itself in that future of our education? Links: LinkedIn post "Against learning: Reclaiming a language for education in an age of learning"  link to the Immordino-Yang study on how she discovered "transcendent thinking"            Follow-up to this article in Scientific American The Affective Learning Lab - Influential in Adrian's thinking  Finally, Adrian's article in LinkedIn writing about how his thinking on concepts has changed Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail In this series, which I’m calling the IB Course Description Project, we’re building an audio catalog of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) courses and Career-related Programme (CP) core experiences for students, parents, counselors, teachers, and colleges around the world. Each episode brings the syllabus to life by exploring the learning, teaching, and student experience behind every course. These conversations can support course registration, help colleges better understand IB courses, introduce new teachers and counselors to the curriculum, or simply provide a deeper understanding of what makes each course unique. Want to be part of the project? Use this form to enter your information or to nominate someone for the podcast. Contact me (Jon Peterson) at [email protected]  Our teacher guide for Business Management is Brad Opfer - IBEN Certified trainer Our teacher guide for both History and Economics is James Jones - IBEN Certified trainer Subject brief links:  DP Business Management SL DP Business Management HL DP History Guide (first exams 2028) DP Economics SL DP Economics HL Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail In this series, which I’m calling the IB Course Description Project, we’re building an audio catalog of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) courses and Career-related Programme (CP) core experiences for students, parents, counselors, teachers, and colleges around the world. Each episode brings the syllabus to life by exploring the learning, teaching, and student experience behind every course. These conversations can support course registration, help colleges better understand IB courses, introduce new teachers and counselors to the curriculum, or simply provide a deeper understanding of what makes each course unique. Want to be part of the project? Use this form to enter your information or to nominate someone for the podcast. Contact me (Jon Peterson) at [email protected]  Our teacher guide for History is James Jones - IBEN Certified trainer Links:  DP History Guide (first exams 2028) Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail In this series, which I’m calling the IB Course Description Project, we’re building an audio catalog of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) courses and Career-related Programme (CP) core experiences for students, parents, counselors, teachers, and colleges around the world. Each episode brings the syllabus to life by exploring the learning, teaching, and student experience behind every course. These conversations can support course registration, help colleges better understand IB courses, introduce new teachers and counselors to the curriculum, or simply provide a deeper understanding of what makes each course unique. Want to be part of the project? Use this form to enter your information or to nominate someone for the podcast. Contact me (Jon Peterson) at [email protected]  Our SEHS teacher guide is Anthony De Giorgio Links: Sports Exercise and Health Science subject guide Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail In this series, which I’m calling the IB Course Description Project, we’re building an audio catalog of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) courses and Career-related Programme (CP) core experiences for students, parents, counselors, teachers, and colleges around the world. Each episode brings the syllabus to life by exploring the learning, teaching, and student experience behind every course. These conversations can support course registration, help colleges better understand IB courses, introduce new teachers and counselors to the curriculum, or simply provide a deeper understanding of what makes each course unique. Want to be part of the project? Use this form to enter your information or to nominate someone for the podcast. Contact me (Jon Peterson) at [email protected]  Our teacher guide for Visual arts is Abeera Atique Links:  Visual Arts SL Subject guide Visual Arts HL Subject guide Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail In this series, which I’m calling the IB Course Description Project, we’re building an audio catalog of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) courses and Career-related Programme (CP) core experiences for students, parents, counselors, teachers, and colleges around the world. Each episode brings the syllabus to life by exploring the learning, teaching, and student experience behind every course. These conversations can support course registration, help colleges better understand IB courses, introduce new teachers and counselors to the curriculum, or simply provide a deeper understanding of what makes each course unique. Want to be part of the project? Use this form to enter your information or to nominate someone for the podcast. Contact me (Jon Peterson) at [email protected]  Our teacher guide for Language and Literature is Georgia Larson. Links: Language A: Language and Literature Subject guide Note: Literature and Literature & Performance are still to be recorded. If you teach one of these courses and are interested in sharing your expertise please reach out at [email protected]. Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail In this series, which I’m calling the IB Course Description Project, we’re building an audio catalog of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) courses and Career-related Programme (CP) core experiences for students, parents, counselors, teachers, and colleges around the world. Each episode brings the syllabus to life by exploring the learning, teaching, and student experience behind every course. These conversations can support course registration, help colleges better understand IB courses, introduce new teachers and counselors to the curriculum, or simply provide a deeper understanding of what makes each course unique. Want to be part of the project? Use this form to enter your information or to nominate someone for the podcast. Contact me (Jon Peterson) at [email protected]  Use the email above or the fan mail link to contact me with feedback, suggestions or to add your name to the teachers joining the project. Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail When an experienced IB DP teacher like Rohit Vaswani becomes the new IB coordinator, they bring a certain set of tools to the job. They might know the nuts and bolts of the position: deadlines, exam prep, and compliance issues. But, it takes a special leader to examine the system in place to see where the philosophy of the IB structure and the culture it is meant to create can be improved.  Do your IB teachers share in the mission? Do the students just comply with deadlines or do they go further and see ways to engage in their communities as partners? As a new IB coordinator, Rohit already has a deep understanding of the role. His previous IB and school leaders have equipped him with the tools to instill the principles of an IB education with all the schools' stakeholders.  Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail Taryn Moir is an educational psychologist focused on bringing research-backed best practices into the classroom. In this episode she describes some of the research she has done and has studied that led to her book, 'How to Create Autonomous Learners: Teaching Metacognitive, Self-regulatory and Study Skills - A Practioner's Guide.'  She shares several examples of reading strategies that help students develop their own toolbox of skills that can be used in any classroom and at any age. Links: Where to find Taryn's Book Taryn's LinkedIn Contact Taryn: [email protected] Selected research: Moir, T., (2023). Sowing Seeds in Different Soil. The Psychologist. The British Psychological Society, Leicester.Moir, T., (2023). Motivating young readers: Using Rosenblatt’s Transactional Theory to Enhance Literacy Learning. Scan Magazine. NSW Department of Education. Parramatta. Moir, T. (2018). Why is implementation science important to intervention design and evaluation, within educational settings?. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 3, p. 61). Frontiers.Moir, T., (2019). The psychology within models of reading comprehension and the educational psychologist’s role in taking theory into practice. Educational and Child Psychology, 36 (3). Moir, T., Boyle, J., Woolfson, L. M. (2016). Developing higher-order reading skills in mainstream primary schools: a metacognitive approach- a study protocol. Educational Psychology in Scotland. Vol 17 No. 2Moir, T., Boyle, J., Woolfson, L. M. (2020) Developing higher-order reading skills in mainstream primary schools: a metacognitive approach. British Educational Journal.Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail Leah Thayer has spent a lifetime supporting people in transition. From her work in conflict zones, developing public health supports, and now in counseling students, Leah has been there to meet the needs of the people she serves. Young people exiting the Diploma Programme are understandably anxious about what comes next for them. What if they don't pass the exams? How do they find a good school? How does the school find them? How can teachers help their students find a match for their skills and their aspirations? Leah has some great ideas for all these questions. If you work with students as a counselor, a teacher, or are a parent of a high school student check out what Leah shares in this episode. At the end we talked about the new IB Matters project where we are recording teachers as they describe the IB course(s) they teach. This should help students choose courses they find interesting and are a good fit for their future plans. These short (under 15 minute) recordings can also help colleges better understand what the IB student brings with them as they matriculate to the university. If you are an IBEN member and a teacher of a DP course, please contact me at the email link. I'm also looking to record all aspects of the DP and the CP core to be included in the project.  Leah's Substack: Pathways, Partnerships, and Perspectives Leah's LinkedIn Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

Send us Fan Mail Gavin Kinch has been on an IB journey which began as a classroom teacher and has led him to be appointed the IB School Leadership Council chairperson. Along the way, he has developed a philosophy of mentoring younger teachers through their own professional journeys. He talks about the 'classroom teacher' to 'school teacher' transition. Gavin is the Principal of ACS, an IB school in Singapore which has close to 200 IB graduates every year. As he says, there is a great team of experienced educators who have taken on roles as 'school teachers' to guide such a large group of motivated students. He also has a podcast (linked below) called the Global Ed Podcast to share stories of his school leadership heroes; those who have faced impossible obstacles and helped their students continue learning. Global Ed Podcast S1E1 From Kiev Gavin on linkedIn Email IB Matters: [email protected] Instagram (IB_Matters) Twitter @MattersIB IB Matters website MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website Donate to IB Matters Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)  To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.