American system vs IB

Chaim

any ideas about convertibility between the two? can kids under American system change to other international schools under IB easily?

sharons

妳家小孩現在幾年班?

Chaim

3 years only and hopefully starting IB/American next school year. wanna send him to international and so wonder if it matters between IB or American

Artie

Chaim 發表於 14-11-26 22:08
any ideas about convertibility between the two? can kids under American system change to other inter ...

Western primary school education are similar. Changing from one to another is not a huge problem. You only need to seriously decide which curriculum to follow for high school (i.e. grade 10 up), mainly for university application purpose. Universities look at 4 years of high school transcript.
American system is very flexible. AP classes can be taken during the last 4 years in high school.
IB is not flexible. The last 2 years (IBDP, for university application purpose) is a "package deal'.
Since your child is still small, you have lots of time to explore. Curriculum (both AP and IBDP)  is likely going to change during the coming years. So just choose the school closer to home for now.

sharons

係三歲還是三年級呢?  如果三歲就選離家最近的，如果三年級我會選美制的，因為課程相對IBPYP 比較扎實，升中再考慮IBMYP還可以呢，純粹個人選擇，有錯請指正，不喜勿怒

Artie

I do not agree PYP is not solid.
My son had got very solid academic foundation from PYP: from writing to math, from research skills to presentation skills.
I do not want say how it is compared to american curriculum since he has never been in an american primary school.

Chaim

thanks both!

sharons

http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/supplement/culture/art/20121104/18056587

悠遊芊陌：IB一條龍的迷思

剛剛完成了一個關於國際文憑課程（IB）的專題報道，一直以為自己當了五年IB家長，理應對這題目手到拿來，但經過與資深教師及學生不斷的討論與探索，發現自己對這學制原來一知半解，實在汗顏。尋根究柢期間，出現了一個令我相當困擾但始終抓不緊答案的問題：到底IB一條龍好不好？當日為小悠、小芊選校時，多少也因為學校提供由小學至中學至預科的IB一條龍課程，因為在幼稚園階段，為了入讀心儀學校而不斷面試甚至不斷搬家，實在令我們一家疲憊不堪。既然大家都說IB好，一條龍升學又免去了小學後又要撲學校的煩惱，由獲得學位那刻開始，我們一心以為女兒們的學業已走上康莊大道。

五年過去了，小悠升上了中學，小學階段的IB學習算不算獲益良多？這個問題不易回答。當然，她的校園生活很愉快，做人積極樂觀，對身邊的人與事，尤其是老弱貧困更是關愛有加，而且留心世界大事，世界和平真是她連續多年的生日願望，IB提倡的世界視野與關愛社群，令她獲益良多。然而作為一個典型的香港家長，對於她的學業成績難免有點擔心，中文固然是一塌胡塗，數學也實在不能算是滿意，相對於自己小時候的學能測驗（已成了歷史名詞、遠古產物），總是感到IB一代知識根基不夠紮實。走訪各校期間，有很資深的IB教師私下表示，他們十分推崇IB的DP預科課程，因課程要求甚高，的確是銜接名牌大學之途，但對於小學PYP與中學MYP課程，其實甚有保留，「MYP課程太淺易了，根本銜接不到DP。」他引用「布魯姆的學習層次」（Bloom's Taxonomy）解釋，指MYP課程一味着重對知識的分析、綜合和評價，但忽略了最基本對知識的認知和理解，以致出現「學生說話頭頭是道，似乎懂得很多，但一深入了解便發現知識層面其實很薄弱。」

