UWC-USAJune 2009

BackgroundIn 1970s a school-based subject, Marine Biology,

was developed at UWC, Atlantic College, Wales which later evolved into the current group 4 course, Environmental Systems (EVS)

Lack of contemporary issues in Geography and EVS courses led to development of the pilot course Ecosystems and Societies (Eco.Soc.) late 1990s

At a similar time IB was exploring the nature of ‘transdisciplinary’ courses through collaboration with Harvard Project Zero

Eco.Soc. considered a good model for a transdisciplinary subject as it requires both scientific understanding and appreciation of socio-political perspectives

EVS left out of group 4 (2003-2006) review while Eco.Soc in pilot

Following success of Eco.Soc. pilot it was considered to be a realistic replacement and evolution of EVS under new name Environmental systems and societies (ES&S).

What does transdisciplinary mean for the IB diploma?Offers student greater flexibilityOpportunity for innovative curriculum

developmentRepresents a more realistic way of seeing the

world

What are the differences?General:Guides look different due to rebranding,

reordering and restructuringInclusion of the learner profileNature of subject includes sections on

international dimension, TOK and links with MYP

Action verbs replaced by command terms with some amendments to provide commonality across diploma

EVS ES&SGroup 4 model

Prohibition with BiologyGroup 4 project

mandatory

Core and Options10 aims and 5 objectives

characterized by the scientific method

Own model as transdisciplinary, group ¾

No prohibition with Biology

Group 4 project is NOT mandatory

Only core, no options8 aims and 7 objectives

of which scientific method is a small part

EVS ES&S

Core 80 hoursOption A 15 hours

2nd Option 15 hoursIA 40 hours

Total 150 hours

Core 120 hours

IA 30 hours

Total 150 hours

EVS ES &S

Paper 1 Multiple choice

Paper 2 Section A: data based question, short questions

Section B: one structured extended response

question from choice of three

Paper 3 several short question from 2 options

Paper 1 Both short answer and data-based questions

Paper 2 Section A Case study

Section B two structured

extended question from choice

of four

EVS ES&S

Paper 1 20%Paper 2 32%Paper 3 24%IA 24%

Paper 1 30%Paper 2 50%

IA 20%

Online Curriculum Centre (OCC)Useful forum to share ideas and ask

questions with other teachers and obtain useful IB publications

http://occ.ibo.org

Need a username and password from IB coordinator

Teacher Support Materials (TSM)

A TSM for the new IA criteria was released on the OCC in May 2008.

Examples from this will be looked at more closely in the IA session.

IA Criteria for ESS are different from the EVS and different from the new criteria for the other Group 4 science courses

Examiners WE NEED YOU……..

See www.ibo.org for examining opportunitiesOnline script and IA moderation training

sessions will run late 2009/early 2010

PracticalitiesLast exams for EVS in May 2009First exams for ES&S in May 2010