It’s been a tricky year for IB Diploma Programme biology, chemistry and physics teachers. We’re out of practice when adopting new Subject Guides; the latest editions were released nine (rather than seven) years after the previous. We have had to teach two different courses to our current two cohorts. And I sense from my conversations with teachers that more and more schools combine Higher and Standard Level classes, making planning all the more difficult. Saying this, things are on track. In physics, while concluding things and preparing for examinations with my DP2 students, I have taught my ..read more

In the digital age, children are using technology on a daily basis. Research shows that children aged between 6 and 14 spend 2.77 hours in front of a screen per day, and more than 46% of them have an average screen time of more than 2 hours per day. Meanwhile, children aged 15-18 spend 7.5 hours per day in front of screens. In education, technology and screens can bring a number of benefits, including improved academic performance, greater creativity, and stronger collaborative learning. It’s why electronic devices have become so prevalent in schools around the world. Screen time also equips c ..read more

Pearson’s report into the future of qualifications and assessment, Building a 14-19 education system of choice, diversity and opportunity, highlighted a number of recommendations, including the need to ‘assess the right skills in the right way, enabling learners to highlight their strengths and successes’. So, with this in mind, what should education reform for a new generation look like? Meredith Reeve, Head of Next Generation Assessment at Pearson, shares our best current thinking and provides an overview of the progress we are making at Pearson to innovate learning and assessment to give ch ..read more

In the last twelve months, there has been a lot of debate around AI and assessment. Lots of educators have expressed fears that student use of generative AI such as ChatGPT would make cheating widespread. But when it comes to exams done in a closed room with unseen questions and no tools other than paper and pen, generative AI is less of a threat to assessment, whether at International GCSE or A level. In fact, when it comes to this type of exam, generative AI can be a powerful tool to help your students prepare for their exams. How to use AI for studying There are educational AI tools on the ..read more

Children thrive when they feel like part of a close-knit community. In a supportive environment, they’re better able to focus on studying and working well alongside their peers. However, sometimes it can be challenging to break down the barriers between different classes, ages, and friendship circles. Developing a community-building policy can help to bring students together. So, let’s take a look at the importance of building a strong school community, and explore the different strategies that school leaders and teachers can apply. Why is building a strong school community important? It goes ..read more

Global citizenship is the belief that people belong to a community beyond that of their home country. In today’s world, where people study, work, and move around on a regular basis, global citizenship is important to celebrate diversity, learn from other cultures, and shape a fairer world now and in the future. Currently, more than 90% of teachers think that global citizenship should be taught in schools – yet, only 1 in 5 teachers has the resources to do so effectively. Five ways to foster global citizenship in your classroom Fortunately, there are some simple, impactful activities to develop ..read more

Harriet, a student at Tanglin Trust School, Singapore is an Outstanding Pearson Learner Award winner, having received the highest mark in Asia for GCSE Art award for her Pearson Edexcel GCSE 2021/2022 results. Let’s hear Harriet’s story. Harriet, a neurodivergent learner, overcame significant academic challenges and emerged triumphant in her Pearson Edexcel GCSE 2021/2022 examinations. Her hard work and perseverance were rewarded when she was awarded the Highest in Asia for GCSE Fine Art and Outstanding Pearson Learner Award in 2022. Harriet is currently studying for her Pearson Edexcel A ..read more

International Women’s Day (IWD) on the 8th of March is just around the corner. Every year, it provides teachers with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements around the world, raise awareness about the barriers that many women still face, and share inspirational stories to encourage female students to pursue their ambitions. In particular, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field holds many promising pathways for women yet is dominated by men. So, this International Women’s Day, why not showcase female role models in STEM, and give all students positive r ..read more

From a young child grappling with the task of tying their shoelaces, to a NASA engineer coding for a space mission – frustration tolerance is a key skill for navigating challenges in all aspects of life. Let’s explore how frustration tolerance can help your students, why it’s essential in a learning environment, and how to build this skill at all ages. What is frustration tolerance? Frustration tolerance is not about suppressing or ignoring feelings of frustration, anger, or disappointment. Rather, it’s about recognising and processing these difficult emotions, and learning to deal with them i ..read more

Science provides learners with ways to understand the world in which they will grow up. What takes place in a science lesson is intended to be a smaller-scale version of what takes place in the scientific community worldwide. As an educator, your aim is to equip learners with a structured, repeatable way of thinking as they explore the world around them and try to explain their observations and experiences. This is the basis of scientific enquiry. I would argue that, in years 1 to 3, teaching these transferable enquiry skills is paramount, over and above the curriculum content. What is my just ..read more