Post on 21-Jan-2016
UWC-USAJune 2009
BackgroundIn 1970s a school-based subject, Marine Biology,
was developed at UWC, Atlantic College, Wales which later evolved into the current group 4 course, Environmental Systems (EVS)
Lack of contemporary issues in Geography and EVS courses led to development of the pilot course Ecosystems and Societies (Eco.Soc.) late 1990s
At a similar time IB was exploring the nature of ‘transdisciplinary’ courses through collaboration with Harvard Project Zero
Eco.Soc. considered a good model for a transdisciplinary subject as it requires both scientific understanding and appreciation of socio-political perspectives
EVS left out of group 4 (2003-2006) review while Eco.Soc in pilot
Following success of Eco.Soc. pilot it was considered to be a realistic replacement and evolution of EVS under new name Environmental systems and societies (ES&S).
What does transdisciplinary mean for the IB diploma?Offers student greater flexibilityOpportunity for innovative curriculum
developmentRepresents a more realistic way of seeing the
world
What are the differences?General:Guides look different due to rebranding,
reordering and restructuringInclusion of the learner profileNature of subject includes sections on
international dimension, TOK and links with MYP
Action verbs replaced by command terms with some amendments to provide commonality across diploma
EVS ES&SGroup 4 model
Prohibition with BiologyGroup 4 project
mandatory
Core and Options10 aims and 5 objectives
characterized by the scientific method
Own model as transdisciplinary, group ¾
No prohibition with Biology
Group 4 project is NOT mandatory
Only core, no options8 aims and 7 objectives
of which scientific method is a small part
EVS ES&S
Core 80 hoursOption A 15 hours
2nd Option 15 hoursIA 40 hours
Total 150 hours
Core 120 hours
IA 30 hours
Total 150 hours
EVS ES &S
Paper 1 Multiple choice
Paper 2 Section A: data based question, short questions
Section B: one structured extended response
question from choice of three
Paper 3 several short question from 2 options
Paper 1 Both short answer and data-based questions
Paper 2 Section A Case study
Section B two structured
extended question from choice
of four
EVS ES&S
Paper 1 20%Paper 2 32%Paper 3 24%IA 24%
Paper 1 30%Paper 2 50%
IA 20%
Online Curriculum Centre (OCC)Useful forum to share ideas and ask
questions with other teachers and obtain useful IB publications
http://occ.ibo.org
Need a username and password from IB coordinator
Teacher Support Materials (TSM)
A TSM for the new IA criteria was released on the OCC in May 2008.
Examples from this will be looked at more closely in the IA session.
IA Criteria for ESS are different from the EVS and different from the new criteria for the other Group 4 science courses
Examiners WE NEED YOU……..
See www.ibo.org for examining opportunitiesOnline script and IA moderation training
sessions will run late 2009/early 2010
PracticalitiesLast exams for EVS in May 2009First exams for ES&S in May 2010