Assessment & Inquiry - Professional Development

On November 16th (Saturday), a joint Professional Development (PD) session for Preschool and Elementary School was held.

This PD session was optional, and 16 participants from Preschool and 7 from Elementary School attended. Ms. Darby, the IB PYP Coordinator at CGK, facilitated the session, which focused on "Assessment" and "Inquiry."

"Assessment" means "evaluation." However, in the context of children, assessment is not primarily about evaluating; it is a reflection and record of the children's current growth in order to understand their progress and provide further support. It's primary purpose is to allow us to tailor learning to meet the needs of our students and for them to reflect on their growth.

"Inquiry" means "the process of seeking knowledge" or "investigation."

In Japanese, there are two words—"探究" (tankyu) and "探求" (tankyu)—which have slightly different meanings.

For students, "inquiry-based learning" involves not only acquiring the knowledge and skills needed for inquiry but also learning about unknown matters through the inquiry process.

The format of the PD was not a lecture style but like in inquiry, one where teachers were asked to question, think, exchange ideas, and learn from each other. There was a lively exchange of opinions. Since there were differences in teachers’ knowledge and understanding of IB, it was also evident that teachers were teaching each other, reflecting teamwork and positive relationships.

One moment that stood out was when a teacher was asked about the purpose of conducting assessments for children. One teacher answered, "It’s really fun to see how far they’ve come at the end of the school year," which was very memorable.

CGK is a relatively new school—Preschool has been open for 9 years and Elementary School for just 2 years—but it has gathered passionate educators who are working hard every day to provide excellent education and care for the children.