Oakham’s Form 3 pupils recently participated in the launch event of the MYP Community project which is an integral part of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).
MYP projects encourage pupils to reflect on their learning and the outcomes of their work – key skills that prepare them for success in further study, the workplace and the community.
Pupils who complete the MYP in Year 3 are expected to participate in the community project and spend approximately 15 hours on developing their ideas and taking direct action. The community project provides an important opportunity for pupil ages 13-14 to collaborate and pursue service learning by engaging in practical explorations through a cycle of inquiry, action and reflection.
The MYP Community project launch focused the idea of sustainability building on Oakham’s successful Community days offered to pupils in Forms 1 and 2. The day began with an interactive exploration of the concept of sustainability centred around the United Nations definition of “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Following on from the initial explorations of the issues related to the concept of sustainability the pupils were able to reflect on their own strengths gathering ideas for possible community actions that promote sustainability within the School and beyond. The pupils will then plan and carry out their actions working in groups of 2 or 3 throughout the Summer term.
Lucy Breag who is the Head of Library and the MYP Community Project Coordinator observes: “An important part of community action is telling the world about what you are doing, about raising the profile of the cause you are helping or the problem you are trying to solve. The day, therefore, presented the pupils with ample opportunities to, first of all, consider the importance of Global issues such as sustainability but also to communicate their developing understanding of such issues through purposeful and creative communication”.
Dmitriy Ashton, IB MYP Coordinator, remarks: “The MYP Community project further develops the IB mission statement that “encourages students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners”. Seeing the transformation that the pupils go through when they realise they can make the impact in the world is an incredible thing to witness and I am looking forward to the development of our Community project throughout the Summer term”.
