About this Course

Course Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Education (International Baccalaureate) has been designed to provide you with a deep understanding of the philosophy and concepts underlying the International Baccalaureate®, and the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in particular.

The Graduate Certificate in Education (International Baccalaureate) is delivered by the University of Melbourne, and is hosted by Asian International College, Singapore.

This course is recognised by the International Baccalaureate® for the IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning (previously the Teacher Award Scheme).

This postgraduate qualification is also an articulation pathway to a Master of Education from the University of Melbourne.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills to perform competently as an IB teacher;
  
• Comprehend the intellectual, social and psychological aspects of their IB work with learners, and synthesise theory and practice;
  
• Understand the key concepts of IB curriculum policy formation and IB curriculum development;
  
• Evaluate and use constructive criticism of their own work and of the institutions in which they teach;
  
• Develop theoretical understandings of the International Baccalaureate®; and
  
• Demonstrate an understanding of curriculum delivery modes of the IB as a model for professional learning.
  

Target Audience

• Teachers who are new to the IB curriculum;
  
• Teachers who are looking for a qualification that will assist their chances of employment in an IB school;
  
• Teachers who are currently working in an IB school and are keen to advance their career teaching the IB;
  
• Teachers who wish to undertake further coursework study with a Master of Education from the University of Melbourne after graduation.
  

Delivery & Duration

The course consist of 4 subjects delivered sequentially on a part-time basis over a 12 month period, with each subject delivered over approximately 3 months with a short break between each subject to ensure adequate time for content delivery, engagement in learning tasks, reflection and the preparation of assessment items.

The course includes over 70 hours of face-to-face contact. Each subject will be delivered by staff from the University of Melbourne at Asian International College in Singapore.

Each subject is scheduled as an intensive delivery, minimising the time that the participants are out of their classroom and away from schools. The schedule is also designed to allow participants from around the region to travel to Singapore to complete each intensive, and then return home to complete the assessment tasks.

Entry Requirements

An applicant may be eligible for entry into the Graduate Certificate in Education (International Baccalaureate) if the applicant has:

• Completed an approved degree and an approved teaching qualification; OR
  
• Completed an approved four-year teaching degree; OR
  
• Completed an approved equivalent qualification which is recognised by the Graduate School as evidence of adequate preparation for the course and has a record of professional or teaching experience in a field and at a level acceptable to the Graduate School; and
  
• Satisfies the University of Melbourne’s requirements for proficiency in the English Language.
  

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose most recent qualifications were gained in the medium of instruction and assessment in a language other than English must provide documentary evidence that, within the previous 24 months, they have obtained a minimum overall band score of 7.0 in IELTS, with written 7.0 and no band less than 6.0.

For more information, please see: http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/int/apply/grad/english-req.html

Programme Structure

Subject 1: IB Primary Years Programme Introduced

This subject introduces participants to the Primary Years Programme (PYP), in the International Baccalaureate, as a philosophy and framework to promote teaching and learning and international-mindedness. It examines the essential elements of the PYP curriculum, trans-disciplinary themes and the written, taught and assessment components that underpin the programme. Participants will focus on the pedagogy of inquiry, exploring how this emphasis has shaped the PYP curriculum, as well as developing a theoretical understanding of how students learn in the Primary Years Programme and how the Learner Profile is central to the curriculum. The collaborative planning process of the PYP, necessary PYP standards and the relationship between assessment and learning will also be explored.

Subject 2: Assessment and Reporting (IB)

This subject investigates the integral role of assessment and reporting for learning and teaching. Participants will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the principles of assessment, focussing on assessment as a tool to promote student learning and methods of evaluation that contribute to the on-going effectiveness of the teaching programme. Topics covered include formative and summative assessment, and strategies for reporting student learning and their role in monitoring the IB learner profile. The use of portfolios, practical work, projects, and oral work will be addressed, including student-led conferences, reports, the student exhibition and parent/teacher/student conferencing as strategies to assess and report on student learning.

Subject 3: Concept Driven Curriculum (IB)

Participants will explore how learners construct meaning including how understanding is acquired and what differentiates it from knowledge. Strategies for supporting the development of higher order thinking skills including the role of student directed concept-driven inquiry, the art of inquiring, and building communities of learners will be investigated. There will be a strong theoretical and practical emphasis on the development and implementation of a trans-disciplinary curriculum that creates a balance between the acquisition of essential knowledge and skills, and the search for meaning and understanding.

Subject 4: IB Primary Years Programme Advanced

In this subject, participants will further develop their understanding of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) gained from IB Primary Years Programme introduced through both theoretical and practical components. Participants will explore definitions of international-mindedness and will articulate their understandings of the behaviour associated with the learner profile and the developing child. They will examine trans-disciplinary themes and the relationships between concept-driven curriculum, skills, knowledge, attitudes and action, how the concept of the learner constructing meaning is at the core of the PYP curriculum, and how the standards and practices of the PYP can applied in different ways.

Assessment

Each subject typically includes up to 5,000 words of assessment, which may include essays, portfolios, reports, and other items documenting your progress through each subject.

Award

Participants who successfully complete the course will be awarded with Graduate Certificate in Education (International Baccalaureate) from the University of Melbourne. The qualification is the same as that awarded to on campus students of the University.

Graduates from this course may be eligible to apply for entry to the Master of Education from the University of Melbourne.

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