Ateliers de préconférence

Présenté par : Dr. Allison Navas and Dr. Jillian Conry 

Do you want to help your DP teachers move beyond content coverage and teach for deeper conceptual understanding? Are unsure how to train them to do this, especially when many students learn in a second or third language? This workshop will provide coordinators and school leaders with a clear, five-session framework for short, high-impact professional development that builds teacher confidence in concept-based and language-integrated teaching. Drawing on current research in language learning and cognition, participants will explore how to guide teachers to plan for conceptual transfer, scaffold academic language and differentiate for multilingual students. Participants will leave with a ready-to-deliver professional development plan of five twenty-five-minute sessions with all supporting materials in English and Spanish. Templates, discussion prompts and customizable guides are included so the plan can be used straight away in any school context.

Sustainability—a multifaceted and contested concept—requires contextualization within education. Since the Brundtland Report (1987), definitions have evolved, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that integrates ecological and social justice as well as community engagement. This session presents a vision for education that nurtures planetary flourishing, urging educators to consider how learning environments can foster ways of being, relating, knowing and acting that contribute to a peaceful, just and sustainable future. Key questions include how IB education supports responsible, compassionate and active students, and how compassion, creativity and well-being can be cultivated at personal, relational and systemic levels. The session will explore how IB principles—such as international-mindedness, inquiry-based pedagogy and interdisciplinary curriculum—promote sustainable thinking and being. Sustainability is framed as an emergent property of ongoing deliberation and care, inviting dialogue and critical reflection within educational communities.

The session will combine presentations on research and definitions with interactive discussions about pedagogy, curriculum and school policy. Participants will engage in collaborative activities to design projects or initiatives that promote sustainable thinking and action, sharing and reflecting on their ideas.

Présenté par : Meg Chamberlin

Educators are at the forefront of building peace in a world reflecting division; we have a foundational impact on supporting the development of our students’ community building capacity, including empathy development and conflict resolution skills. This practical workshop will engage educators in restorative practice, with the aim of developing and sustaining inclusive educational communities that support individual and collective well-being. Examining current educational research and diverse case studies from a variety of international contexts, participants will gain the fundamental knowledge, skills and tools to guide the implementation of restorative practices with all members of their community, promoting relationship-building capacity, accountability and meaningful harm repair.

Restorative practice is a social science studying relationship and connection development; it promotes empathy, inclusive conflict resolution, accountability and community resilience. In schools that implement restorative practice, students report an improved school climate, sense of belonging and fair process alongside a reduction in behavioural challenges, repeated disciplinary issues and violence. This workshop will provide concrete tools, tangible skills and a clear pathway to implement restorative practice with all school stakeholders, strengthening trust and interconnectedness.

Présenté par : Dr. Cherissa Legendre Vitter

This session is designed for administrators, coordinators and teachers who serve as instructional leaders. The pre-conference session focuses on the facilitation of an environment where IB teachers are inspired and supported through coaching practices. Participants will explore cognitive coaching resources in concert with IB resources that may be used to elevate and support their IB teachers.

Participants will unpack states of mind techniques to reflect on equity in their current coaching practices and to rehearse new methods. By the end, participants will leverage cognitive coaching techniques to inspire IB teachers and help them realize their potential as lifelong learners. This pre-conference session employs rehearsal-style experiences. Participants are encouraged to use electronic devices to engage actively in developing professional practices and coaching plans while studying the data that informs individual practice. Participants will leave the workshop with an action plan to support teacher growth and successful professional environments.

Collaboration is more than a buzzword—it is a catalyst for meaningful student outcomes. This session will uncover the transformative power of collaborative practices and their direct impact on learning. Participants will explore the pivotal role of pedagogical leadership in designing systems and structures that foster intentional, shared planning. Through practical tools and adaptable frameworks, attendees will gain strategies to advance collaboration in schools where roles, time and expectations may feel fixed. This session will allow participants to consider team dynamics and ways to drive alignment of instructional goals and school improvement priorities to elevate collaboration from concept to practice. Join us to reimagine planning as a collective effort that drives student success and advances school missions.

Présenté par : Dr. Jennifer Chang Wathall

This workshop will explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, while emphasizing ethical frameworks that align with holistic learning approaches. Educators will discover how AI tools can enhance learning experiences with meaningful feedback, cultivate inclusive environments and foster deeper conceptual understanding. The session will investigate frameworks for integrating AI that promote student agency while maintaining IB philosophy. This workshop will address developing students’ digital literacy, critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills when interacting with AI systems, fostering thoughtful digital citizenship in an increasingly automated world. The main focus of the session will be to explore how AI complements rather than replaces expertise—emphasizing the importance of maintaining human-centred approaches while supporting inquiry-based learning, collaborative problem-solving and global citizenship. Through interactive discussions and case studies, educators will gain actionable insights for implementing AI-powered pedagogies that preserve academic integrity and prepare students for an AI-integrated future.

