In the MYP framework, concepts represent the big ideas which form the heart of a connected curriculum. Known as KEY CONCEPTS these ideas are shared across subjects with the aim of unifying the student’s academic experience. Students are invited to see connections and alternative perspectives, as different subjects may refer to the same key concept, however, with different learning experiences students will experience new ways of thinking. Concepts are not just single words but rather complex ideas that shape the student experience (Barnard, 2016).
This semester the Year 8 English unit has been guided by the key concept IDENTITY. Students have been studying the film ‘Whale Rider’ with a focus on the main protagonist as she grapples with the pride she feels for her culture and her desire for tradition to adapt and recognise her value as a female leader. Recently students were asked to communicate their understanding of identity and how this key concept is universal, timeless and abstract. As we transition to online learning, a great resource to document student understanding is Flipgrid; a digital learning tool which allows students to post video responses to a ‘grid’ set up by their teacher. Whether at home or at school, students have been able to upload a flipgrid demonstrating their understanding as to how identity is considered a concept. The clips below are a sample from four students: Caelan Edghill, Millie Kingwill, Emily Bauer and Healey Young.
Barnard, S., 2020. Concept-Based Learning For Today’s Students | IB Community Blog. [online] Blogs.ibo.org. Available at: https://blogs.ibo.org/blog/2016/07/08/concept-based-learning-for-todays-students/
[Accessed 27 March 2020].