這解釋了為甚麼很多直資名校情願一校兩制，在初中階段也堅持保留傳統課程，到預科時才容許學生轉攻DP。事實上，不少在鎂光燈下的IB尖子，其實都不是IB一條龍的學生，譬如IB名校李寶椿聯合世界書院，大部份學生是由傳統名校過檔；英基學校協會出產的IB狀元，中學時是修讀GCSE的，其轄下行IB一條龍的啟新書院，DP考試45分滿分中，平均分只有33.6分，較諸同屬英基而中學行GCSE的如南島中學（平均36.3分）、沙田學院（35.9分），成績似乎差了一截。同樣在中學時行MYP的滬江維多利亞學校，DP平均分33.8；啟思中學只有32分。但在學制以外，學校歷史是另一個指標。PYP其實是一個很新的課程，97年創辦至今不過短短15年，MYP的歷史只多三年，兩者相比起DP課程已有44年資歷，認受性當然不同。香港的四十五間IB學校中，只有八間開辦MYP課程，PYP與DP各有二十五間，而開辦PYP與MYP的學校，大部份的IB歷史只有數年，譬如上文提及的啟新書院及滬江維多利亞學校，均獲IB認證不過六年；啟思中學更新，只有短短三年；現時坊間很多以IB作招徠的學校，甚至連首屆IB畢業生也未有。

漢基國際學校暫時是唯一間行 MYP與DP一條龍而成績出類拔萃的學校。該校是香港的IB先驅，20年前已開辦DP課程，MYP也有10年歷史。觀乎學校由08年的平均分36分，攀升至今年的38分，有理由相信透過經驗的累積，可令學生的成績有所改進。這篇文章旨在鋪陳事實，所謂一條龍的迷思，正是因為我本人對IB接龍是否理想的升學之途，暫時也找不出肯定的答案。香港學制近年改了又改，不論是傳統學校的家長，還是IB學校的家長，似乎都迫於無奈要在子女的前途上賭一鋪。只能希望學校隨着時日改進，到小悠升讀預科時，她的IB學校已可躋身成績優異學校之列。

「媽咪，將來做工辛苦些，還是現在做功課辛苦些？」小悠今天早上六時多便起床，把同組同學們未有完成的功課補上，以免全組零分。「當然是做工辛苦十萬倍了。」「噢，那將來我真的不能工作，只能留在家無所事事了。」學校似乎也意識到問題所在，小悠升中後，MYP功課之多，令過慣PYP優哉悠哉學習生涯的她有點吃不消。為令PYP與MYP可與艱深的DP課程銜接，連帶在PYP階段的小芊，今年開始功課量也驟增。我又開始擔心，太多的功課，會否破壞了她們愉快學習的成長經歷呢？

作者：蕭煒春

sharons

http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/su ... t/20131004/18448679

IB課程反思

身邊不少朋友近日都在煩惱子女的升學問題，老友C的女兒剛升上K1，已在籌謀升小安排；女兒的泳友V明年升中，她與老友S的兒子都是屬於尷尬的「band1尾、band2頭」學生，就讀區內一線小學，本身成績中上，可是若參加大抽獎，卻沒有百分百獲派band1中學的把握。為免一不小心成為攪珠機制下的犧牲品，大家都在尋找主流學校以外的可能性。IB課程於是成為不少人的心水選擇之一。

「IB學校的課程如何？從小就讀主流課程的學生，轉讀IB中學會有困難嗎？」不少朋友為孩子選校，每每由最實際的問題，例如課程銜接、功課數量及將來出路等出發，這些都是重要的問題，但在選擇IB與否的問題上，是否可以再拉遠一點，由課程背後的理念和精神出發呢？

我並非升學專家，只能靠個人感受和經驗聊一聊。自從去年回歸家庭，有較多時間關顧女兒的學業，對IB、尤其是中學MYP課程算是增加了認識。MYP的數學、科學等主科，基本內容與DSE分別不大，但教學方法與評分準則大相逕庭。譬如教授幾何圖形，老師要求學生設計一幢由不同圖形組成的建築物，並解釋背後隱含的數學理念。科學堂則改以小組形式，自行製造一艘以火力推動的小船。MYP功課很多，小測次數也不少，但與主流學校相反，正因為測驗次數多，老師、學生都抱着今次失敗了，下次捲土重來的心態，壓力相對上就輕省一點了。

由主流學校走入IB的學生，最需要適應的應該是語文科。IB課程以英文為主，即使是數學、戲劇等學科，均需提交文字作業。英文科則主力教授英詩、文學分析等，這些都是本地學童較少接觸的範疇，若小朋友對英語有抗拒，轉修IB可能會有點吃力。至於中文呢，世事往往難以得一想二，連IB龍頭學校漢基國際的Bilingual Diploma比率，也跌至只有12%的新低，可想而知要同時掌握雙語的難度。

