In the dynamic landscape of education, a curriculum is never truly finished (Wong 2021, p.155). It is an ever-evolving framework designed to engage and empower students. In 2020, our educational journey at NIST International School embarked on a curriculum articulation project for Physical and Health Education (PHE). As a school with the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, we were fortunate to have the flexibility to tailor our curriculum to suit our students’ needs. This journey required a collaborative effort, highlighting Physical Education’s (PE) true essence. Learn more about our Sports Programmes.
Guided by the vision of enriching student learning experiences and promoting active living through physical activity, we initiated a multi-layered process to redefine our PHE curriculum. The journey began with a gathering of team leaders who worked closely with the director of teaching and learning. Drawing inspiration from various curricula sources, including Ontario, ACARA, and the National American Standards (SHAPE), we sought to develop a curriculum that met external standards and echoed our school’s unique context. Find out more about Learning at NIST.
Rooted in the principles of the IB framework, our PHE curriculum was crafted with a strong focus on purpose and intention. The process started with profound discussions among both Elementary and Secondary teams, where we embarked on a philosophical exploration of the question: Why PE at our school? We wanted to move away from the notion of keeping students ‘busy, happy, and good’ (Placek, 1983). This introspection provided the foundation for our curriculum pillars: Active Living, Movement Competence, and Personal and Social Attributes. These pillars were further broken down into sub-strands, carefully structured to ensure a cohesive and progressive learning journey from Early Years through to Year 11. Read more about the Academics.
Our curriculum articulation was more than a mere adaptation of existing standards. It was a collective endeavour that required careful consideration of our students’ needs and the context of our learning environment in Bangkok, Thailand. Driven by the notion of providing an education that genuinely elevated our students, we engaged in thoughtful discussions and reshaped components from various standards to align with our ethos, reflecting the unique identity of our school and learners. Explore our IB Diploma Programme in detail.
Comprehending the importance of progressive learning, we recognised that our curriculum should become more complex and comprehensive as students advance, avoiding repetitive or stagnant content. Our goal was to transform student learning experiences. We enthusiastically worked on creating a curriculum roadmap that encouraged ongoing development, always remembering that learning is a journey, not just a final stop (Lai & Lehman, 2016, p. 1).
Once the overarching articulation was established, our teams dived into the heart of curriculum planning. Recognising the value of clarity and coherence, we developed unit overviews that captured the essence of each unit in a snapshot format. These overviews provided direction, serving as touchstones for collaborative discussions. As we delved into the nitty-gritty of unit planning, the collaborative buzz in our workspace amplified. Creating and displaying these unit snapshots was an exciting outcome of our curriculum articulation. These snapshots engaged our students and opened a window for parents to gain further insight into their child’s learning experiences through PHE. Explore the range of Activities we offer.
Our curriculum articulation journey illustrates a team commitment to elevating student learning and promoting active living through physical activity. Guided by a collaborative spirit, we reimagined our curriculum to align with our school’s ethos and the principles of the IB framework. By infusing purpose and progression into each strand, we hope to nurture lifelong learners who embrace the joy of movement and the importance of holistic wellbeing. As our journey continues, we remain committed to shaping an ever-evolving PE curriculum, just like the growth it fosters in our students.