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The MAGIC-T model is at the center of education at the Prem International School in northern Thailand. Creative director of the school, Alex Soulsby explains how using arts and culture as a focus works so well in an IB continuum school for all ages and IB Programmes. He shares how visiting arts and culture practitioners bring their perspectives directly into the curriculum and themselves take advantage of the school's resources available in return. There is resource exchange between the school and their visitors that works to strengthen both parties. 

• Alex' Website: www.alexsoulsby.com 
• Alex' Linkedin
• A Royal Society of the Arts article about AI and the importance of Arts Education here
• MAGIC-T and page 73  Peer reviewed article in the international journal of art & design education here

Alex' school: Prem International School, Chiang Mai Thailand

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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Rita Bateson has been part of MYP evolution since the days of the 'Next Chapter'. Today, she is still engaged in the Enhanced MYP and has researched how AI is going to influence the Approaches to Learning (ATLs) in all IB Programmes. Along with Rachel Bodily, they have co-founded Eblana Learning which is a central repository of resources, training, consultancies and both online and in-person courses.

Rita’s LinkedIn

Eblana Learning LinkedIn

Rita’s Substack

Rita will be in-person at the Minnesota Summer Conference on August 13-14, 2025 leading a session on Developing your school's AI identity - register for free here

Rita Bateson is a respected educator, author and mentor with over 20 years of experience in international education. She has held key roles in international education, including Senior Curriculum and Assessment Manager at IB Global Headquarters and founding Head of Secondary at Nord Anglia International School in Ireland. A renowned curriculum developer and textbook author, she is also a seasoned workshop leader and consultant. 

Rita currently serves as the Director of Education and co-founder of Eblana Learning, where she focuses on helping schools harness AI’s potential ethically and with confidence, drawing on her deep IB expertise and practical insights.

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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Our guest, Chaahat Dhall, from Fountainhead School in Surat, India has some great ways she engages her MYP students. From human libraries, to silent debates, to advisory circles and beyond, Chaahat shares some of the many resources she uses throughout the year. Chaahat was also one of Jiana Shah's MYP teachers, so you can learn from one of the teachers who influenced Jiana as she developed her skills as an MYP student.

The list of resources Chaahat has shared is too extensive for these notes, so I will include some here but the entire list can be found on our website.

Links from Chaahat: (More on our website)

• Human Library Publishing Partner
  A platform that encourages dialogue and understanding through personal storytelling and unique perspectives.
• Oxfam Hunger Banquet
• The Moral Machine
  A platform for exploring ethical dilemmas and decision-making through AI simulations.
• Use of Moral Machine
  A guide on integrating The Moral Machine into classroom discussions and activities.
• Information Is Beautiful - Current Events
  Visualizes current events and data in a compelling and accessible manner. An interactive event designed to raise awareness about global hunger and inequality through experiential learning.
• Ted Ed
  Helps educators create engaging lesson plans using TED-Ed content.
• Globalia
  A great resource for maps and visual representations of global topics.
• IQB (Inspiring Inquiry)
  Resources and tools to promote inquiry-based learning in classrooms.

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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Jiana Shah is back, two years after we first spoke. Then, she was a 14 year old 9th grader looking forward to the end of the MYP and the beginning of her Diploma Programme journey.
 
Jiana began in the PYP as a kindergartner and is now a Diploma Programme junior well on her way to completing her entire school experience as an IB student. This makes her an excellent person to talk to about the rollercoaster experience as she navigates the challenges and accomplishments of the IB student.

What I love about this conversation is how Jiana can follow the thread of experiences in the PYP and MYP as they continue to influence her activities today. Often, it is the non-curricular activities which have the greatest influence. We also spoke about all three areas of the DP core: the Theory of Knowledge, CAS, and the Extended Essay. Each has enriched her experience and she makes a good case for their placement as requirements of the Diploma.

We have already made plans to continue the conversation and follow Jiana as she completes the Diploma and makes her way to university. She is certainly a great example to other young people and serves as an inspiration to students and adults looking forward to a future with more IB students like Jiana in the world.

