What language do deaf people think in?

What language do deaf people think in? Can we think without language? If you had never heard language would you use it to articulate your thoughts? Do babies think in a language of sorts? If you can’t articulate your internal thoughts in linguistic form have you really thought them at all? Is language integral to our understanding of ourselves? Do we need our brain chatter to be formed into words, rather than feelings, in order to make sense of our emotions?

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Whisky IA?

IB students should always be on the lookout for suitable articles to complete their internal assessment. This alcohol related piece from the BBC website is ideal.

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Morrisons’s Results

I always try and make reference to businesses found in town. The students often find it easier to relate to and analyse. Morrisons is the the major supermarket in the town centre and last week they published promising results especially given the bleak economic times.

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The Economic Benefits of the Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup kicked off this morning with an impressive victory for the hosts but what are the economic benefits of hosting such an event?

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The New IB Economics Course (4)- Macroeconomics

The major changes to the macroeconomics course are as follows…

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The New IB Economics Course (3)- Microeconomics

The major changes/additions to the microeconomics course are as follows…

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The New IB Economics Course (2)

The Introduction

The new course has no formal introductory section but teachers are advised to spend time explaining why economics is a social science and introduce the concepts of scarcity and choice. The following four themes run through the course:

• The extent to which governments should intervene in the allocation of resources
• The threat to sustainability as a result of the current patterns of resource allocation
• The extent to which the goal of economic efficiency may conflict with the goal of equity
• The distinction between economic growth and economic development.

I aim to head on straight into the heart of micro and macro economics interweaving the above mentioned themes through the use of lots of real world examples.

The New IB Economics Course (1)

I am now a couple of days into teaching the new IB Economics spec and am excited about the challenges that lie ahead.

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Why can’t computers think?

With increasingly advanced computers being developed all the time Artificial Intelligence is no longer the reserve of science fiction novels. However, it has so far remained impossible to develop a computer which can fool humans into thinking it is also human. It’s thought processes have not lacked complexity but what is it that sets human thought apart from that of a computer?

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5.5 Location and TOK

It’s the start of the new academic year for many centres, and here’s a starter for teaching Unit 5.5 Location.  The USA has, for the 3rd year running, slipped in the annual ‘Global Competitiveness’ league table compiled by the World Economic Forum.  Which country is number 1?  Is Britain in the top 10?  Whilst there is no real surprise about Greece, which position has Hong Kong soared to?  Read more to find out…

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iPad2 in the classroom apps for teaching.

Some of the apps I am currently using either in the classroom or for developing lessons.

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iPad2 in the Classroom

Having recovered from teaching on the ESF Economics and then the Business and Management revision courses I am now focused on iPad2 in the classroom.

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The Multiplier

A very common topic in the short answer paper, at Higher Level, is the multiplier. If you have learnt a working example this is a question you should aim for full marks in. Make sure you understand why different values for the multiplier result in different changes to national income. I have attached a worksheet that includes a variety of past exam questions.

Multiplier_Revision_Worksheet.doc

Diagrams

As with all Economics qualifications the IBO places heavy emphasis on the effective use of diagrams. It is vital in the final two weeks before the exam that you take the time to learn precisely every digram outlined in the syllabus. You should be using diagrams in all three papers (two at standard level), the data response paper explicitly tests your understanding of them. In the data response paper part b) and c) in every question will begin “using a diagram…”. Given that there are 4 marks available for each part and you have three questions to answer 24 out of a possible 60 marks, in this paper, are directly available for effective use and understanding of diagrams.

Get drawing!

Reach Out - Case Study Toolkit (IBDP Business & Management 2011)

Our revision toolkit for the Reach Out case study for IBDP Business & Management in 2011 is still available.  Adam Dean, Head of Commerce & IT at Emirates International School - Jumeirah, has produced a comprehensive analysis of the Reach Out case, including a mock exam paper.  This resource can now be ordered from the tutor2u online store here:

Download sample pages from the Reach Out revision toolkit

Exam Tip #7

With the Easter holidays in full swing, May 2011 candidates are busy preparing for their final IB exams.  This week’s ‘top tip’ for the B&M exams is about improving evaluation skills…

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The 2012 London Olympic games - how to measure its success?

In this podcast, Prof. Sir Andrew Likierman of London Business School highlights how the success of the London 2012 Olympics should be measured and discusses the challenges of satisfying multiple stakeholders. 
A perfect case study to teach Organizational objectives and Stakeholder analysis.  Listen to the podcast here….