Présenté par : Dianne Blackburn 

This one-day IB pre-conference workshop is designed for coordinators and school leaders who wish to strengthen well-being across their school communities.

Rooted in IB philosophy and informed by current well-being research, the sessions explore how leadership teams can intentionally design and sustain cultures that prioritize well-being, belonging and collective efficacy for students, staff and families.

Through interactive activities, reflection, collaborative design, and analysis of programme development plans, participants will leave with actionable strategies and tools to embed well-being into their school’s structures, policies and daily practices—directly supporting programme development and evaluation visit goals.

Présenté par : Denise Michel and Edith van der Linden 

This session will explore the concept of appreciative inquiry—a strengths-based approach that focuses on discovering and building on what works well within a school community. Participants will learn how to use appreciative inquiry tools to drive positive change and foster a culture of collaboration. The session will also unpack why community agency is crucial. By empowering communities to take ownership of change, schools can build stronger, more resilient environments where every member plays a role in shaping the future. This workshop is designed for heads and IB coordinators and will provide practical insights and strategies to inspire lasting impact within school communities.

Présenté par : Omneya Mahmoud Hamdy

This full-day pre-conference workshop will help IB leaders explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used ethically to make teacher evaluation more human. Participants will experience practical examples of AI-generated feedback and analyse how technology can reduce administrative load while protecting trust, well-being and professional dialogue. Through collaborative inquiry, leaders will examine their own evaluation systems, identify where automation adds value, and define the boundaries that must remain personal and relational. They will practise leading growth-focused conversations that integrate AI insights with empathy and fairness, and develop a short, achievable plan to apply these practices in their schools. The workshop models IB professional learning standards of inquiry, reflection and collaboration, and develops IBEN educator capabilities in communication, critical thinking and ethical leadership. Participants will leave with tangible tools and principles to ensure AI strengthens, rather than replaces, human connection in IB World Schools.

Présenté par : Pilar Astorga 

This interactive workshop will explore practical strategies to create coherence and connection across the IB continuum. Participants will examine how to align curriculum, assessment and approaches to learning to strengthen transitions between the PYP, MYP and DP. Using real examples from whole-school development work at Raha International School in Abu Dhabi, this session will highlight collaborative planning structures, clear learning progressions and the intentional use of conceptual and skills-based design. Through guided discussion and hands-on activities, participants will identify simple ways to map vertical and horizontal alignment in their own schools. The workshop aims to help educators build one shared story of learning that supports student growth, confidence and agency across all programmes.

La collaboration est plus qu’une simple expression à la mode : c’est un moteur qui aide réellement les élèves à obtenir de meilleurs résultats. Cette session vous permettra de découvrir le pouvoir transformateur des pratiques collaboratives et leurs effets directs sur l’apprentissage. Vous explorerez le rôle central de la direction pédagogique dans la conception de systèmes et de structures qui favorisent une planification intentionnelle et partagée. Des outils pratiques et des cadres adaptables vous permettront d’acquérir des stratégies pour renforcer la collaboration dans des établissements où les rôles, le temps et les attentes peuvent parfois sembler figés. Cette session sera l’occasion d’examiner la dynamique d’équipe ainsi que les moyens de favoriser l’alignement des objectifs pédagogiques et des priorités en matière d’amélioration de l’établissement, afin de faire passer la collaboration du concept à la pratique. Rejoignez-nous pour faire de la planification un effort collectif qui stimule la réussite des élèves et soutient la mission de l’établissement.

La colaboración es más que una palabra de moda; es un catalizador de resultados significativos para el alumnado. Esta sesión pondrá de relieve el poder transformador de las prácticas de colaboración y su impacto directo en el aprendizaje. Quienes asistan explorarán el papel fundamental del liderazgo pedagógico en el diseño de sistemas y estructuras que fomenten una planificación intencionada y compartida. A través de herramientas prácticas y marcos adaptables, se darán estrategias para mejorar la colaboración en colegios donde las funciones, el tiempo y las expectativas pueden percibirse como rígidos. La sesión facilitará el análisis de dinámicas de equipo y de formas de promover la correspondencia entre los objetivos de enseñanza y las prioridades de mejora del colegio, para llevar la colaboración del concepto a la práctica. Únase a este taller para reimaginar la planificación como un esfuerzo colectivo que favorece el éxito del alumnado e impulsa la misión del colegio. 

Présenté par : Dr. David Bauzá-Capart

Le processus d’évaluation est toujours exigeant s’il n’est pas envisagé sous un angle constructif et comme un moyen de développer les meilleures pratiques au sein du personnel de l’établissement. Comment pourrions-nous construire un processus d’évaluation fondé sur l’autonomie des enseignants et leur capacité d’auto-réflexion, tout en tirant parti de l’expérience du personnel afin d’améliorer l’enseignement et l’apprentissage dans l’ensemble des programmes de l’IB ? Cette session guidera les participants dans la conception d’une méthode d’évaluation qui vise la progression des enseignants en leur conférant la responsabilité du processus.