Here is a link to her earlier episode (S3:E9)

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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Smriti Sajjanhar from Genesis Global School shares her expertise in using Play-based Learning (PBL) with students in her PYP school. She shares great anecdotes telling how PBL has transformed the way students learn and even think about their learning. Teachers, students, and parents engage in open-ended explorations without preset objectives for the children. These sessions result in often surprising results - and that's the point. Kids learn things and go on adventures, inside and outside the classroom, that pay off in their subject area learning and in their sense of what they can accomplish when they get to pick their own play options.

Smriti's LinkedIn page

Links Smriti shared:

• https://humanperformance.ie/the-properties-of-play/
• https://caps.umich.edu/article/your-play-personality
• https://www.facebook.com/share/r/Y8cBGdNonUoUMhiq/?mibextid=W40cHY​

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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We are releasing several quick casts featuring presenters at the IB Global Conference in Washington D.C. July 25-28, 2024
 
Use the hashtag #IBGC2024 to see what's happening on social media

Session title: Optimizing the IB Personal Project with student-led mentorship 

     This session is on Saturday, July 27th at 2:00 p.m. in Chinatown M3

Our guest, Hoonseok Ho (a MNIB MYP Coordinator) summarizes his session.

Hoonseok:

• Speaks of the journey his school, Sejong Academy, has been on
• Ssummarizes the session
• Talks about what he's excited about in this session.
• Who is the target audience?
• What he hopes attendees walk out with.

Contact Hoonseok: [email protected] 

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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We are releasing several quick casts featuring presenters at the IB Global Conference in Washington D.C. July 25-28, 2024
 
Use the hashtag #IBGC2024 to see what's happening on social media

Session title: Humanizing Personalized Learning in the MYP. 

- This session is on Saturday, July 27th at 11:15 a.m. in Georgetown M1

Our guests, and MNIB teachers, Sami Peterson and Danielle Vanderlinde summarize the session.

Together, they:

• Briefly summarize the session
• Talks about what they're excited about in this session.
• Who is the target audience?
• What they hope attendees walk out with.

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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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We are releasing several quick casts featuring presenters at the IB Global Conference in Washington D.C. July 25-28, 2024
 
Use the hashtag #IBGC2024 to see what's happening on social media

Towards school-wide adoption: increasing access for all students. 

     This session is on Saturday, July 27th at 11:15 a.m. in Archives M4

Our guest, Melissa Cuculich, summarizes her session with her co presenter Renee Illhardt.

Melissa:

• Briefly summarizes the session
• Talks about what she's excited about in this session.
• Who is the target audience?
• What she hopes attendees walk out with.

Remy Lamon will be running the same session in French on Saturday, July 27th at 11:15 am in Howard M1 and  Ricardo Chiaradia is presenting in Spanish on Friday, July 26 at 3:45 p.m. in Gallaudet M1

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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Vikas Pahwa returns to talk about the many roles we play in our careers as educators. From teacher, mentor, colleague and leader to parent, learner, and counselor, we wear many hats throughout our lives.

Vikas shares much of what he has learned about finding balance and trying new ways to be effective both in and out of the classroom.

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Podcast: Education by Design with host Phil Evans

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Judy Imamudeen shares her experiences making connections with teachers around the world through her popular blog and educator book club. She also talks about the upcoming changes in the PYP and how to keep yourself healthy as you help young people reach their potential.
 
Links from Judy

• https://judyimamudeen.com/
• Six AI Techniques for PYPC
• The 2024-2025 Book Club Guidelines and Reading Schedule.

Recommended books

• The Art of Coaching Teams by Elena Aguilar. 
• Better Conversations by Jim Knight
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker 
• Conversations Worth Having by Cherri Torres.
• The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching: What Every K-12 Coach and School Leader Needs to Know by Diane Sweeney and Leanna S. Harris
• Worldwise Learning by Carla Marschall and Elizabeth Crawford. 

Judy's Summer Reading List:

• Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg
• The Creative Act  by Rick Rubin
• Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish
• Learnership by James Anderson

Email IB Matters: [email protected]
Twitter @MattersIB
IB Matters website
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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.