Exam Tip #6 – the DEAD and DEADER principles

With just a week to go before the Easter holidays (in this part of the world anyway), May 2011 candidates will be busy preparing for their final IB exams.  Here’s this week’s ‘top tip’ for the B&M exams courtesy of Brett Hillman and Fiona Charnley from Australia…

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Exam Tip #5 – Tackling the Paper 1 case study

With just over 2 weeks to go before the Easter holidays, May 2011 candidates will be busy preparing for their final IB exams.  Here’s this week’s ‘top tip’ for the B&M exams…

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The royal wedding and the explosion of new media options

The internet, mobile phone technology and social media, along with television will result in nearly 35% of the world’s population watching the royal wedding next month.  Even entrenched media giants such as CNN and BBC, not to mention cable channels such as Disney and several broadcasters are designing strategies to reach out to wider audience. 
Why so much of the world will stop for the royal wedding, surpassing any other previous notable event in the world?  The answer lies in the vivid display of new media options.  Read the article here ……

Model Dependent Reality???

Information designer Tom Wujec talks through three areas of the brain that help us understand words, images, feelings, connections. How can we best engage our brains to help us better understand big ideas? This is a great ‘Beginners Guide to Brain Function’.

click here for the link

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Exam Tips for upcoming B&M exams (Tip #4)

With less than 4 weeks to go before many students leave school for the Easter holidays and prepare for their final IB exams, each week I will be posting a ‘top tip’ for the B&M exams.

Here’s the fourth in the series…

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U6th IB Economists

I will, in just over a week’s time, be saying goodbye to my U6th IB Economists as they head off for their Easter break and preparation for their final papers. Over the coming days and weeks I will be making a regular series of postings to help students with this revision process.

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Reach Out - Quiz #3

IBDP Business and Management students will be busy preparing for the Paper 1 pre-release case study.  How well do you know Reach Out?  Take the 3rd in the series of the 10-question quiz to find out…

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Human Resources strategies to motivate employees in the retail industry - a case study of Metcash

Coles and Woolworths have always been the leading supermarket chains in Australia.  Of late, IGA is rising as a third force in the grocery retail business.  The success behind IGA is attributed to the Human Resource strategies of its parent company, Metcash.  Right from having a solid internal communications process to offering professional development opportunities for employees, Metcash has taken a number of initiatives to keep its staff motivated.  This case study offers practical insights into Herzberg’s motivational factors of job enrichment and job advancement.  Read the human resources strategies used by Metcash here …………

Exam Tips for upcoming B&M exams (Tip #3)

With 5 weeks to go before many students leave school for the Easter holidays and prepare for their final IB exams, each week I will be posting a ‘top tip’ for the B&M exams.

Here’s the third in the series…

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Exam Tips for upcoming B&M exams (Tip #2)

With 6 weeks to go before many students leave school for the Easter holidays and prepare for their final IB exams, each week I will be posting a ‘top tip’ for the B&M exams.  Here’s the second in the series…

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Model United Nations Development Programme 2011, Istanbul, Turkey

In early March, I was privileged to have been invited to the Koç School in Istanbul, Turkey.  The students I met were absolutely amazing – academic geniuses with real personalities and humbleness.  This blog is dedicated to them…

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Reach Out - Quiz 2

IBDP Business and Management students will be busy preparing for the Paper 1 pre-release case study.  How well do you know Reach Out?  Take the second in the series of the 10-question quiz to find out.  BTW, next month is Austism Awareness Month…

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Rebranding Starbucks

Starbucks is set to change its logo on its 40th anniversary this year.  However, thanks to the power of the internet, fans protested this change through blogs and tweets.  Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks has unveiled ambitious plans of selling alcohol as well as coffee apart from selling Starbucks-branded goods in supermarkets. 

Will Starbucks join the likes of Gap and Tropicana (who had to revert back to their original logo after consumer protests) or will Starbucks’ new logo become a force to be reckoned with in the emerging world of alcohol as well as the entrenched market of coffee?  Read the article here……….

Current Affairs Quiz 23

So where is the best place on the planet to live?  And why are the BRICs all over the news?  Take this week’s CAQ to find out…

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Exam Tips for upcoming B&M exams

With about 7 weeks to go before many students leave school for the Easter holidays and prepare for their final IB exams, each week I will be posting a ‘top tip’ for the B&M exams.

