Mission
The school mission is to lead students to become lifelong learners who respect diversity, are globally responsible citizens and develop their skills to their full potential.

Facilities
Pan American School of Bahia is located in a residential district of Salvador. The school has a 20,000 square meter campus with an elementary complex and a middle/high school building. Facilities include 33 air-conditioned classrooms, an art center, 2 computer labs, 2 science labs, a library/media center, 2 soccer fields, a covered gym, a semi-olympic swimming pool, a canteen, an outdoor basketball court and several playgrounds.

Curriculum
The school has a college preparatory curriculum that is based on American standards and teaching methods and integrates this curriculum with the Brazilian curriculum. Pan American offers graduates a Brazilian or an American diploma. The school offers high school students a number of Advanced Placement courses. The school curriculum is online.

Extracurricular Activities
Pan American has a range of activities that include student council, community service, basketball, National Honor Society, Model United Nations, yearbook, soccer, yearbook, art, volleyball, music, drama, ecology club and more.

Technology
Pan American School takes an integrated approach to the use of technology. Their technology plan is available on the school website. If you happen to be working on building a technology program or updating your curriculum, you might want to take a look at that page. The school has two computer labs.

Professional Development
The school offers teachers professional development activities including an on-site Masters Degree program in cooperation with the University of Alabama.

Employment
Pan American has 55 teachers with the majority coming from Brazil and the United States. The school website has no information about requirements, salaries or benefits. The website does list job openings. Teachers who are interested in working at Pan American can send their CV to info@escolapanamericana.com.

About Salvador
Salvador is located on the northeast coast of Brazil and has a population of approximately 2.7 million. It is the capital of the state of Bahia and is known for its relaxed environment, seafood-based cuisine and music. The city also has many historical monuments from the colonial period and was given World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1985. In addition to the local markets, Salvador has a number of American-style malls.

Salavador has a tropical rainforest climate with no real dry season. Temperatures are consistently in the mid-30s.

Tourism is an important sector of the city’s economy and is the second most popular tourist spot in the country after Rio de Janeiro. The city has 80km of beaches and popular activities include fishing, surfing, sailing and diving.

edX

The availability and variety of online courses seems to get better weekly. Just over the last few days I’ve come across the Harvard/MIT collaboration called edX. This organization is has been developed by Harvard and MI and will function to improve education at both campuses, but it is a separate entity. EdX will use an open-source learning platform. According to the edX website, these online classes will be free and open to anyone around the world who has access to the internet. Students who complete a course will be eligible for a certificate of completion although this certificate will not have the name of Harvard or MIT on it. While a complete list of available classes is not available at this time, the universities plan on offering a range of courses “across disciplines.”

Coursera

Coursera is another online education resource put together by two Stanford computer science professors. They have 16 million dollars in venture capital and Princeton, Stanford, the University of Michigan, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Pennsylvania are working with them as their academic partners. The Pedagogy page of the Coursera website says that research shows that a hybrid method of instruction where face-to-face learning is combined with online learning is more effective than either method use alone. I’ll discuss these issues in the next post.

Courses are interactive: students have use of interactive exercises and even the videos give students the opportunity to answer questions during the course of the video. Many assignments use peer assessment. The only problem that I see for me is that some courses require books that are a bit of a problem to obtain when living overseas.

Coursera already has classes online unlike edX. Computer and technology courses have already started. Classes in the Social Sciences and Humanities will be starting in June. For instance, Introduction to Sociology starts June 11 and lasts six weeks. There are no prerequisites for the class and all reading materials are open source. I’ve already signed up for this course to see what it’s like. Check out the website’s list of courses to see what is being offered and when.

Next post I’ll discuss some of the educational issues revolving around online education courses.

Mission
The school mission is to help students reach their potential, know and love God, further the mission of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and promote justice and human dignity for all people.

image: Alessio Damato

Curriculum
The school uses an integrated American curriculum. Graduates receive an American high school diploma. Students in Grades 11 and 12 may take the IB Diploma Programme. The school also offers Advanced Placement classes. Marymount has an ESL program for students who do not speak English as their first language.

