This week, we went through the PYP’s written curriculum, and
at the end of that session, I was able to remember the five essential elements
of the written curriculum which are ‘Knowledge, Concepts, Skills, Attitudes and
Actions.
When Mr. Harold was demonstrating a video, where an IB PYP
coordinator from the States was showing an exemplary attitude of teaching with
the five essential elements. I looked with amazement, because I could never
imagine a person would have the time to teach classes and coordinate a school
programme at the same time. While watching the video, it gave me inspiration
and it was able to allow me to push myself further, as well as not to give
excuses when circumstances are challenged.
From the video, I have developed a personal order and I
believe all the five essential elements are not stand alone attributes, however
they are highly regarded to be linked with greater purposes. To explain this, I
would start from the first element, which is Knowledge. According to IB,
knowledge is about exploring and knowing about a significant topic. As
teachers, when we teach, sometimes we might already have the knowledge on
certain topics, but in my case, as a trainee would teach subjects that are new.
However, I guess IB understands the situation teachers are in, therefore, they
hope to guide us to look in a perspectives somewhat like students, putting
ourselves in students’ shoes; asking ourselves what would we want to know, so
that we would have the basic and proper inquiring steps to that particular
topic.
Moving on to the second element, Concepts are vital when it
comes to establishing connections on a particular topic. It drives students and
teachers to go in-depth; making logical explanations by understanding them
through key concepts. It helps both side to raise a question and form a
function that would to help the community. In fact, this is where the third
element is connected afterwards. Skills are developed when we finalized the
concepts, interpreted the identified issues, then we consider what must be done
through a cognitive approach. This is where we re-experience our previous
skills and once again learning new skills to enhance that prior knowledge to a
particular topic. These skills could be identified as: Thinking skills, Social
Skills, Communication Skills, Self-management skills and research skills.
If we do not believe or value learning, it would be
difficult to demonstrate the proper attitudes. Yes, we might have the
knowledge, established concepts and high-achieving skills, however, without the
belief, it would be hard for students to demonstrate what they have learned.
Through assessment, we could students feel valued, as we value their learning
and their creativity. Last but not least, we desire action, I believe as
teachers we can demonstrate ourselves as an example for students. We can also
demonstrate through out of class boundary like field trips, activities, social
and community works. Moreover, we could also include parents to get involve in
students’ learning, scaffolding their abilities and enhance their capabilities whether
in knowledge or skills.
In a nutshell, these had helped me to understand how as a
teacher, I would expect of myself as well as my students, how we could make
learning exciting and exhilarating, from today’s induction I guess it is making
believing and making use the five essential elements in the PYP programme.
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