IB Subjects at Meridian 22
In the IВ Diploma Programme the students choose six subjects - one from each group, and instead of a subect from group 6 they may study a second subject from groups 2 to 4. Non-IB students may obtain IB certificates in individual subjects.
Meridian 22 offers the following IB subjects in the Diploma Programme:
Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Language A: Literature- Bulgarian
Language A: literature in Bulgarian is designed for native or near native speakers.
Aims
The coursee has several aims: to introduce students to a range of texts from different periods, styles and genres; develop in them the ability to engage in close, detailed analysis of individual texts and make relevant connections; develop their powers of expression, both in oral and written communication; encourage students to recognize the importance of the contexts in which texts are written and received; encourage, through the study of texts, an appreciation of the different perspectives of people from other cultures, and how these perspectives construct meaning; encourage students to appreciate the formal, stylistic and aesthetic qualities of texts; promote in students an enjoyment of, and lifelong interest in, language and literature; develop in students an understanding of the techniques involved in literary criticism; develop the students’ ability to form independent literary judgments and to support those idea.
The course is available at SL and HL
English B is a language learning course for students who already have some knowledge in English. It focuses on acquiring and development language skills through listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Aims
The aim is to encourage students to improve both their oral and their written power of expression so that at the end of the course they are able to:
- Communicate clearly and effectively in a wide range of situations.
- Understand and use a wide range of vocabulary.
- Express their ideas and views and structure arguments in a clear, fluent and convincing way.
- Understand and analyse moderately complex written and spoken material.
- Assess subtleties of the language in a wide range of forms, styles and registers.
- Show interest in, and sensitivity to the cultures related to English language.
- Develop confidence in their ability to use the language and enjoyment of communicating in it.
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Language ab Initio - German and Spanish
The language ab initio course is a language acquisition course for students with little or no experience of the language. Students are expected to become familiar with aspects of the everyday life and culture. Aims The aims of the language ab initio course reflect those of group 2 but defined within the parameters of the language ab initio syllabus – to encourage students to improve both their oral and their written power of expression. SL Language ab initio is available at SL only.. Syllabus outline The language ab initio course is organized into three themes:
• Individual and society
• Leisure and work
• Urban and rural environment
Each theme has a list of topics that provide the students with opportunities to practise and explore the language as well as to develop intercultural understanding. Through the development of receptive, productive and interactive skills, students should be able to respond and interact appropriately in a defined range of everyday situations. Each language ab initio course has a language-specific syllabus that is used in conjunction with the guide.
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Group 3: Individuals and societies
Economics
The course in Economics is about dealing with scarcity, resource allocation and the methods and processes by which choices are made to satisfy human wants. In addition, it develops an awareness of development issues that face nations as they undergo the process of change. As a social science, economics uses scientific methodologies that include quantitative and qualitative elements.
Aims
In addition to the aims of the subjects in Group 3, the aims of the economics syllabus at SL and HL are to enable students to:
• develop an understanding of microeconomic and macroeconomic theories and concepts and their real-world application
• develop an appreciation of the impact on individuals and societies of economic interactions between nations
• develop an awareness of development issues facing nations as they undergo the process of change.
SL and HL
SL and HL students of economics are presented with a common syllabus, with an HL extension in some topics. The syllabus for both SL and HL students requires the development of certain skills and techniques, attributes and knowledge. The HL student is also required to acquire a further body of knowledge – including the ability to analyse, synthesize and evaluate that knowledge – and to develop quantitative skills in order to explain and analyse economic relationships. Having followed the economics course at SL or HL, students will be expected to do the following:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of specified content
2. Demonstrate application and analysis of knowledge and understanding
3. Demonstrate synthesis and evaluation
4. Select, use and apply a variety of appropriate skills and techniques.
Group4: Experimental sciences
Biology
IB Biology consists of topics such as anatomy and physiology of the human being, biochemistry, genetics, evolution and ecology. Aims The aim is to encourage students to improve their scientific knowledge so that at the end of the course they are able to: - demonstrate an understanding of scientific facts, concepts, techniques, terminology and methods of presenting collected information; - apply and use their knowledge of scientific facts, concepts, methods and techniques; - communicate effectively with scientific terminology and apply appropriate methods to present the information. SL and HL The course is available at SL and HL. There is a common syllabus at SL and HL – topics 1 to 6 and two options chosen by the students. HL has additional topics 7 to 11. The Group 4 Project: It is a collaborative activity where students from different Group 4 subjects work together on a scientific or technological topic, allowing for concepts and perceptions from across the disciplines to be shared.
