5 Areas of Interaction

The 5 Areas of Interaction

Holistic education is provided through the 5 areas of interaction. These areas give the MYP its distinctive core and are presented in a coherent and creative way through the subjects, through interdisciplinary teaching, projects and special programs.

• Provides a framework for cross-curricular work
• Encourages teaching of concepts, illustrated by content
• By involving all subject the awareness is raised on the integrated subjects
• Provides appropriate learning experiences across all subjects.
• Focuses thinking, like a lens
• Gives a structure for exploration
• Enables teachers and students to strive for depth and richness
• Provides links to issues outside the classrooms.

A) Approaches to Learning

Is concerned with developing:
•    Intellectual discipline
•    Attitudes
•    Strategies
•    Skills

In order to create:
•    Critical, coherent thought
•    Independent ideas
•    Problem solving skills
•    Decision making power
•    Learning how to learn
•    Awareness of thought processes
•    Strategic use of thought processes                                                                                                                                                                                       
B) Community and Services 
                                                                
Students have the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom by participating in the communities in which they live.

The emphasis is on:
 - Developing community awareness and concern
 - A sense of responsibility
 - Developing the skills needed to make an effective contribution to society

Community and Service is part of every day. Some examples:

Within the school community:

• Cooking healthy lunches for preschool children
• Ordering food for other classes
• Working in the Vegetable Garden
• Providing the catering during school events
• Helping in the Toddler Community
  

Within the local community:

• Making the community aware of CO2 output
• Assisting with Green week; DG Environment’s annual environmental campaign
• Christmas tree replanting campaign
• Ink-cartridge collection campaign
• Organising debating sessions on current issues
  

Within the international community:

• Making school materials for Burkina Faso
• Collecting clothing for Africa
• Collecting toys/baby goods for Eastern Europe
• Organising charity events to raise money.
  

C) Human Ingenuity

This Area of Interaction is concerned with the products of the creative genius of people and their impact on society and on the human mind.

Students learn to appreciate the human capacity to:

• Influence
• Create
• Transform
• Enjoy
• Improve the quality of life

Students are encouraged to see the relationship between science, aesthetics, technology and ethics.                                                                                                                                            
D) Environments

This area of Interaction aims to develop the students’ awareness of their interdependence with the environments in which they live. Herby aiming tothem  accepting responsibility for maintaining an environments and nature remaining fit for the future.

Children are confronted with:

• Global political and economic environmental issues
• Balanced understanding develops through: research, discussions, readings, participating in EU conferences, Participating in Green Week,
• Environment situations at home
• Environment issues at school
• Practical solutions are found and put into practice such as reducing packaging, recycling and composting.
  

E) Health and  Social Education

Learning to look after one self is part of educating the whole personality.

Health and social education aims to:

• Prepare students for a physically and mentally healthy life.
• Become aware of potential hazards
• Helped to make responsible and informed decisions for their own well being
• Extend personal responsibility towards the wellbeing of the physical and social environment.