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What is the School Based Learning Pathway?: A school certified programme permitting students to graduate with an AIS High School Diploma.
School Based subjects are designed for students who are particularly interested in developing rapid language acquisition and vocational skills through a challenging yet practical curriculum. This Pathway is a holistic applied learning route that encourages students to design a pathway which best supports their goals and future direction using school subjects.
School Based Subject:
What does the AIS Diploma give me?
An AIS High School Diploma is typically used for outlining your achievement and areas of study to employers, technical colleges, and bridging courses into universities. Your AIS High School Certificate is evidence you have graduated from High School and all students receive this upon fulfilling the requirements for graduation (see ‘Requirements for Graduation’).
What kind of post-secondary study options are available with the AIS High School Diploma?*
Technical Colleges (TAFE in Australia) and bridging courses for university are good options with the AIS High School Certificate. Universities are unlikely to be a direct entry option in most countries, as usually you might have to do a university bridging course to get into university. Generally, should you wish for a direct entry into Higher Education, you will likely need to pass 4-5 IB subjects as part of your IB Certificate (Pathway 2), or complete the full IB diploma (Pathway 3), to enter more academic or prestigious universities. For entry into technical colleges, bridging courses, or universities, it is essential to look up the requirements of the individual institution concerned. *Note Well that university entry requirements change often and so this information is a general guide only. We strongly recommend that you contact the institutions you are interested directly to know exactly what the entry requirments are. Please speak to our School Counselor or Senior School Coordinator for guidance for advice.
Who can help me decide on the programme or combination of pathways best for me?
Your Diploma Programme Coordinator (DPC), School Counselor, Learning Support Coordinator, and Senior School Coordinator are happy to assist you with working through choosing the right pathway for you. Don’t forget that you need to involve your parents in the decision making process, as they will probably be the ones supporting you now and beyond school.
Generally speaking, School Based subjects are designed for Academic English Language Acquisition, Vocational Learning, and/or Preparation for Technical Colleges/Pre-university.
Integrated: School Based Subjects are often integrated with each other and differentiated to facilitate individual success and development. For example, Academic English and Senior Humanities might combine to investigate a unit on the development of technology and focus on producing a product based on alternative energy.
Collaborative: Learning experiences typically involve group projects to maximize opportunities for the development of language, team work, and social skills.
Challenging and Outcome Based: Students and teachers negotiate goals based on the Australian Curriculum and and the appropriate level of the individual student.
Inquiry Based: Students and Teachers negotiate projects and collaboratively construct knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking techniques. Students regularly reflect on their learning growth and evaluate their progress. The program design is to challenge students to question established ideas and systems, as well as develop practical creative/innovative ways forward.
Assessment: A variety of formative and summative assessment techniques are frequently applied. Criteria for success is regularly negotiated and clarified for individual and group contexts. Folio based reflections and evaluations constitute evidence for the formative and summative assessment that takes place and is reported on.
IB Learner Profile: The program is designed for and ideal for developing all the characteristics of the IB Learner Profile.
Vocational Focus: The learning aims to be practical with applications to the real world in order to make meaningful connections for language learners and provide authentic skills for the world we live in.
Compliments the IB Diploma Programme: Students who study School Based Subjects are encouraged to study IB Diploma subjects as part of their IB Certificate where appropriate.