Physics
Physics is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences, as it seeks to explain the universe itself from the very smallest particles to the vast distances between galaxies.
Despite the exciting and extraordinary development of ideas throughout the history of physics, observations remain essential to the very core of the subject. Models are developed to try to understand observations, and these themselves can become theories that attempt to explain the observations.
Through studying a science subject students should become aware of how scientists work and communicate with each other. While the scientific method may take on a wide variety of forms, the emphasis is on a practical approach. In addition, through the overarching theme of the “Nature of Science” this knowledge and skills will be put into the context of the way science and scientists work in the 21st century and the ethical debates and limitations of creative scientific endeavor.
The sciences are taught practically. Students have opportunities to design investigations, collect data, develop manipulative skills, analyse results, collaborate with peers and evaluate and communicate their findings. The investigations may be laboratory based or they may make use of simulations and databases. Students develop the skills to work independently on their own design, but also collegiately, including collaboration with schools in different regions, to mirror the way in which scientific research is conducted in the wider community.
Key features of the curriculum and assessment models
- Available at standard (SL) and higher levels (HL)
- The minimum prescribed number of hours is 150 for SL and 240 for HL
- Students are assessed both externally and internally
- Physics students at SL and HL undertake a common core syllabus and a common internal assessment (IA) scheme.
- While there are core skills and activities common to both SL and HL, students at HL are required to study some topics in greater depth, to study additional topics and to study extension material of a more demanding nature in the options. The distinction between SL and HL is one of breadth and depth.
- A practical approach to the course delivery is emphasised through the interdisciplinary group 4 project and a mixture of both short-term and long-term experiments and investigations.
Internal assessment accounts for 20% of the final assessment and this is assessed through a single individual investigation. This investigation may involve a hands-on approach, use of data-bases, modelling, simulation or a hybrid. Student work is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB.
Group 5: Mathematics
Mathematics SL and Mathematics HL
Because individual students have different needs, interests and abilities, there are four different courses in Group 5: Mathematics. Each course is designed to meet the needs of a particular group of students. Therefore, great care should be taken to select the course that is most appropriate for an individual student. At Meridian 22 we offer Mathematics SL: Analysis and approaches and Mathematics HL: Analysis and approaches.
Mathematics SL: Analysis and approaches
This course caters for students who already possess knowledge of basic mathematical concepts, and who are equipped with the skills needed to apply simple mathematical techniques correctly. The majority of these students will expect to need a sound mathematical background as they prepare for future studies in subjects such as chemistry, economics, psychology and business administration.
Mathematics HL: Analysis and approaches
This course caters for students with a good background in mathematics who are competent in a range of analytical and technical skills. The majority of these students will be expecting to include mathematics as a major component of their university studies, either as a subject in its own right or within courses such as physics, engineering and technology. Others may take this subject because they have a strong interest in mathematics and enjoy meeting its challenges and engaging with its problems.
Aims
The aims of all mathematics courses in group 5 are to enable students to:
• enjoy mathematics, and develop an appreciation of the elegance and power of mathematics
• develop an understanding of the principles and nature of mathematics
• communicate clearly and confidently in a variety of contexts
• develop logical, critical and creative thinking, and patience and persistence in problem-solving
• employ and refine their powers of abstraction and generalization
• apply and transfer skills to alternative situations, to other areas of knowledge and to future developments
• appreciate how developments in technology and mathematics have influenced each other
• appreciate the moral, social and ethical implications arising from the work of mathematicians and the applications of mathematics
• appreciate the international dimension in mathematics through an awareness of the universality of mathematics and its multicultural and historical perspectives
• appreciate the contribution of mathematics to other disciplines, and as a particular – area of knowledge in the TOK course.