FAQs to help with understanding the  PYP

This article will assist in demystifying the PYP. To begin the journey of understanding, some of the acronyms that are used when talking about the PYP will be explained.

What does PYP stand for?

PYP stands for Primary Years Programme. It is an international curriculum and way of teaching for children aged 3-12 years. It was formulated by the IBO (International Baccalaureate Organisation).

Why do we teach using the PYP?

The PYP focuses on the development of the whole child, and provides a framework that meets the academic, social, physical, emotional and cultural needs of the students. It is inquiry based and strives to achieve a deeper understanding of the learning that is taking place. The PYP is able to include many disciplines across the curriculum. Students take ownership of their learning and develop skills and attitudes to help prepare them for life in a global world as global citizens.

What is the Learner Profile and how important is it?

The Learner Profile is central to the work of the PYP. It is what we would like our students and sons as well as ourselves, to become. It is important for the Learner Profile to be displayed in every class, so that we can understand the qualities and values they develop. The Learner Profile is the IBO’s Mission Statement in practice – what the mission looks like – and therefore the centre of all that is PYP. In the PYP Learner Profile, students are:

Inquirers, Thinkers, Communicators, Risk-takers, Knowledgeable, Principled, Caring, Open-minded, Balanced and Reflective.

What is the PoI (Programme of Inquiry)?

The PoI (Programme of Inquiry) outlines all the Units of Inquiry (UoI) that each stage will learn about. At our school the PoI spans two-years and is planned across the stages of learning (Early Stage 1 = Kindergarten; Stage 1 = Years 1 & 2; Stage 2 = Years 3 & 4; Stage 3 = Years 5 & 6). It is designed to enable teachers to guide students through the five essential elements of learning:

– Understanding of concepts

– The acquisition of knowledge

– The mastering of skills

– The development of attitudes

– The decision to take responsible action.

The PoI is reviewed at the end of each year. Teachers plan collaboratively to develop the PoI. Each stage has six units which are planned with transdisciplinary themes in mind.

What is a transdisciplinary theme?

There are six transdisciplinary themes which are:

• Who we are

• Where we are in time and place

• How the world works

• How we express ourselves

• How we organise ourselves

• Sharing the planet.

These themes are about issues that have meaning for, and are important to, all of us.

What is a UoI (Unit of Inquiry)?

A Unit of Inquiry (UoI) is based on one of the six transdisciplinary themes which are outlined in the school’s (PoI). A UoI should:

• be a significant, relevant and challenging learning experience

• build on the prior knowledge of the students

• involve students in a range of learning activities

• require students to engage in positive action

• integrate diverse subject areas whenever meaningful and appropriate

• incorporate different assessment tools for the learning activities

• stimulate further inquiry. 

Through the UoIs, classrooms become places of inquiry through which students have the opportunity to  practice skills and build new knowledge. The duration of each UoI is approximately 6 weeks. They are continuously reviewed and show a development from one year to the next within the transdisciplinary theme as students progress through the school.

What are Concepts?

The Concepts are ‘Big Ideas’ and learning is designed around these ‘Big Ideas’. The PYP is structured around 8 key Concepts which power the inquiry.

The 8 Concepts are:

• Form – What is it like?

• Function – How does it work?

• Causation – Why is it like it is?

• Change – How is it changing?

• Connection – How is it connected to other things?

• Perspective – What are the points of view?

• Responsibility – What is our responsibility?

• Reflection – How do we know?

Teachers base their open-ended questions on these concepts.

How is the PYP assessed?

Assessment is important and is planned collaboratively by teachers with students being involved in setting goals as well as how these goals can achieve success. Teachers set clear learning intentions and success criteria which is shared. Assessment is carried out across the 6-week  learning period of a UoI – pre-assessment, formative assessment, summative assessment. Data that is gathered at these points in the UoI indicate progress of learning. Many methods are used to gather data of assessment.

Why should we encourage taking action?

Taking action is an important part of the UoI as it demonstrates to students the relevance and purpose of what they’ve been investigating. Action is about putting back into the community what you got out of it and helping to make the world a better place. Action can be as small as finding a book related to the UoI which occurs during the timeframe of the unit, or some time after learning has ceased in the classroom. Action can also occur many year after the learning has taken place.

These are just a few of the terms that you will be confronted with as you become increasingly familiar with the PYP. An evening will be held in the school Library on 25 February 2016 which will supplement this information and continue to develop learning and understanding of the PYP for you.

 

Ben Barrington-Higgs – Head of Campus