I am wondering how different teaching MYP is to KS3/(I)GCSE. I am a science teacher going to the London Search Fair and many of the schools attending seem to offer MYP + DP. I have experience of teaching DP alongside A levels but have never taught MYP. Are there key differences between MYP and the UK equivalent (KS3 + IGCSEs)?
Also, what about AP? Is this pretty much equivalent to A-levels?
My guess is that schools will recruit those with relevant experience in a particular curriculum but maybe I'll get lucky!
MYP AP IB vs (I)GCSE
I had good in-house training in the MYP at my first international school. My current job does the IGCSE in grades 9-10, and I've been having to fumble my way through it with no training; none of the online courses or out of town seminars cover my subject at the beginning level. The program seems unnecessarily complicated and bureaucratic to me, and I really really don't like it.
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shadowjack
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I moved to the UK one year and ended up teaching mainly GCSE courses. It actually wasn't that hard to do, but it required me to wrap my head around a very different philosophy than back in North America, where percentage grades F to A+ was the norm.
The IB has a lot of overlap at DP with GCSE - moderation, formative assessment, band marking, formal assessment and outside moderation, predicted grades, etc.
At MYP (which I might be teaching this year!), it is a little different. There is a lot of formative feedback, but the inquiry process cycle plays a HUGE role in the learning of the students. Integration and learning what you know are embedded in IB, so if you do MYP plan on an integrated unit or two as you go through the year.
Other, more experienced MYP teachers who have taught both, what is your take? I know it's better than mine!
The IB has a lot of overlap at DP with GCSE - moderation, formative assessment, band marking, formal assessment and outside moderation, predicted grades, etc.
At MYP (which I might be teaching this year!), it is a little different. There is a lot of formative feedback, but the inquiry process cycle plays a HUGE role in the learning of the students. Integration and learning what you know are embedded in IB, so if you do MYP plan on an integrated unit or two as you go through the year.
Other, more experienced MYP teachers who have taught both, what is your take? I know it's better than mine!
Reply
It depends on the school. MYP is very "flexible", there isnt a lot of structure in its current form. Basically, MYP can be anything the school wants it to be. Most schools wedge a variation of a national curriculum into their MYP program, in which case there is very little classroom distinction from a typical classroom using that curriculum. This is usually based on the school environment and driven largely by the training and experience of the senior administrators. In that regards MYP is more a philosophy and some technical structure (such as marking). If the MYP program your going into has a strong british influence your not likely to see any differences.
I dont know anyone who has actual experience in A levels and AP who would consider AP equivalent to A levels, and certainly not the new A*. AP is about the equivalent of a freshman level course at a junior college or community college. That said a student that did ALL AP courses would be similar to a student who got an "honors" diploma from an american high school.
Thats really the big difference. A student can do as little or as much AP as their talents dictate. Their is a "diploma" program by the College board but most schools dont use it. Thats not the same for a student pursuing A levels, which is much more intense and broad across the curriculum.
I dont know anyone who has actual experience in A levels and AP who would consider AP equivalent to A levels, and certainly not the new A*. AP is about the equivalent of a freshman level course at a junior college or community college. That said a student that did ALL AP courses would be similar to a student who got an "honors" diploma from an american high school.
Thats really the big difference. A student can do as little or as much AP as their talents dictate. Their is a "diploma" program by the College board but most schools dont use it. Thats not the same for a student pursuing A levels, which is much more intense and broad across the curriculum.