Extracurricular Activities
Marymount offers a wide range of activities including Model United Nations, National Honor Society, music, drama, dance, cheerleading, soccer, swimming, basketball, homework club, foreign languages and more. The school is a member of the DoDDS Mediterranean League; varsity teams compete with other American and international schools in the region.

Technology
Marymount has state-of-the-art computer labs and is a wireless campus. Many classrooms have interactive whiteboards. Computer classes are part of the regular curriculum, and technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. Teachers receive laptops from the school for professional and personal use.

Professional Development
No information is available on the school’s PD program.

Employment
Almost 40% of the teaching staff has been at the school for more than 10 years; this looks like a place where teachers are valued and well taken care of. The school has more than 100 teachers and administrators. Job opportunities are listed online. Marymount wants teachers who have international school experience, are native English speakers, are committed to the school’s Catholic identity, and are dynamic teachers. IB Diploma experience is preferred for Secondary School teachers. The school accepts applications throughout the year. Interested teachers should send a cover letter, a CV, two letters of recommendations and a copy of their teaching certificate. These should be sent to recruitment@marymountrome.org. No information is available on salaries and benefits.

image: Yaros

Facilities
The school is located in the center of Cracow. Among the facilities are an ICT room, a science lab, a music room, an art room, a library and a lunch room. The school gym, swimming pool and playground as located close to the school in a separate facility.

Curriculum
BISC uses the English National Curriculum for students from Foundation Stage through Year 11. Classes through Year 6 are taught in self-contained classrooms. Older students are taught by specialists. Secondary students take the International General Certificate in Secondary Education (IGCSE) or the General Certificate in Secondary Education (GCSE). Following this, the IB Diploma Programme is offered for students in Years 12 and 13. Teachers’ lesson plans are available for downloading on the school website. BISC offers EAL classes for students who need help with English.

Extracurricular Activities
BISC offers a range of activities that include roller-blading, ice-skating, ballroom dancing, chess club, computer club, football, board games, music, drama and more.

Technology
Information Communication Technology is taught as part of the regular curriculum to students from the primary years up through the IB Diploma Programme. The school has an Interactive Whiteboard Room.

Professional Development
No information is available on professional development opportunities for teachers.

Employment
Teachers come from the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium, Australia and Poland. The school website doesn’t list salaries, benefits or expectations for teachers. Teachers that are interested in working at the school can send a letter of application, a CV and a photo to Dr. Stanislaw Kwiecinski, Head of School, at head@bisc.krakow.pl. The school will contact teachers that meet the school’s needs. Unfortunately, this school website is an example of those that are less than helpful to prospective teachers who want to find out relevant information about what the school offers both financially, personally and professionally.

image: bjorn

Curriculum
BISS uses the International Primary Curriculum along with the UK National core curriculum for students through Year 6. Students use the MYP from Year 7 through Year 11 and finish up with the IB Diploma Programme for their last two years in BISS. A feature of the school curriculum is their cross-curricular approach to learning. The school has an EAL program for students who need assistance with English. BISS also offers support for LDD (Learning Difficulties or Disabilities) students.

Extracurricular Activities
BISS offers a range of activities that include music, sports, dance, drama, clubs and community projects. A few specific examples are the art and craft club, the computer club, gymnastics, eco club,

Technology
BISS has a technology lab and classrooms have interactive whiteboards. Technology is taught as part of the school curriculum.

Professional Development
No information is available.

Employment
Teaching positions are advertised in the local press, the Times Educational Supplement and the Council of British International Schools website. Teaching candidates need to complete an application and have a “face to face” interview with the school administrators. No information is given on salaries, benefits, qualifications or expectations.

image: Erin Silversmith

Curriculum
The British School uses an adapted form of the English National Curriculum to meet the needs of its international student population. The school is organized into three departments: Early Years (this includes Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception), Primary (Years 1-6), and Secondary (Years 7-13). Primary School students often engage in cross-curricular study that is topic based – similar to the PYP approach. Students take the Standardized Assessment Tests or the National Curriculum Tests in English, Mathematics and Science at the end of Year 9.

