Mock Exams and eCoursework Uploads

1. IB teachers are readying at the starting gate for the sprint towards the goal line. The IB Mock Exams for Y2 starts on Tuesday, February 28th and runs the week till Friday, March, 3rd. Here is the schedule for these days:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tLzv-2QzAvxYWrdEZV-R_wAcrhLmEFkumiDYh79cHXI

Check your tab for the students listed. There should not be any errors, but if there are, let me know ASAP so corrections can be made. A few students will have conflicts, but this is accounted for on the Friday. I do not anticipate having any teacher invigilate an exam as you will continue to have classes G9-G11.  If you are needed, I will inform you early enough and hope to ensure that times will only be during your prep(s). Have your particular Mock Exam printed and checked over for errors or issues to my office by February 21st.

I do realize that the schedule for the Mock Exams is not a perfect analogue of the IB Exam experience. This may be better addressed next year. However, for 2017, craft an IB Mock that provides the most realistic and authentic experience for the student to gauge where they are and need to be going over the remaining weeks. If you have any questions, do see me before February 21st so that there is sufficient time to address any issues. (May 2016 Exams should arrive on January 24th. I will upload to the P-Server as soon as they arrive. Be sure to look at your OCC subject for any updates as well.) 

2. Although eCoursework has been mentioned in Dragon’s Lair since August of 2016, the official eCoursework upload site on IBIS just opened for submission on January 15th. Except for 2 classes (that SSIS does not offer), all officially graded IBDP assignments are to be uploaded on the eCoursework section of IBIS. Every IB teacher has an IBIS login. When you click on eCoursework, you have only one option – eCoursework for that course and level. When you click that, you are taken to a new window. I will be meeting with teachers individually to ensure that there is comfort in using the new eCoursework system. The eCoursework folder is available on Google Drive:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwPDNWShT_P1NkpVZUl1dVBTcmc

Submission deadline for the upload of EEs, TOK essays, Group 1 and 2 written assignments/tasks is 15 March, 2017.

Deadline for entry of internal assessment marks, criteria marks and predicted grades is 10 April, 2017.

Submission deadline for the upload of internal assessment sample work is 20 April, 2017.

Visual arts exhibition submission deadline is 20 April, 2017.

Submission deadline for the upload of group 6 externally assessed coursework components is 30 April, 2017.

Visual arts process portfolio and comparative study submission is 30 April, 2017.

CAS status – deadline date for CAS status submission on IBIS is 01 June, 2017.

(Next year, we are exploring expanding Managebac for all IB courses as this LMS has a direct link to IBIS eCoursework with all the forms and abilities to export directly to the IB system in March/April.) 

IBIS computers and Vietnam wifi connection are not to be trusted. This is why March 1st is a suitable internal SSIS upload deadline (except for the two outliers listed in the IA calendar). March and April will already be consumed by IB review. No student is to be allowed this time for any work to be completed. If this situation does exist, inform me as soon as possible.

These dates are for IBIS submission. After these dates, IBO will not accept any upload. We will make it through this new IBO requirement with a few hiccups, but make it through we shall.

3. An update concerning TOK here at SSIS – The current Y1 students will be the first IB cohort to no longer have Theory of Knowledge count toward their GPA. This change will better allow TOK to operate in the core more in alignment with IB expectations. The course will now be graded in PowerSchool as Pass/Fail.

4. In order to have our Grade 10 students gain a better understanding of what the IB Programme and AP courses are, 20th-24th February, students will visit certain classes. You may involve the students as you wish. If you have something completely unengaging during this time, please do let me know as soon as possible. Here is the roster of teachers and student lists:

IB/AP Visits Roster
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1o_Vk9QArd99d2E5EFxC6a7sV5qamKXKvAjnn3OdGytI

IB/AP Classes Roster
https://drive.google.com/open?id=11ionMJ6YzXBgsc4j3Z5GvbmFbaG90htccmCrnRluR20