1 IB Diploma Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS)

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IB DiplomaIB DiplomaEnvironmental Environmental Systems and Systems and

Societies (ESS) Societies (ESS)

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What?What?

• Group 4 experimental science AND

• Group 3 individuals and societies SO

• Group 3 and 4 transdisciplinary subject – Environmental Systems and Societies

FlexibilityFlexibility

What?What?

• Initiative to increase hexagon flexibility

• Covers 2 Groups – 3 and/or 4 in 1 SL

• One of three TSLs – others are – World Cultures 3/6 (not going ahead)– Text and Performance 1/6

Take, for example,…Take, for example,…

• A pupil who is good at humanities,

• not keen on sciences,

• and doesn’t know what he wants to do with his future.

The Uncertain The Uncertain HumanistHumanist

• Replaces Group 6 with an extra Group 3 humanity:

– English HL– History HL– Economics HL

• Does Env Systems & Societies which is more a social science than a pure science

• Keeps French going and acquires some European literary and cultural knowledge to complement History and English

Group 1 Language

Group 6 The Arts

Group 4 Experimental

Sciences

Group 2Second

Language

Group 3Individuals& Societies

Group 5Mathematics

English HL

Replaced by Extra Gp3

History HL &

Economics HL

Maths Studies SL

Env Systems & Societies

SL

French B SL

Or his opposite number…Or his opposite number…

• The pupil who likes sciences,

• hates writing essays,

• and knows she wants to study Chemistry at university?

Group 1 Language

Group 6 The Arts


Sciences

Group 2Second

Language


Group 5Mathematics

The Certain The Certain ScientistScientist

• Replaces Group 6 with an extra Group 4 science:

– Maths HL– Physics HL– Chemistry HL

• Does Env Systems & Societies which contains plenty of Biology

• Keeps French and English going at standard level, retaining a balanced education

English SL


Env Systems & Societies SL

Maths HL

Physics HL&

Chemistry HL

French B SL

Let’s try another…Let’s try another…

• A budding entrepreneur,

• aspiring to work for a blue-chip multinational banking or IT corporation.

Group 1 Language

Group 6 The Arts


Sciences

Group 2Second

Language


Group 5Mathematics

Global Global EntrepreneurEntrepreneur

• Replaces Group 6 with an extra Group 3

– Economics HL– Geography HL

• Prepares for future in banking or IT with Maths HL

• Does Spanish to give access to Europe, South America and USA

• Gains awareness of globalisation through Geography and Env Systems & Societies

English SL


Economics HL&

Geography HL

Maths HL

Spanish SL


SL

Or…Or…

• A seriously focused linguist,

• who is aspiring to Cambridge?

Group 1 Language

Group 6 The Arts


Sciences

Group 2Second

Language


Group 5Mathematics

Focused Focused LinguistLinguist

• Replaces Group 6 with an extra Group 2 language:

– French B HL– German B HL

• Does Env Systems in Groups 3 AND 4, freeing up another option for another language:

– Spanish HL

• 3 languages!

• Acquires useful skills in Maths Studies to assist potential future business career in Europe

English HL



SL

Maths Studies SL


SL

French B HL German B HLSpanish B SL

And, lastly…And, lastly…

• The dramatic artist,

• who wants to take two Arts subjects (never before possible)

Group 1 Language

Group 6 The Arts


Sciences

Group 2Second

Language


Group 5Mathematics

Committed Committed ArtistArtist

• Two Group 6 arts subjects at HL

• Does Env Systems in Groups 3 AND 4, freeing up another option for another arts:

– Theatre HL

• Ab intio language

• Potential to apply to art school/drama college

English HL

Vis Arts HL

Theatre HL


SL

Maths Studies SL


SL

Spanish ai SL

Who takes it?Who takes it?

• Scientists

• Artist specialists

• Linguists

• Fastest growing IB Diploma subject

ToK and ESSToK and ESS

• Ideal vehicle– Global warming issue– Bias– Issues of Knowledge

So, ESS does the following:So, ESS does the following:

• Has academic rigour

• Examines relationship to the world out there

• Transdisciplinary

• Increased flexibility for pupils

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How much?How much?• 2-3 hours per week

• 150 hour course

• A field course

• Practical work – 20% so about 30 hours

18/04/2318/04/23 1919

What’s it about?What’s it about?• Big environmental issues

– What happens when we run out of fossil fuels?

– Are there too many people on Earth?– Are we causing the next mass extinction?– Can we continue using as many resources as

we do?

2020

What’s it about?What’s it about?

• Environmental issues– Climate change– Ozone depletion– Deforestation– Loss of biodiversity

• Ecosystems– How they work

• The atmosphere and pollution• And much more

2121

So..So..• It’s a mixture of Geography, Ecology and

a bit of politics and economics

• You can read about it everyday in the papers

• It is the least ‘sciency’ science

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What does it go with?What does it go with?• You may take this with Geography or

Biology and there is a good deal of overlap so you cover the material twice which helps you

• You may take Economics which looks at the same issues from another viewpoint

• Or with any other subject

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Where does it get you?Where does it get you?

• Recognised as an experimental science by universities

• Understand our environment and what we are doing to it

• Relevant to the world we try to live in

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Environmental Systems and Environmental Systems and Societies?Societies?

• As your group 4, or group 3 or group 3 and 4 subject• So it allows you to take two arts in group 6 or three

languages in group 2 – increasing flexibility

Exams – EA + IAExams – EA + IAIA 20% of final markIA 20% of final mark

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Documents

1 IB Diploma Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS)