EUROPEAN COLLEGE IB WORLD SCHOOL NO. 1528

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Curriculum.

European College is the first and only school in southern Poland running IB classes. The Diploma Programme is a demanding two-year pre-university course of study that leads to examinations. It is preceded by a pre-IB class which serves as a bridge between Junior and Senior High School, a preparatory class for the IB course. The IB Diploma is recognised in Poland and opens the doors to higher education establishments all over the world. The programme has earned a reputation for rigorous assessment, giving IB diploma holders access to the world's leading universities: Harvard, MIT, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge. In the years since its founding, the Diploma Programme has become a symbol of academic excellence world-wide. The student who satisfies its demands demonstrates strong commitment to learning, both in terms of the mastery of subject content and in the development of wide-ranging skills.

The programme has the strengths of a traditional and broad curriculum, but with three important additional features, shown at the centre of the hexagonal curriculum model. Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
is an interdisciplinary requirement intended to stimulate critical reflection on the knowledge and experience gained inside and outside the classroom. The course challenges students to question the bases of knowledge, to be aware of subjective and ideological biases and to develop the ability to analyse evidence that is expressed in rational argument.

TOK is a key element in encouraging students to appreciate other cultural perspectives. The course is unique to the IBO, which recommends at least 100 hours of teaching time spanning the programme's two years. Creativity, action, service (CAS)
The IBO's goal is to educate the whole person and foster responsible, compassionate citizens. The CAS programme encourages students to share their energy and special talents with others. Students may, for example, participate in theatre or musical productions, sports and community service activities. Students should, through these activities, develop greater awareness of themselves, concern for others, and the ability to work cooperatively with other people.

An extended essay of 4,000 words
Each student has the opportunity to investigate a topic of special interest. The essay requirement acquaints diploma candidates with the kind of independent research and writing skills expected by universities. The IBO recommends that a student devote a total of about 40 hours of private study and writing time to the essay. The essay permits students to deepen their programmes of study, for example by selecting a topic in one of their higher level (HL) courses. Or they might add breadth to their academic experience by electing to write in a subject not included in their programme choices. The six academic subjects around the curriculum model are studied concurrently; students are required to study both the humanities and the sciences.

Diploma candidates must select one subject from each of the six groups. At least three and not more than four are taken at higher level (HL), the others at standard level (SL); HL courses represent a recommended minimum of 240 hours, SL courses cover 150 hours. In the European College that means six lessons per week for HL and four lessons per week for SL.

Students are thus able to explore some subjects in depth and others more broadly, a deliberate compromise between the early specialization of some national systems and the breadth found in others. The science-oriented student is challenged to learn a foreign language and the natural linguist becomes familiar with laboratory procedures. Active citizenship and global perspectives are encouraged in each area of the curriculum. The subjects are continually reviewed and revised to meet contemporary needs.

In the European College English is the language of instruction and students can choose out of the following subjects. Subjects marked with * will be taught to a group of minimum seven students.

Group 1 - language A1

• Literature and Polish language SL/HL
  
• Literature and English language SL/HL
  
• Literature taught in other languages available at an extra cost SL/HL

Students are encouraged to maintain strong ties to their own cultures. They develop strong written and oral skills, respect for the literary heritage of their first languages, and an international perspective.

Group 2 - second language

• English B HL
  
• German B SL
  
• French B SL
  
• Spanish Ab initio SL (false beginners who had some experience learning the language)
  
• Other levels or languages available at an extra cost
  

All diploma candidates are examined in a second language. Several options accommodate students with a very high level of fluency, genuine second language learners with previous experience learning the language, and beginners. The principal aim for the subjects in group 2 is to enable students to use the language in a range of contexts and for many purposes; the courses focus on written and spoken communication.

Group 3 - individuals and societies

• History SL/HL
  
• Geography SL/HL
  
• Psychology* SL/HL
  
• Economics* SL/HL
  

The history course covers 20th century world history with HL students studying in depth the history of Europe and our region. Students are required to undertake historical investigations and work with different resources. In geography an emphasis is placed on learning practical geographical skills. Students learn about the interrelationship between people, places and the environment, they also learn how to understand the cause-effect connection in different spatial-time scale. Students are required to carry out the Geography Fieldwork Project. Psychology course offers a general introduction to biological psychology, sensation an perception, consciousness, human memory, personality, human development, social psychology. Students become familiar with the methods of psychological research and are expected to conduct an experimental project. Economics course covers both micro and macro economic theory, it gives students insight into resource allocation, business economics, national income analysis, international trade, and economic growth and development.

Group 4 - experimental sciences

• Biology SL/HL
  
• Chemistry SL/HL
  
• Physics SL/HL
  
• Environmental systems SL - availability subject to the number of students (minimum 7)
  

Practical laboratory skills are developed and collaborative learning is encouraged through an interdisciplinary group project. Students develop an awareness of moral and ethical issues and a sense of social responsibility is fostered by examining local and global issues. Students are required to record all lab experiments as part of their assessment.

Group 5 - mathematics

• Mathematical studies SL
  
• Mathematics SL / HL
  

All candidates for a diploma are required to complete a mathematics course, and three options are available to cater for different abilities and levels of student interest. Each course aims to deepen a student's understanding of mathematics as a discipline and to promote confidence and facility in the use of mathematical language.

Group 6 - electives

• A candidate must select an additional subject from groups 1-4.
  

Assessing student work and awarding the diploma
Classroom teachers and IB examiners work in partnership to ensure that students have ample opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned. Grades reflect attainment of knowledge and skills relative to set standards applied equally to all schools. Responsibility for all academic judgments about the quality of candidates' work rests with some 5000 IB examiners worldwide, led by chief examiners with international authority in their fields. Students have to complete assignments, which are assessed both internally and externally , in all six subjects they study. Examinations are offered in May for northern hemisphere schools.

The grade scale used in IB schools and during examinations: 7 - excellent; 6 - very good; 5 - good; 4 - satisfactory; 3 - mediocre; 2 - poor; 1 - very poor. A student will receive additional points or will lose points for Extended Essay and TOK. Thus during the International Baccalaureate exam session a student may receive a maximum of 45 points (6 subjects x 7 = 42 , EE = 2 , TOK = 1). To get the diploma a student must have a minimum of 24 points.


Information and enrolment:
EUROPEAN COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
WORLD SCHOOL NO. 1528
Kraków, ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego 33, tel/fax (12) 632 - 46 - 29, IB Coord