As students Katie Ploss and Anna Gencay spoke about modernist poetry, classmates Brad Villeneuve and Kylee Haase were busy coloring a piece of paper with crayons.
They weren’t being rude. They were following along with Ploss, Gencay, Danielle Daigle, and Quinn Dabrowski’s group presentation.
‘Mixing colors and coming up with new ones – that’s modernism,? Gencay told the class.
The coloring exercise, as well as a multiple-choice quiz with students selecting their answers by walking quickly to the corner of the room marked with the correct letter, was part of Clarkston High School’s new International Baccalaureate program.
‘We learn how to talk in a creative way and how to involve the class,? Gencay said.
‘I think it’s really boring to just stand up in front of the room,? Ploss said. ‘This helps us become better writers and speakers.?
Teacher Ryan Eisele’s Pre-IB Language Arts students are learning public speaking skills in preparation for IB’s Interactive Oral Commentary requirements.
‘Your skills are improving since your first try,? Eisele said. ‘You’re leading activities and conversations, good eye contact and inflection, you’re not just reading. Keep it up.?
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offers a two-year curriculum, leading up to a university-recognized qualification.
‘It seemed interesting, an intense course,? said sophomore Julia Douglas, learning about Renaissance art with classmates Lauren Kissel and Drew MacColman. ‘It’s a little more in depth.?
‘I thought it would help me gain more knowledge,? Kissel said.
‘I wanted to challenge myself so I have to try in school,? said MacColman. ‘Other classes are too easy. The more challenging the work, the bigger sense of accomplishment if you do it.?
Clarkston Community Schools started IB’s two-year application process in summer 2007 and submitted its formal application that fall, said Jodi Yeloushan, executive director for student support services. Authorization visit by IB visiting-team consultants from Canada, California, and Florida was this past October, with final authorization by IBO this past February.
“They said we were the most prepared school they had ever seen ? that was great,” Yeloushan said. “We are now one of 13 schools in Michigan offering IB.”
IB is a college preparatory program, as is Advanced Placement.
‘It impacts their choice in college, and opens doors for them in Ivy League schools,? said Staci Secord, CHS World History Intensive teacher for IB, who also taught AP courses. ‘In this economy, this is the best thing for them. I’m excited for them.?
IB and AP take different approaches, though, Secord said.
‘AP focuses on breadth of knowledge, a huge area to cover,? said Secord, who will teach IB history in the fall. ‘With IB, students learn more in depth.?
‘The AP track is too detail oriented,? said student Jan Helgeson. ‘It deals more with in-depth ideas, thought, why they did what they did, the repercussion of decisions people made, not just what happened.?
As students develop deep understanding of fewer topics, they link to other topics as well, Secord said.
‘They become historians, practitioners,? she said. ‘It’s active learning, not passive, spewing back information. They go out and do it.?
Three core requirements in IB are Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action, and Service.
When writing their 4,000-word essays, students investigate topics of individual interest, and learn college-level independent research and writing skills.
‘They do the thinking and come up with answers ? it’s active learning,? Secord said. ‘It’s very appealing.?
Theory of knowledge examines how students know what they know, including perception, emotion, reason, and language.
CAS includes community service, social work, artistic projects, and whatever else students can think of.
‘You make a commitment and design the project,? said student Maggie Schroeder.
‘You set goals for yourself. It’s not just about hours, you have to make a difference,? said Rachel Didion, sophomore.
Teachers earned certification to teach IB at a four-day workshop last year.
‘It’s the best training I ever had,? Secord said. ‘Very hands on.?
‘I love the idea of multicultural, international approach, thinking beyond their own community about the effect they have on the world and how the world affects the things they learn,? Eisele said.
This year, Clarkston High School offers pre-IB classes for sophomores, preparing for the two-year IB program, which starts in the fall.
‘The program has a multicultural focus, for multiple intelligences and different learning styles ? everyone learns in a different way,? Eisele said. ‘It’s going great. We have about 31 students, enough for a couple sections in each subject area. I hope its popularity grows.?
International Baccalaureate Organization, founded in 1968, is a not-for-profit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It also offers programs for middle-school and primary-grade students, but Clarkston has no plans right now for adopting them, Yeloushan said.
“We’re discussing it,” she said. “They’re on the back burner.”
Pre-IB is not an IBO program, but was created by the school district to let interested students sample IB, as well as AP.
“It’s not an IBO program, but infused with IB ideals and practices,” she said. “It prepares them for the program and lets them experience what IB might entail.”
IB joins AP and CSMTech, formerly OSMTech, as alternatives to general course of study.
Enrollment in AP courses is also increasing, she said.
“Students are seeking more opportunity,” she said. “IB is another avenue available to them.”
AP and IB are both challenging, but IB helps students in a different way, she said.
“AP offers specific courses, such as in math and science,” she said. “IB includes many courses culminating in a diploma. It’s a well-rounded curriculum.”
More students inquire daily, Yeloushan said.
“We anticipate about 30 more,” she said.
An open-enrollment program, parents from other school districts are also calling about the program, she said.
Prospective IB students must qualify in math, writing, foreign language. Accepted students? schedule will be all IB courses, along with electives. If open seats are available, general-education students will be admitted.
“That gives more students an opportunity to be involved,” she said. “They can earn a certificate in a class. It’s a great program for Clarkston.”