Extracurricular Activities
After School Activities (ASA) are required for all students who generally take two clubs per term. Among the activities offered are football, dance, drama, arts and crafts, board games, computer, tennis, golf, badminton, community service and more.

Technology
IT is integrated throughout the curriculum, and students have ICT classes as an independent subject as well. All classrooms have interactive whiteboards with internet connections.

Professional Development
While the school does mention that it has a PD program, it doesn’t give the specifics anywhere on the website.

Employment
The minimum requirements for teaching candidates for the British School are a university degree, a teaching diploma and experience in other British schools. The school website says that the package is outstanding, but doesn’t tell how outstanding the salaries are. It does mention a few of the benefits if you sort around through the job descriptions. These are relocation allowance, scholarships for children, housing, annual flights home, medical insurance and an optional pension plan. Job openings are listed online with specific details for each position. Interested candidates can send their resume and a cover letter to hr@britishschool.edu.my.

image: jeCCo

Facilities
The school campus is centrally located in Singapore and has indivual buildings for the three divisions of students: Infant, Junior and Senior. TTS also has a newly-built Six Form Centre that is part of the Senior School. Among the many impressive facilities are: a six-storey Sports and Performing Arts Complex, 4 libraries, multi-purpose rooms, music rooms, drama studios, ICT suites, science labs, health centres, food service areas, a 25-meter pool, playgrounds, tennis courts, playing fields, playgrounds and much more.

Curriculum
Tanglin Trust School uses a curriculum based on the National Curriculum of England that is adapted for use in an international school. The curriculum is organized into Key Stages. Students at the end of Key Stage 4 get the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE); students at the end of Key Stage 5 end up with the A-Levels or the IB Diploma. The school seems to have a strong arts program based on the space it has on the school website. So, if you are a teacher in the arts, this may be a great school for you. I found it interesting to read that the school does random drug tests on students in the Senior School. This isn’t really related to curriculum, but it does give one something to think about.

Extracurricular Activities
Tanglin Trust School has a full range of what they call co-curricular activities (CCAs). These include chess, newsletter production, cooking, arts and crafts, rugby, basketball, rock climbing, gamelan, orchestra, netball, rock band, jazz band drama, community projects and much more. The school has a competitive athletic program for Junior and Senior students. Sports include football, T.Ball, swimming, badminton, basketball, tennis, cricket, netball, and more.

Technology
There is almost nothing on the generally excellent school website about their technology program.

Professional Development
The school’s PD program is called Continuous Professional Development. PD activities include job-a-like workshops, on-site activities, working with other schools, conferences, courses given by the IB and the Institute of Education, peer observation and online learning.

Employment
The school has 185 teachers. There is a staff reflections page which I always find interesting (on the rare websites that have them) because you get a chance to see what a few teachers will pick as the highlights of their teaching and living experience in a school. For instance, one of the teachers on the TTS site, mentions the excellent opportunities for professional development and for an outstanding lifestyle. That right there, makes me interested in working at this school. More schools should have teacher reflection sections.

That being said, there is no information on salaries and benefits, and the information on teaching candidate qualifications is extremely thin. These should be improved. What I did glean from the site is that teachers must have at least two years’ experience using the British curriculum. Specific requirements for individual positions are listed on the school website. Interested teachers should send the school a letter of application that rives evidence of recent experience along with a CV, a passport-sized photo and contact details for three professional referees. These can be send to the school at tanglin@kingpartnership.co.uk. Job openings are listed online.