Here’s the first in the series…

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Reach Out - Quiz 1

IBDP Business and Management students will be busy preparing for the Paper 1 pre-release case study.  How well do you know Reach Out?  Take this 10-question quiz to find out…

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Current Affairs Quiz - first in the Year of the Rabbit

We’re back from the Chinese New Year holidays, so here’s the latest current affairs quiz…

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Current Affairs Quiz - first in the Year of the Rabbit

We’re back from the Chinese New Year holidays, so here’s the latest current affairs quiz…

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CAQ 19

China and India have been in the news again for all sorts of reasons… do you know why?  And which American bank has reported more losses, this time amounting to USD1.2bn (£769m)?  Take this week’s current affairs quiz to find out…

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Reach Out case study - BBC Four documentary

In preparing for the P1 pre-seen case study, I watched a brilliant 45-minutes BBC Four video with my students in class called “My Family and Autism”...

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Economic Freedom Index

Which country has topped this year’s Economic Freedom Index, claiming the crown to the world’s freest economy?  And which country came in bottom place?  Read on to find out…

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CAQ 18

Which US car maker has launched the ‘Volt’ to take on Toyota’s mighty Prius?  Which Wall Street bank - which remained profitble during the financial crisis - has reported an increase in profits of 47%?  And which internet website, with over 400 million hits each month, has just celebrated its 10th anniversary?  Take this week’s current affairs quiz to find out…

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5.4 Quality - starter videos

Used these two footy video clips as (light entertainment) starters for 5.4 Quality…

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CAQ 17

Which Chinese internet company has more customers than Facebook?  And what is the most popular overseas destination for French Bordeaux wine?  Having already launched the LePhone, Lenovo is about to launch a new gadget to take on the iPad – but what is it called?  Take this week’s CAQ to find out…

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2.3 Communication

Here’s an interesting article that can be used when teaching 2.3 Communication…

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Model-Dependent Realism

Model Dependent Realism is discussed by Stephen Hawking in ‘The Grand Design’. Model Dependent Realism is the notion that there is no one version of reality. Reality is not linear or one dimensional. It cannot be known or understood to be such.

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Current Affairs Quiz #16 – first one of 2011!

Forget the traditional textbook example of product life cycles – which game caused a total storm in 2010 with sales of $360m (£227,848,101) on its first day of release?  And who is the most successful female television entrepreneur of all time with her very own 24/7 cable network?  Take this week’s CAQ to find out…

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B&M Paper 1 - Reach Out

Useful videos from BBC Four and YouTube for the Reach Out case study (autism)...

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Teaching opportunities at Sha Tin College

Interested in teaching in the Humanities Faculty at an excellent international school in Hong Kong?  We have two vacancies for Business Education from August 2011.  There is also a post of responsibility in the Faculty for a Coordinator of Theory of Knowledge and IPSE.  Read on for more details…

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The power of Network Analysis

Right from companies wanting to improve sales and productivity, financial firms wishing to uncover fraud, police departments being able to predict crimes, to governments wanting to combat counterterrorism, NETWORK ANALYSIS is playing an increasingly useful role these days.  All this is made possible by untangling the social web and analysing social connections.  A multi-billion dollar endeavour, “Network Analysis” is now used to accurately map the spread of democracy and national security.  Read more here…..

‘For-profit’ organisations versus ‘Non-profit’ organisations - Who is efficient?

Non-profits are usually deemed to be run inefficiently by management experts and consultants.  Interestingly, this article looks at how ‘for-profit’ organizations must emulate and learn from ‘non-profit’ organizations.  Right from hiring and motivating employees to marketing.  Also the term ‘not-for-profit’ is deemed to sound better than the term ‘non-profit’.  I usually find supervising my students’ projects involving charities and non-profit organizations challenging, this article is indeed an eye-opener.  Read the article here.

The Australian grocery industry post-GFC

The two Australian supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths pursue almost identical marketing strategies. Their fresh food campaigns, price-wars and other marketing mix elements are so similar, that it is almost impossible to remember who had started it the first place.  Coles and Woolworths have reported robust growth post-GFC, mainly because consumers have become more frugal and in order to feed their growing demand for value, are prepared to shop across multiple banners and channels, are heavily reliant on price discounting and promotions. In their latest attempt, the two chains are looking at hormone-free beef and barn laid eggs as part of their product differentiation strategies, thus adding value to the consumer.  Read the article here.

Current Affairs Quiz #5

Which oil-rich country has its National Day on Thursday?  Which computer game raked in £135 million on its debut?  And which metal has hit yet another all-time high on the commodities market?  Take this week’s CAQ to find out…

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