另一點要注意的是，IB講求全人發展，戲劇、體育、音樂等學科，全部都是重要科目。令人意外的是，八級鋼琴高手的音樂科成績可能平平無奇，因為技巧一般不佔分或只佔一個小比例，要學習的是不同地方的音樂風格和樂器演變；體育健將也會因為說不出跳高時應運用身上哪一組肌肉，而獲得難以置信的低分。

與小悠共同奮鬥一年，發覺IB課程並不如一些名校老師所言般顯淺，那何以由MYP升讀預科的學生，公開試成績普遍較在預科才轉讀IB的傳統學校遜色？首先當然是因為傳統學校報考IB的學生都經過精挑細選，學習路上早已經歷過不少鞭策。但修讀IB的目標，除了志在入讀一流大學外，更講究學生主動學習、關心社會、愛護他人的理念。兩者兼得固然最理想，但愉快學習有時無可避免等於要犧牲一點考試分數。這不直接關乎課程深淺，而是在於學校的定位，與及家長、學生的選擇。在真的要在好成績與保持學習興趣中二擇其一，你會如何選擇？

師資是另一個需特別留心的範疇。IB課程覆蓋範圍廣泛，學校在落實課程指引時彈性較大，所謂MYP課程較淺易，可能問題不是在課程本身，而是在於師資、程度相若的課程，經手老師作出不同的演繹，結果可以南轅北轍。好老師沒有識樣，只能透過親身接觸去感受對方的教學熱誠，直資學校陸續舉行的簡介會，家長們都不能躲懶了。

蕭煒春

Chaim

多謝分享！對IB認識又多了一點！

Artie

sharons 發表於 14-12-4 17:41
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/supplement/culture/art/20121104/18056587

悠遊芊陌：IB一條龍的迷思

I have read many of her articles. There are a lot of things that I do not agree with her.

jolalee

My son is also in a through train IB school, and he is only 4 years old right now so we have yet the actual experience of going through the primary program. IB-PYP's academic standard is also my greatest concern, although his school is one of the earliest school to switch to PYP in hk.

I read online many articles about the IB system, and I bought the book by 蕭煒春 as well (which is sitting next to my bed right now). I must say though, that IB is more a philosophy then an actual academic system. I believe that is the reason why many parents and teachers believe PYP & MYP is not solid (it's not supposed to be), and why, as many parents know, it used to depend on the how good each teacher is in executing the curriculum. Some schools that runs the full IB program realize that now and has added much accountibility to their primary cirriculum.

Take my son's school as an example, I know that in math they hired a specialist to look into the primary IB math program, and has set a very detailed bench marking system to ensure each child is progressing with solid mathematical skills while adhering to the IB philosophy. That should help keep all teachers and students in check so that no class falls behind. This system is new, so I know the school has been making improvements on the program continuously.

If one looks at, say, schools within a western city like Toronto, you'd still find schools that are considered good and those considered fair. You'd still find parents and students trying to get into the good ones, although they all run the same program directed by the Ontario Diploma and the Toronto board of education. Of course, the difference MAY not be as stark compared to HK with int'l schools all running different systems (or perhaps being in hk, they could be quite similar). At the end of the day, I believe we need to trust the school we enroll our child in more than the system they run. Like what Artie up there said, all Western educations in the end are quite similar.

deco99

Besides AIS, are there any other schools which run the American system?

sharons

其實我還在瞭解及嘗試多觀察兩者利弊，希望在小孩 G1/Y1 前找到答案，除了ESF更希望多瞭解其他IB學校，即使相同課程，不同學校可能都有不同效果

Chaim

ICS is also running american system

sharons

有基督教國際學校，請問又有冇天主教的國際學校呢？

lui

原帖由 sharons 於 14-12-30 發表
有基督教國際學校，請問又有冇天主教的國際學校呢？

I think only Anfield Primary school is a catholic international school.

sharons

Many thx

Shootastar

As far as I know, in Hong Kong there are only 3 schools running the American education Program (AP program). They are (1) American International School, (2) International Christian School and (3) Hong Kong International School.

According to the public examination results, AP and SAT, the students of Hong Kong International School have a better average score than the other 2.