Support for Students: "The IB Student's Tool Box"
What is the IB Student Toolbox?
The IB student toolbox is a place to find tips and ideas that you can implement to help you be more productive and healthier in the IBDP programme.
Like any toolbox, it can be filled with great tools but if you never try them or never use them they are of little good.
Each of you is a unique learner and you need to try different tools to see what works best for you, and it may not be what works best for your best friend. In addition to the links below, you can also ask your subject teachers for their tips and suggestions.
1. Tools for Physical and Mental Well Being
You need to find time to sleep, eat, exercise and socialize. Finding balance (Learner Profile) is very important for your both your mental and physical well-being.
A. Tools for Physical Well Being
There is an Activity component of your CAS programme so you will be getting some form of exercise throughout your two years in the IBDP. That is a good thing. Try to make it a regular commitment .
Some in the IBDP will try to study for hours at a time and this isn’t a good thing. You should take short exercise breaks as you study. Scans of the brain after exercise show more activity than before exercise, so a brisk walk, some jumping-jacks or a quick run can actually help you in the studying process.
I recommend studying for no more than one hour at a time and then taking a 10-15 minute break. You could walk for 5 – 10 minutes and then catch up with your social media for 5 minutes or so. Be sure to stick to a short break in order to maintain productivity. Pulling away for too long may stop any forward momentum, but working too long gives you a false sense of productivity. You feel as if you are accomplishing work but you aren’t being efficient at it.
Be sure to share your exercise ideas with your classmates. You might be doing something that will help them (or vice versa).
Why do I think better after exercise?
Printable 15-minute Desk Workout
B. Tools for Mental Well-Being
We all experience stress from time to time and in varying degrees. In recent years, stress seems to have become a bad word. Students try to avoid stressful situations and parents worry about their children being under stress, but the simple fact is that life can be stressful. If you don’t experience stress you will not have the opportunity to develop coping skills and this can lead to problems after you leave high school. Of course, too much stress isn’t a good thing, but luckily, stress can be managed. So what can you do to deal with stress and support your mental well-being? Here are some tools, articles and suggestions. You can also see me or any of our school counselors to find support.
Academic Pressure: 5 tips from an expert on coping with teen stress
Do some coloring! – Coloring is a great way to reduce stress!
Mindfulness for Teens – Mindfulness is now of the list of Approaches to Teaching and Learning for IB students and teachers.
2. Tools for Studying and Learning
Know your learning style – take this test and then read about what the results mean.
Reading Strategies for Textbooks– This is a long document written for teachers to use with their students but you should be able to use the table of contents to find good strategies to help yourself.
Study Guides and Strategies – a site with many excellent links for students that covers topics from studying at home or in groups through learning in the classroom. This site is quickly translated into a variety of languages.
Active Versus Passive Textbook Readers – this is a quick look at the difference between actively and passively reading texts. Active readers will retain much more information and learn more effectively than passive readers.
Reading Skills and Strategies for Students – a great resource with links to help you with your reading and note-taking from texts
Cornell Notes – This is a great note-taking method that might work well in some of your classes. It will certainly work well at university!
3. Tools for Time Management
Some of you are busier than others. Some of you do much more extra-curricular activity than your classmates. No matter what, however, you need to manage your time. If you leave things until the last minute or you aren’t organized, you will not produce work that represents your ability. Instead, you will produce work that is rushed and not at a level expected for an IB Diploma student. Anyonecan reach their full potential in the IBDP as long as they understand the big picture and take steps to plan for success. This means working effectively, reflectively and in a focused and determined way. Working smarter, not harder, might be a guiding phrase for you as an IBDP student.
Academic Success Center – Oregon State University. This website is excellent for many areas, not just time management. You can find time management tools, however, on this site. Check out the links.
Some wise advice can be found here.
4. Tools for Academic Research
effective-citing-and-referencing-en
From our own U.P.E.I Library: Library Resources–Research 101 (1)
Academic Honesty in the Diploma Programme: Academic honesty in the Diploma Programme
Picking your topic is research
Understanding Scholarly Sources