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Maksud Alam is a dynamic young IB leader working at Swostishree Gurukul IB World School in Kathmandu, Nepal. His school is only the second in Nepal to offer the MYP and one of 7 schools in Nepal to offer the IB, so far. There are several others in the candidate phase right now.

We talked about the challenges and the rewards when building a programme from the ground floor in a new school, and in an area without many potential collaborators nearby. Maksud came to his IB coordinator position with experience as a PYP teacher so he understood the many ways an IB educator must rethink how they approach educating the students in their care. Our conversation touches on how he helps teachers and parents learn about the IB framework of education and the philosophy behind teaching and learning in the IB.

Its always fun to hear how IB educators around the world share a common language, common struggles, and common mission.   

Swostishree Gurukul IB World School

Maksud Alam on LinkedIn

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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Michael Dunn, known as the man behind Theoryofknowledge.net is our guest on this first episode of our 5th season. 

Michael grew the most popular TOK website on the internet, organically, from a wish to share what he was doing in his own classroom in Peru. It eventually became what it is today, a highly respected, and much used, resource for teachers around the world. You'll find teachers in all subjects using these materials to teach critical thinking no matter the age of their students. 

Michael's dream is to have these materials used outside the IB context because the lessons to be learned span every educational system and bring lifelong value to those who experience this kind of teaching and learning. 

I hope you are inspired by Michael's interview to explore the resources linked below. Many people subscribe to his free monthly newsletter and then checkout the mini-lesson samples to get ideas and to begin their TOK journey. Others become members to access the 20 mini-lessons posted each month and the classroom-ready TOK courses. 

Michael has now added options for the non-DP teacher in each mini-lesson. 

Main page

Membership 

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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Returning guest, Rezuan Chowdhury and the head of his school's governing board, Rifat Abedin, speak about becoming one of very few PYP schools in Bangladesh. They detail the rationale from the parent's perspective and the process from the PYP coordinator's perspective. We also learn about the training their teachers have undergone and the plans for expansion and even future MYP and DP goals for their very new school. 

Rezuan has been a regional leader even before his school's authorization. He has hosted free meet-ups with teachers from all over the region and even the world. Use his social links below to connect with him. He's been on the podcast 5 times now and is a great resource.

Links:

Rezuan's LinkedIn

Rezuan on Facebook

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
Twitter @MattersIB
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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)
To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

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While this is, technically, a quickcast to promote speakers and vendors at the #IBGC2025 in NOLA, its really an introduction to the IB North Americas' excellent initiative designed to encourage greater IB DP and CP participation. So, please use the overview shared by Phil Evans and the numerous links, to begin exploring how your school community could embrace a philosophy that all students deserve an IB education. 

Who wouldn't want a student-centered pedagogy with inquiry, intellectual rigor, research and concept driven learning and instruction as the overall system for their students and teachers?

We also introduce Phil's excellent podcast 'Education by Design'. Check out the links below or find it wherever you get your podcasts.

Links:

School-wide adoption resources

To contact Phil or Chad at IBO

To explore the research on school-wide adoption

Research on the value of IB education

Education by Design blog

Phil on LinkedIn

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
Twitter @MattersIB
IB Matters website
MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website
Donate to IB Matters

Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)
To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

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Continuing our series of quickcasts leading to the 2025 IB Global Conference in New Orleans, we feature Kognity, an IB partner organization. Chris Barres and Sian Steggles tell us about Kognity and their digital teaching and learning platform. 

Kognity will also host a session entitled, 'Digital Dilemma! What do we really want from digital resources?' at 2:00 on Wednesday, July 16th in the St. Charles and Lafayette rooms.  

Links:

Kognity.com

Free interactive trial of Kognity

RSVP to the Happy hour on Wednesday, July 16th celebrating their 10 year anniversary

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
Twitter @MattersIB
IB Matters website
MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website
Donate to IB Matters

Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)
To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

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This is the third of several 'Quickcasts' to introduce listeners to vendors and presenters at the 2025 IB Global conference in New Orleans. Here, we speak with Amnah Ejaz of Kialo Education, an online discussion platform. It's available free and will be featured in a booth at the upcoming IB Global conference in New Orleans. 

