The recent IB Fall Job-Alike event held at the Canadian International School of Hefei was a resounding success, bringing together over 80 educators from nine cities across China. With an impressive array of workshops and discussions, participants had the chance to explore new strategies, share best practices, and build connections with fellow teachers. This gathering not only highlighted the strength of our community but also underscored the shared commitment to innovation and excellence in IB education.

Attendees had an extensive selection of workshops tailored to Early Years (EY), Primary Years Program (PYP), Middle Years Program (MYP), and Diploma Program (DP) levels. Each workshop was thoughtfully designed to address the unique needs of different grade levels and subjects, providing practical tools and inspiring approaches to enrich classroom experiences.

In the Early Years sessions, Mika Allicer from CISH led a hands-on workshop on Loose Parts Play, encouraging creativity and exploration with open-ended materials. Dean Fletes’s session on Achieving the 5 to 1 Ratio provided strategies for building positive interactions, a key focus in early childhood education. Other EY/PYP highlights included Research for Littles by Victoria Quercia, which introduced ways to foster inquiry and curiosity in young learners, and Phonemic Fun by Karen Shantz, a workshop that sparked ideas for enhancing early literacy skills as well as Learning through games Sue MacDonald and Erin Wang.  Vanessa Pfoehler from Vanke School Pudong brought a global perspective with Global Citizens in Action: Embedding the SDGs in Your POI, exploring how to incorporate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into the curriculum.

A standout workshop applicable to all IB levels, How Do I Use Learning Walls Co-designed with and for Students' Success?, led by Teresa Maria Caldas da Silva Araújo from EtonHouse International School, provided educators with innovative ways to visually track student progress and encourage engagement. Another cross-program session, So You Want to Be an Administrator? by Chris Llewellyn, offered valuable insights for teachers aspiring to take on leadership roles.  As well as Transforming Summatives through Technology by Heather Exum using the PICRAT formula to transform summatives for 21st-century skills and engagement.

The Job-Alike also featured discussion groups that tackled a range of timely topics. Adam Fell’s session on How to Roll Out New Initiatives to Teachers provided guidance on effective implementation strategies, while Sean Miller’s discussion on Algorithmic & AI Literacy highlighted the growing importance of digital competencies in the classroom. Chris Marionni led a well-received conversation on EAL Implementation in Schools, focusing on best practices for supporting English language learners.

For those working in the MYP and DP, sessions on specific subject challenges were invaluable. Ryan Kiefer facilitated Challenges in MYP Individuals and Society, exploring ways to make social studies more engaging, and Heather Exum’s discussion on Challenges in MYP Math and Science allowed teachers to brainstorm strategies to support student success in these subjects. In the DP stream, Geoffrey Kivisha and Togrul Guliyev led focused discussions on Challenges in DP Science and Challenges in DP Maths, respectively, addressing the complexities of preparing students for the rigor of DP assessments.

The energy and enthusiasm at the Job-Alike event were evident, as educators shared their experiences, learned from one another, and left with renewed inspiration. The variety of workshops and discussions ensured that every attendee could find something valuable and relevant to their teaching practice. The event also fostered a sense of community, with educators across China connecting and collaborating on shared goals.

This year’s Job-Alike reminded us of the power of professional learning communities to drive innovation and improve educational outcomes. With so many exciting ideas shared, we’re confident that the impact of this event will resonate in classrooms across China, sparking positive change and enhanced learning experiences for IB students.

We’re grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to making the Fall Job-Alike such a meaningful event. Here’s to continued collaboration, growth, and success in the year ahead!