What Does It Mean to "Take Action?"

Our staff has been developing units of inquiry based on the IB transdisciplinary themes and our Indiana College and Career Ready Standards. Through these units and the learner profile our students are explicitly taught skills that will encourage them to reflect, make informed choices and to take actions that will help their peers, school and wider community. Our students have the opportunity to demonstrate a deeper sense of learning by applying their knowledge to service and action.The International Baccalaureate Organization states, “In the PYP, it is believed that education must extend beyond the intellectual to include not only socially responsible attitudes but also thoughtful and appropriate action. An explicit expectation of the PYP is that successful inquiry will lead to responsible action, initiated by the student as a result of the learning process.”

Action is more than just a service project. It can happen at any age and be as simple as remembering to turn off the lights when leaving a room. It really is more a state of mind than a product. Richard Black put together the following questions to help us think about action as more than just “doing.”

Doing

Have you DONE something? Given? Helped? Picked up? Turned off? Smiled?

Thinking

Have you THOUGHT differently? Changed your mind? Wondered? Inquired?

Feeling

Have you FELT differently? Empathized? Loved? Felt? Inspired? Worried? Admired?

Having

Do you HAVE more of something? More knowledge? Respect? Care? Determination?

Saying

Have you SAID something? Informed? Explained? Told? Discussed? Debated? Asked?

Being

Have you BEEN a different person? Changed behaviors? Been more patient? More respectful?

How is your child taking action? How are we taking action?

Kris Stewart, IB Coordinator
kstewart@mccsc.edu