Mission
The school is committed to offering students an education that provides for excellence in the areas of intellectual and personal development.

image: Yaros

Curriculum
The Elementary School uses the International Primary Curriculum. The Middle School curriculum is based on US standards from the state of Virginia adapted for use in Poland with a international student population. ISK also uses standards from America Education Reaches Out, the province of British Columbia, and the national curricula from Poland, France and Germany. The High School uses standards based on the state of Virginia’s Standards of Learning. Advanced Placement courses are offered for high school students. ISK offers six foreign languages and also has an ESL program for non-native speakers who are in the process of learning English. The school website has a special page for their Fine Arts Department – good to know if you’re an art teacher.

Extracurricular Activities
The school offers a variety of activities including swimming, karate, basketball, astronomy club, ballet, cultural arts, arts and crafts, tennis, speech and debate, homework help and more.

Technology
ISK has a computer lab with a dozen desktop IBM computers with 21-inch monitors. IT is taught as a separate class and it is integrated throughout the curriculum as well.

Professional Development
No information is available online.

Employment
Teachers must have a Bachelor’s Degree and teaching certification. No other information is available on the school website. Job openings are online. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, a CV, a copy of their teaching certification and contact information for three referees to director@iskonline.org.

About Krakow
Krakow is the second largest city in Poland with a population of around 1.4 million. The city can make claim to having existed since the Stone Age. Krakow is located in southern Poland and has an Oceanic climate. The city of the city that includes the Old Town district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Krakow is a center of culture and education with over 10 universities and academies, 28 museums and several theatres and the Opera Krakowska. Among the museums are the National Museum, the Czartoryski Museum and the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology. The city has an active nightlife with many restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes.

Mission
The school mission is to develop an active and welcoming school community where students are challenged academically and personally, and where they develop compassion and a spirit of innovation.

image: Shizhao

Curriculum
CWA’s curriculum follows inquiry-based, transdisciplinary units of study with the core elements of concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes and action. The curriculum emphasizes connections to real life situation, decision making, problem solving and research. In other words, sounds a lot like the PYP.

Extracurricular Activities
The school is developing their extracurricular program and note that some of the possible activities will be Japanese, French, Chinese Opera appreciation, chess, sports, media club, baking and cooking, arts and crafts, math club, science club, community service and more.

Technology
CWA has computer labs. Interesting that they don’t put any emphasis on their technology program like many of the new schools do these days.

Professional Development
The school has seven to ten professional development days per year.

Employment
This school has only 20 students according to their website, but my guess is that of this writing, there are probably more as the school website says that they are the only English-medium international school in Hunan.

CWA is looking for teachers who are flexible, determined, patient, skilled in using ICT as an educational tool, willing to sponsor after school activities and able to improvise in the unique situation of starting a new school. Teaching candidates must have a minimum of two years experience in an international school, be certified, be computer literate, have PYP or inquiry-based teaching experience, be committed to the school mission, be willing to be ambassadors of the school and have experience with differentiated teaching techniques.

Teachers can expect to put in a lot of work here. CWA has 185 contact days along with 7-10 professional development days and up to 32 teaching periods a week. Plus, supervisory duties, after school activities and meetings.

Job openings are listed online. Teachers who are interested in working at CWA can complete an application that is available online and send it to the school along with a letter of application and a CV.

The salary range is not listed on the school website, but it says that the salaries are competitive and paid in Renminbi. Benefits included visa processing, a re-signing bonus, free tuition for dependents, medical insurance, “position of responsibility” allowances, a furnished apartment with broadband internet, an annual travel allowance, and shipping.

About Changsha
Changsha is the capital of Hunan Province and has a population of around seven million. It is situated on the Xiang River and has a humid subtropical climate with average temperatures running from 17 degrees Celsius in January to 29 degrees Celsius in July. Changsha has four real seasons with hot wet summers and relatively dry winters.

Changsha has a small expat population and in comparison to cities like Shanghai or Beijing, bars, restaurants and social activities that cater to foreigners are limited. However, there are international supermarkets like Carrefour, Metro and Walmart, and the usual Western chains are here like McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks.