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.....Michelle Lemaire
.....IB Coordinator
.....lemairem@hdsb.ca
.....905-845-5200 ext. 233
The assessment of these subjects reflects an eclectic attempt to combine contrasting aesthetics and forms of assessment from around the world. In particular, there is no indication of a western-oriented bias.
Film SL/HL
Film is both a powerful communication medium and an art form. The DP film course aims to develop students’ skills so they become adept in both interpreting and making film texts.
Through the study of film texts and exercises in filmmaking and analysis, the DP film course explores film history, theory and socio-economic background. The course will develop students’ critical abilities, enabling them to appreciate the multiplicity of cultural and historical perspectives in film. To achieve an understanding of internationalism within the world of film, students should be taught to consider film texts, theories and ideas from the points of view of different individuals, nations and cultures. Although complete knowledge is impossible, students should be guided in their search for understanding through experiencing a wide range of different film texts.
The IB Film course emphasizes the importance of working individually and as a member of a group. Students are encouraged to develop the organizational and technical skills needed to express themselves creatively in film. A challenge for students following this programme is to become aware of their own perspectives and biases and learn to respect those of others. This requires willingness to attempt to understand alternative views, to respect and appreciate cultural diversity, and to have an open and critical mind. Thus the IB Film course can become a way for the student to celebrate the international and intercultural dynamic that inspires and sustains a type of contemporary film, while appreciating specifically local origins that have given rise to cinematic production in many parts of the world.
For any student to create, to present and to study film requires courage, passion and curiosity: courage to create individually and as part of a team, courage to explore ideas through action and harness the imagination, courage to experiment; passion to communicate and to act communally, passion to research and formulate ideas eloquently; curiosity about self and others and the world around one, curiosity about different traditions, techniques and knowledge, curiosity for the past and the future and for the limitless possibilities of human expression through film.
At the core of IB Film lies a concern with clarity of understanding, critical thinking, reflective analysis, effective involvement and imaginative synthesis achieved through practical engagement in the art and craft of film.
Distinction between HL and SL
Although the HL and SL syllabus outlines share elements, which serve to facilitate course planning when SL and HL students are taught together, the difference in recommended teaching times, 240 hrs at HL and150 hrs at SL, signals a clear distinction between both the explicit and implicit demands on students studying at these levels. This differentiation between HL and SL is reflected in both the breadth of study and the depth to which this study is pursued. Through a variety of teaching approaches, including the construction and deconstruction of film texts, all students, whether SL or HL will be encouraged to develop their creative and critical abilities and to enhance their appreciation and enjoyment of film.
Production work is an important component of this programme and should be seen as a means for students to put theory into practice by demonstrating knowledge and understanding of technical skills in their own film production, as well as engaging them in creative, imaginative and aesthetic understanding. Production work should not be seen in isolation but integrated into the programme as a whole.
The differentials between HL and SL are, however, both quantitative and qualitative. The nature of the programme enables Higher Level candidates to develop creative skills, theoretical understanding and textual analysis more fully. For instance, in the Production Portfolio Standard Level candidates do not have to construct a trailer for their completed film. The additional range of practical skills required for Higher Level candidates’ trailers establishes the need for individual creativity as well as the ability to work as a member of a team.
For the Independent Study HL candidates are required to study more films for comparison. This requires a greater degree of analytical skill and a wider range of comparative study. For the Presentation SL candidates are required to speak for a shorter period of time, this means that SL candidates need to develop an equal degree of planning and analytical skills but in the presentation itself they cover a narrower range of topics. HL candidates are required to offer greater detail in theoretical terms and address the additional concepts of audience reception both at the time of release of the chosen film and/or subsequent critical and scholarly references.
Nevertheless, it is expected that a ‘Higher’ level student will display a continuous resolve of personal challenge and a sustained engagement with the ideas, practices and concepts encountered within the course over the extended learning time available. An HL student has extra time to encounter, reflect and record growth. It is understood that ensuing developments may be only partially evident within the framework of the assessment process. However, the process distinguishes clearly in both breadth and depth of work between HL and SL expectations and comparison between levels or individuals should be avoided.
Music SL/HL
The aims of the IBO Music programme are to:
- give students the opportunity to explore and enjoy the diversity of music throughout the world
- encourage students to develop perceptual skills through a breadth of musical experiences, where they will learn to recognize, speculate, analyse, identify, discriminate and hypothesize in relation to music
- enable students to develop creatively their knowledge, abilities and understanding through performance and composition
- assist students to develop their potential as musicians both personally and collaboratively, in whatever capacity, to the full.
Candidates who have completed the Higher Level (HL) programme will be expected to demonstrate:
- development of their performance skills through solo music making
- development of their compositional skills through exploration and investigation of musical elements
- use of appropriate musical language and terminology to describe and reflect their critical understanding of music
- development of perceptual skills in response to music
- knowledge and understanding of music in relation to time and place.
Candidates who have completed the Standard Level (SL) programme will be expected to demonstrate:
- use of appropriate musical language and terminology to describe and reflect their critical understanding of music
- development of perceptual skills in response to music
- knowledge and understanding of music in relation to time and place.
In addition, Standard Level candidates following the option indicated, Solo Performance
(SLS), Group Performance (SLG) or Composition (SLC), will be expected to demonstrate:
- development of their performance skills through solo (SLS) or ensemble (SLG) music making or
- development of their compositional skills through exploration and investigation of musical elements (SLC).
Theatre Arts SL/HL
The aims of the programme in Theatre Arts are to help students understand the nature of the theatre; to understand it by making it as well as by studying it; to understand it not only with their minds but with their senses, their bodies and their emotions; to understand the forms it takes in cultures other than their own; and through this understanding better to understand themselves, their society and their world.
Although the Theatre Arts programme is divided into parts, there are strong links between these which should be emphasized by the teacher. Students need to acquire the reflective skills and understanding of how the links and parts work together as a whole. The skills students are expected to have acquired at the end of the course should be gained from all areas of the programme.
Having completed the course at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL) a student will be expected to have demonstrated:
- a knowledge of the major developments and techniques in the theatrical history of more than one culture
- an ability to interpret and illuminate playscripts and other theatrical texts analytically and imaginatively
- an understanding of the art of the stage and of criticism in relation to it
- an ability to perform before an audience, and to demonstrate an understanding of, and some skill in, acting techniques
- the acquisition of sufficient technical skill to produce satisfactory work in at least one of the theatrical arts or crafts
- an understanding of the processes of theatrical production
- an ability to research imaginatively, selectively and with persistence.