The IB Diploma Programme offers you crucial skills and a holistic education needed to succeed at university.
So what are the top personal characteristics you should be looking to nurture during your IBDP studies to not only ace the number of points on your Diploma, but to truly prepare yourself for life beyond school?
1. Curiosity
It all begins with your own curiosity and sense of wonder. Find what inspires you, nurtures your creativity and fills you with enthusiasm! Locate that something which you are passionate about. Curiosity lies at the core of every exciting discovery!
One of the best ways to help cultivate curiosity, as mentioned in our earlier blog on the Extended Essay, is to read widely.
Eliminate the phrase ‘I’m bored’ from your vocabulary, prise yourself away from Google for a while and immerse yourself in browsing the shelves of a physical bookstore, or for our Sydney campus students, the inspiring Darling Harbour library.
Beyond reading, be bold with asking ‘Why?”, questioning the world around you. Do not be afraid of putting your hand up in class and asking questions.
2. Motivation
Your own drive and determination, coupled with persistence, will allow you bravely go beyond the known! Being motivated to succeed and pursue your passions will give you the drive to face challenges and setbacks – and see them as opportunities to improve and grow!
Goal setting throughout the IB Diploma is a great way to keep motivation strong. Set the ultimate goal, then break it down in to achievable component parts. Plot your progress and don’t forget to reward yourself as you achieve your goals.
3. Autonomy
Having autonomy means you take responsibility for your choices, successes and improvements. It means having a clear vision of what you want to achieve, being proactive and reflecting on your choices and journey ahead. It means nurturing your ability to work independently as you negotiate deadlines, complete your assignments, engage in class activities and incorporate your teachers’ feedback. Being autonomous in your learning may seem daunting, but taking risks ensures you keep learning and growing!
4. Collaboration
Collaboration is a crucial skill in school, university and the workplace. How do you become more effective in collaboration? Engage in collaborative work and projects with your peers through class activities or study groups – sharing insights and discussing topics which interest you are a great way to learn from others and expand your interests. ,When working with others, aim to seek feedback, offer constructive suggestions and learn to adapt to different personalities and styles. Such skills will prove invaluable in the future!
5. Time Management
Managing your time well means you are able to prioritise, adhere to deadlines and maximise your productivity within a particular timeframe. Plan ahead, organise, use reminders and avoid leaving things until the last minute – such skills will become immensely helpful to meet the demands of tertiary study and other concurrent obligations.
Additional productivity tips
There are numerous methods available to help you manage your time well and tackle the challenges of the IB Diploma program. Think about your own preferences and learning styles. Do you use technology often, such as your phone of laptop? Various apps for your mobile phone can be effective time management tools helping you plan and prioritise such as:
- Todoist – useful, simple app which allows you to list, prioritise and share tasks
- Due – this app works well for setting reminders such as deadlines or various tasks, and it can be adjusted to keep reminding you until you complete the task
- Trello – great tool for larger projects and multiple deadlines to manage your academic, extra-curricular and personal deadlines and tasks. You can colour-code, upload materials, write notes and a range of other options
- Google Calendar – useful app which allows you to customise, set reminders and plan ahead!
The possibilities in our technologically innovative world are numerous – and most apps can also be set to send you email reminders. This is useful if you are working on your laptop and do not wish to be distracted by your phone. Reminders can also appear as pop-ups on your browser. It is all about adjusting the technology around you to suit your goals and maximise your effectiveness.
If you prefer the ‘pen and paper’ method, a good wall calendar, diary, post-it notes and written to-do lists may do the trick! Find a method which works best for you – this will ensure you remain on track and motivated!