During this semester, Pao School has arranged various professional development training activities for its teachers. These will allow teachers to take a much-needed break from their busy teaching schedules to focus upon their own learning and improvement. Alongside regular weekly professional training sessions, each campus has organized special lectures by experts and scholars from various fields, while inviting the participation of external teachers. Respected professionals such as Dr. Eeqbal Hassim, Ms. Chris Green, and other transnational education experts, have been invited to share their knowledge and insights. Pao School believes that by continuously enhancing teachers' skills and expanding their perspectives, students will be better exposed to the latest teaching methods, and through these gain a better understanding of our ever-evolving world.
Job-A-Like
The first offline ‘Job-A-Like’ event in East China in three years was held on December 2nd at the Songjiang Campus, with 210 teachers from 47 schools participating. The event included 13 workshops in 10 subject groups, including Business Management, Chemistry, Chinese, English, Computer Science, Economics, ESS, Maths, Philosophy and TOK.
Job-A-Like is an event held by DPC Network East China to help people better understand the IB at all levels. It brings together teachers from IB schools to exchange teaching methods, ideas, and resources. Attendees can also discuss the specific challenges they face in their region and collaborate on strategies and solutions.
The DPC Network East China is a well-respected organization comprising IB Diploma Coordinators who meet semi-annually to organize events such as JALS, IB workshops, and guest speaker sessions. These initiatives are designed to foster the IB vision and philosophy by facilitating the exchange of exemplary methodologies among educational institutions.
At the beginning of the event, James Lyng, High School Principal, and Christopher Warren, Director of the IB Programme, gave a warm welcome to all teachers present in the auditorium. This was followed by discussions among the teachers, grouped by subject. Christopher Warren expressed his pride in the culture of YK Pao School, where numerous teachers generously dedicate their time to coordinating exchange sessions and promoting the sharing of best practices. This is made possible by their wide array of experiences and insightful perspectives, he explained.
JAL Topics
Business Mangement - Assessment in the New Syllabus
Chemistry - Internal Assessment Discussion
Chinese Language and Literature - Best Practice
Computer Science - IA
Economics - EdTech and AI Applications
Economics - Sharing Assessment Practices
English Language and Literature - Moderation
ESS - IA Moderation
Maths HL/SL - Approaches to P3
Maths HL/SL - Enriching Lessons with the DP Core
Maths HL/SL - IA Exploration
Philosophy - Entmoot Symposium
TOK - Curriculum Integration
The success of the event is not just derived from the wealth of information and resources presented but still more by the relationships built and the inspiration the wider community.
—— Christopher Warren
Director of the IB Programme
Ultimate Freebie Masterclass
comes to Pao School
The Hongqiao Campus welcomed a special group of guests on December 5th, when 39 PE teachers from 17 schools attended a Frisbee workshop led by Mr. Rowan McDonnell, one of the best Ultimate Player of his generation. He has twice been judged Most Valuable Player in the most competitive league in the world: the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL). He has been a USA National team player since 2018.
The masterclass aims to offer PE teachers and school team coaches an opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge. By participating in the masterclass, they were able to refine their coaching techniques, create more effective lesson plans, and elevate their coaching practices to a higher level.
During the masterclass, Rowan emphasized the significance of mastering the basics in order to progress in ultimate frisbee. He highlighted the importance of skills such as backhand, sidearm, and catching, suggesting that these fundamental techniques should be the initial focus. He then presented a series of progressions which included throwing and catching, cutting into open spaces, flow cutting, and engaging in competitive exercises. He also showcased challenging throws and answered questions about coaching school-level players. Rowan stressed that rather than strategies and rules it is fun and passion that are the keys to motivating students to keep playing.
Philibert Vandersleyen, Middle School Head of PE, commented that hosting a pro-athlete for a masterclass is an exceptional occasion, made possible by the tremendous support of the school. The warm welcome extended by the staff and guards of YKPS left all attendees delighted.
Professional Development Day
On December 1st, our school's halls buzzed with an air of curiosity and collaboration as teachers from various departments gathered for a dynamic professional development session.
In High School the day was thoughtfully planned to address the diverse needs of our educational community, featuring a wide range of sessions that covered everything from the practical intricacies of CPOMS (safeguarding and wellbeing solution for schools) to the reflective practices of Tutor self-reflection indicators, Language Awareness, and even a rich and intellectually stimulating deep dive into the Extended Essay for the IB. Department heads and heads of house engaged with the analytical aspects of CEM Data and ManageBac.
The day was not only a testament to our commitment to continuous improvement but also a beacon of inspiration, igniting a collective ambition to elevate our pedagogical approach.
—— Alex Aristizabal
High School Director of Teaching and Learning
The highlight of the day was the pioneering cross-curricular exercise that saw teachers across different subjects unite with a singular vision: to weave global citizenship and intercultural learning into the very fabric of High School curriculum. This initiative marked the beginning of an ambitious journey to embed intercultural understanding across all disciplines, fostering a learning environment where global perspectives are not just taught but lived. Complementing this was the enchanting exploration of Chinese Culture, where teachers immersed themselves in the vibrant tapestry of destinations, customs, and traditional attire, enriching our collective appreciation of the cultural diversity that shapes our world. The Chinese Culture Exploration included topics such as: Sanxindui and the Creation Of History; Compliments and Taboos in Chinese Culture; Trip Advisor: Natural Beauty of China; Influential Writers and Literary Works in China; Ancient Chinese Costume Introduction; Literary Utopias East And West-Tao Yuanming and Thomas More; and Advanced Chinese Language Class. As the day drew to a close, it was evident that the seeds of curricular integration had been sown, promising to blossom into educational experiences that Pao School students would carry with them as they step confidently onto the global stage.
Middle School held teaching and learning sessions as well as curriculm discussion led by Head of Departments to promote effective teaching practices, ensuring curriculum coherence, and fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment.
Primary School's professional development day included three key phases: learning, team collaboration and wellness.
——Diana Zuo
Primary Director of Teaching and Learning
Primary School’s PD day kicked off with learning about intercultural competence from Chris Green, an international educational expert from Australia. In a transnational world, cultures very rarely exist and function in isolation. New ways of thinking about culture are required. Teachers dug deep in small group discussions and cooperative activities centred around the following essential questions:
How does our own intercultural competence (or lack thereof) affect the teams we work with?
How does our level of intercultural competence affect the way we interact with colleagues? with students?
How can leaders understand their own level of intercultural competence and apply it to leadership in their school?
During the afternoon, teachers focused on collaboration in their subject planning teams to begin to embed their learning around intercultural competence as they planned ahead for upcoming units and student learning.
The focus on wellness was necessary to finish off the day, as teachers participated in a variety of team-building activities and had time and space for social conversations. Professional Development Days are vital to ensure that teachers remain lifelong learners and enable the development of Pao School students. When teachers learn, students learn.