They are also hosting Michael Dunn of TOK.net who will be speaking at a session entitled: 'Critical thinking in a polarized world'. His session will be in the St. Charles & Lafayette rooms at 11:15 Thursday, July 17th.

If you are unable to attend, please check out the links below and/or look up the presentations after the conference on the IB website.

Links:

Kialo Education

Demo of Kialo at work

Theory of Knowledge.net

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
Twitter @MattersIB
IB Matters website
MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website
Donate to IB Matters

Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)
To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

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This is the second of several 'Quickcasts' to introduce listeners to vendors and presenters at the 2025 IB Global conference in New Orleans. This episode features Robert Kohnert, a coordinator of advanced programming in Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). Robert uses his experience in MPS to drill down into what is working and what could be improved to help students who take up the Diploma Programme. He has three steps to share with attendees: how to get students into the DP classes, how to encourage them to take the exams, and, of course, how to help them be successful in those exams. 

Robert will be presenting on Thursday, July 17th at 2:00 in Gallery 5 on the second floor.

If you are unable to attend and want to learn more about Robert's work, check out the slide deck available after the conference from IB, or reach out to me (link below) and I can share it with you.

Link:

The 2025 IBGC NOLA program

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
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IB Matters website
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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)
To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

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This is the first of several 'Quickcasts' to introduce listeners to vendors and presenters at the 2025 IB Global conference in New Orleans. This episode features Rachel Bodily, co-founder of Eblana Learning. We did a full podcast with Rita Bateson the other co-founder a few months ago. Check that out here.

Rachel gives a sneak peek at the session they are offering at the IBGC 2025 and talks about the mission of Eblana Learning. We also talk about the free upcoming Eblana session at the MNIB Summer Conference in August. 

If you are going to New Orleans this summer, be sure to stop by the Eblana booth to meet Rachel and Rita and then attend Rita's session on Wednesday, July 16th at 2:00 in Gallery 2.

Links:

Eblanalearning

Rita Bateson on LinkedIn

Rachel Bodily on LinkedIn

The 2025 IBGC NOLA program

The MNIB Summer conference registration page that includes the two-day Eblana sessions. There is limited space available.

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
Twitter @MattersIB
IB Matters website
MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website
Donate to IB Matters

Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)
To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

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Returning guest Novadene Miller is a skilled and motivational teacher. She draws from her experience earning a doctorate in Geography to bring multiple perspectives and resources to the classroom.  In this episode she shares how her Humanities students build cross-disciplinary skills like critical thinking, collaborative skills, and research skills while engaging in many different activities both in and out of the classroom. She also talks about the many resources that can be used beyond the typical books and internet searches so often relied upon.

Each example shows how the IB framework gives her students the space to inquire and be curious about the world around them and to give voice and value to their own ideas.

Novadene's links: LinkedIn

IB Blog posts: Teaching service as action , Teaching MYP Ind. & Soc. in a changing world

Article for the Independent Schools Network (ISN)

Additional ISN articles: Teaching skills applied beyond the classroom , Celebrating World Children's Day in your Classroom

Novadene's research: Achieving Sustainability of Natural Resources and obtaining Economic Goals. Tourism's Pandora's box

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
Twitter @MattersIB
IB Matters website
MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website
Donate to IB Matters

Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)
To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.

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Do you need to get your teachers official IB training that doesn't break the bank? Did you know that schools can request specific subjects and categories of training that come straight to you? In this episode, Casey Strecker of Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) and I go over the advantages of in-school workshops. We talk about how to order them, the responsibilities of the host school, and how to use them to get your staff the training that fits your school's needs. Note: The 'blended' model we talk about in the podcast is currently available only in the America's region but all regions support school-requested workshops in multiple formats. 

These are not just for individual schools. IB Schools Associations, neighboring schools, and whole school districts are using this option to create economical learning opportunities that fit their budgets and schedules.  

IB Workshops and Services (pdf 25-25 catalog) 

IBO Professional Development

MNIB Summer Conference

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
Twitter @MattersIB
IB Matters website
MN Association of IB World Schools (MNIB) website
Donate to IB Matters

Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

IB Matters T-shirts (and other MNIB clothing)
To appear on the podcast or if you would like to sponsor the podcast, please contact us at the email above.