The core of values of IB
The core values of IB are encapsulated in the abbreviation “CAS”, which stands for Creativity, Activity and Service. This strand of knowledge allows fresh minds to part-take in community and charity events outside of school. During this course, students learn consistency and balance with a chance to excel in new skills, while learning to find opportunities. CAS has especially helped me in the personal field, to devote more time to my hobbies and participate in community events. Within the university walls, it helps me stay organised and on top of my academic work.
The academic part of IB largely concerns the Extended Essay and all Internal Assessments. The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word paper on a chosen topic. The student and teacher work cooperatively to gain more insight into the topic while considering feedback. Writing the EE has taught me that no work is perfect at the beginning and rather it’s better to have a draft and consistently improve it over time. It teaches patience and how to build a cohesive argument thesis. Additionally, it shows how to cite and reference ideas, an academic tool that is a big advantage in the university. I believe that after writing the EE, even a first-year university student can produce a well-structured, value-rich essay.
How helpful an IB is!
The last strand of the IB that I find to have helped me in university life is TOK, Theory of Knowledge. The subject allows personal reflection on how we as humans perceive and transform information over time. It introduces philosophical concepts and political ideologies, which initiate critical thinking and analysis. On the other hand, this subject further teaches how to form arguments and participate in academic discussions. From my experience, I know even though this subject can seem “additional” it prompts students to ask questions about their surrounding environment, a skill especially useful for university research.
Overall, the IB programme enforces time management and organisation through CAS, research and writing ability via the Extended Essay and lastly, critical thinking throughout the TOK course. All mentioned skills become very useful in the student’s academic and personal life at university.
- What is an IB? - 9 de January de 2024
- Are you studying an IB? - 28 de November de 2023
- Would you like to know more about the IB Program? - 14 de November de 2023
