Greetings!
Apparently I have chosen an interesting time to attempt to transition to IB DP Mathematics. I have a US BA Math, US secondary mathematics teaching license, several years experience teaching math, a TESOL MA and a decade plus teaching ESL/EFL internationally and am looking toward shifting to an IB ISS.
Please pardon me if I am asking a question that has been raised previously. Googling around I today stumbled on the blog entry at the link below which outlines planned changes to IB DP Mathematics commencing in 2019:
http://blogs.ibo.org/blog/2017/05/15/wh ... t-century/
In 2019 IB Maths will be changing from the current program to the following (quoted from the above blog entry):
"1. Mathematics: - and approaches course will be offered at both SL and HL. It is designed for students who enjoy developing their mathematics to become fluent in the construction of mathematical arguments and develop strong skills in mathematical thinking. They will explore real and abstract applications, sometimes with technology, and will enjoy the thrill of mathematical problem solving and generalization.
2. Mathematics: Applications and interpretation course will be offered at both SL and HL for students who are interested in developing their mathematics for describing our world, modelling and solving practical problems using the power of technology. Students who take Mathematics: Applications and interpretation will be those who enjoy mathematics best when seen in a practical context."
If I understand correctly, IB Math Studies SL and Further Maths will both be discontinued from 2021. Students will not be able to enroll in both the new options above because they share some content.
I have started to wonder: would I do better to work to qualify and enter IB in MYP (on the strength of IBO-recognized workshops and certificates) given the changes planned? Any thoughts you fellow professionals choose to share would be most appreciated.
Kind Regards,
globaleyes
Any thoughts about planned 2019 changes to IB DP Maths?
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globaleyes
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:50 am
Response
No, its just a name change (with some minor content changes), its cosmetic so that DIP maths looks less like a scaled continuum and more like two distinct maths categories at SL and HL. Parents dont like the current model, which has maths studies on the bottom and further maths on the top. It was basically saying maths studies is maths for dumb students and further maths was essentially "advance" maths. It was a definite hierarchy that inherently "classed" students. the new approach isnt going to fool anyone in curriculum or academia, but its going to make parents feel better.
No, because there is no strength in IB workshops, no IB practitioner or recruiter or leadership believes that IB workshops are worth anything that makes a difference. There are three components to an ITs resume what you have taught (experience, exam scores, etc.), what you can teach (degrees, credentials, etc.) and special skills, of those experience rules. You have a degree in maths, a maths credential and years of experience teaching maths, (the ESOL isnt worth anything) and that is a solid resume with high utility in a high demand subject. If an IS, even an IB IS isnt interested, than IB workshops wont make a difference (and if they did its not an IS you want to be at, because it means their training budget is so poorly funded, its likely to reflect the rest of the IS operating very "lean", which isnt a place you want to be).
No, because there is no strength in IB workshops, no IB practitioner or recruiter or leadership believes that IB workshops are worth anything that makes a difference. There are three components to an ITs resume what you have taught (experience, exam scores, etc.), what you can teach (degrees, credentials, etc.) and special skills, of those experience rules. You have a degree in maths, a maths credential and years of experience teaching maths, (the ESOL isnt worth anything) and that is a solid resume with high utility in a high demand subject. If an IS, even an IB IS isnt interested, than IB workshops wont make a difference (and if they did its not an IS you want to be at, because it means their training budget is so poorly funded, its likely to reflect the rest of the IS operating very "lean", which isnt a place you want to be).