Service, as a subset of action, has always been a shared value of the IB community. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
Through responsible action, tightly connected with sustained inquiry and critical reflection, young people can develop the kinds of attributes described by the learner profile that are essential for success in future academic pursuits and for adult life.
Service in the MYP at Al Zahra College provides the opportunity for students to build authentic connections between what they learn in the classroom and what they encounter in the community. When connected to classroom learning, the experience of service offers opportunities to apply concepts, skills and knowledge. Through service as action, they become “actors” in the “real world” beyond school.
At least once in each MYP year, students at Al Zahra College will have a service component to their classroom learning. Through this, students may be involved in:
- feeling more empathy towards others
- becoming more aware of their own strengths and areas for growth
- undertake challenges that develop new skills
- discuss, evaluate and plan student-initiated activities
- persevere in action
- work collaboratively with others
- develop international-mindedness through global engagement, multilingualism and intercultural understanding
- consider the ethical implications of their actions.
These learning outcomes identify the substance of students’ self-reflection on service as action. All of these learning outcomes are closely associated with IB learner profile attributes and ATL skills. Through their participation in service, students can become more confident, self-regulated learners.
