How are you preparing your children for the future? Is it all about AI? Creative thinking? STEAM education? At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Jack Ma, Founder of tech giant Alibaba, stated that the world needs to move from a knowledge-based system of education to one that focuses on soft skills. "We have to teach something unique that which machine can never catch up with us," declares Ma. These are skills that machines can never learn such as, "Believing, Independent Thinking, Teamwork and Care for Others." In an increasingly automated world, these are the characteristics which will distinguish our humanity from machines.
Here at WISS, a full continuum International Baccalaureate World School, the future of education is rooted in empathy or as Ma characterizes, "care for others." Alfonso Orisini, Founding Director at WISS states, "WISS is a school where children and young people face true intellectual rigour- not just memorization, but really deep inquiry, solving real world problems, and using their creativity as well as their design thinking and the scientific method. More than ever the IB embodies our best hopes for educating an astute global citizenry-and deep understanding of other languages and cultures is a cornerstone to global education.”
As the first four programme full IB continuum school in Shanghai, we are proud to lead the path in IB education and the next generation of leaders who will use their intelligence and knowledge to create a better and more peaceful world. WISS administrators are experienced professionals in the IB and have years of experience training teachers on how to deliver the IB effectively in their respective schools.
Dr. Greg Brunton, Director of WISS
Dr. Brunton has been an IB educator for 13 years. His area of expertise and research is centered on the collaboration of teachers in a multicultural setting. As the recipient of the IB’s Jeff Thompson Research Award, Dr. Brunton has presented at the IB Asia Pacific conference. He is also an adjunct professor in Education Leadership at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania teaching courses on Teacher Supervision and Data-based Decision Making.
Ms. Fiona Morris, Early Years Principal
Ms. Morris has been a part of the WISS family as an Early Years teacher from the start of the school. She started as a PYP teacher and has held leadership position at WISS and at another IB school in Asia. Ms. Morris is an IB Workshop Leader, training teachers in the philosophy and practices of the IB. Ms. Morris is also an IB School Visit Team Member responsible for program evaluation and evaluation visits of IB schools.
Ms. Doreen Garrigan, Primary School Principal
Ms. Doreen Garrigan's connection to the IB began in the area of curriculum as a PYP Coordinator for 6 years prior to moving into the Principal role. She also has the parent perspective as her daughters have both been in the IB programme. Ms. Garrigan is an IB Workshop Leader and has delivered workshops throughout Asia and Australia. Ms. Garrigan is also an IB School Visit Team Member responsible for program evaluation and evaluation visits of IB schools. She was recently invited to The Hague, headquarters of the IB, to participate in a “design meeting for the Programme Standards and Practices Revision Project” in order to add commentary and suggestions on how the IB standards and practices can be incorporated into school culture, learning, and teaching.
Mr. Myles D'Airelle, Secondary School Principal
Mr. D'Airelle has taught in IB schools for 12 years and has experience in all 4 IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP, CP). He is an IB Examiner, a highly valued position in the IB, responsible for marking externally assessed work or to moderate or review teachers' original markings. Examiners are upheld to high standards of professional integrity.
Students at WISS benefit from being in a progressive, future oriented environment where teachers care about their entire wellbeing. As an IB learning community, we strive to influence our next generation to utilize their heart and mind to make lasting changes to the people and spaces around them. As great thinkers have pointed out, in the new age of work and innovation, we need to teach children not just to solve problems, but to look around them and see the problems that others have not yet noticed.
Visit our website at www.wiss.cn or email us at admissions@wiss.cn to find out how you can be a part of our progressive community of IB learners.
Western International School Shanghai, see listing here.
[All images via WISS]
