Blog | OWIS - Singapore

Programme to be offered to OWIS students from August 2019.

SINGAPORE, August 20, 2019 - One World International School (OWIS), one of the fastest growing international schools in Singapore, today announced the rollout of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) from this August 2019. With the authorisation by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), OWIS will be offering the IB DP to 24 students in Grade 11 for the 2019 - 2020 academic year.

In a traditional classroom, students are encouraged to retain information through memorisation. It's a passive method of learning that may help a student achieve an adequate test score. But information gained in this manner is often forgotten, because the child who 'learned' it had no active role in gaining the knowledge - other than that of leaning over a tablet or copying words from a whiteboard. There is little-to-no inquiry-led learning in this type of classroom.

Parents relocating to a new country face many critical decisions when it comes to choosing what's best for their families. One of their primary concerns is selecting the right educational setting for their children. If they're planning on returning to their country of origin, they usually look for an institution that offers national curricula, with the goal of helping their child make a smooth transition back to a home-country school. Whatever part of the world they hail from, most parents want a school that provides world-class education. They can find it at an IB school.

At One World International School, we make use of inquiry-based learning, which means we encourage our students to be active participants in the classroom, where they are encouraged to ask questions and explore topics that interest them.

In other words, we let children's natural curiosity be the engine that drives their ability to acquire knowledge. Teachers don't merely deliver information to his or her class and expect children to react to it. Instead they help students explore the subject in relation to the real world.

Children are naturally curious. Soaking up knowledge, and constantly wondering about and marveling at the world that surrounds them. At OWIS, we believe in providing opportunities for learning at home that encourage discipline, self-management, and exploration. The traditional days of the dreaded 'homework' have now evolved into a much more pleasant and valuable experience for the student, as well as their parents. 

From smartphones to computers to video games, today’s youth are growing up in a world dominated by screens and multi-tasking. Learning how to focus on the moment at hand – rather than anticipating the future and jumping from one idea to the next – can be a huge challenge. Mindfulness teacher Jack Kornfield shares that “when we get too caught up in the busy-ness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.”

Art class is so much more than just learning to draw a shapely line and studying the position of colours on the colour wheel, especially for young, developing minds. For many children, art is a tool that fosters critical-thinking skills and aids in problem-solving. Exploration, experimentation and reasoning all play huge roles in a quality art curriculum, and all are skills that benefit children as they grow and progress. This is the premise behind the Arts Programme at One World International School.

At One World International School, we provide children with a well-rounded, rigorous education that prepares them for the future. Our inquiry-based approach empowers students to take ownership of their learning so that it becomes a lifelong pursuit. 

We prepare them to become adaptable so they can successfully navigate the challenges of changing worldviews and emerging technologies. Our curricula differ markedly from the more rigid, or knowledge-based, approach to learning. Here are some of the primary differences between the two frameworks.

As young children emerge from infancy and toddlerhood, they are ready to foster a sense of independence as they explore the world around them. It is during this inquisitive, exciting stage that children blossom into lifelong learners who enjoy and value their educational opportunities.

Recognising this essential time in a child’s development, parents will want to enrol their child in a school that understands the fundamental concepts that need to be included in any early childhood education programme. At One World International School, we believe that our youngest learners should be immersed in an interactive, play-based environment.