IB Unplugged

IB Unplugged: Why We Started & What to Expect

Welcome to IB Unplugged, the podcast designed for IB DP educators tackling real challenges through expert insights and shared classroom experiences. In this episode, meet your hosts and discover the vision behind IB Unplugged. Whether you're a seasoned IB teacher or just starting out, tune in for practical tips, inspiration, and a supportive community to help you thrive.

Policy, Practice, and the Promise of AI in Education

Clara Hawking shares how educators can confidently navigate policies, tools, and best practices for safe and effective AI integration. From data privacy to classroom application, it’s a must-listen for any school shaping its digital future.

Demystifying TOK

In this episode of IB Unplugged, hosts John Patton and Courtney Marline sit down with experienced educator David Spooner to explore the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) within and beyond the classroom. With over two decades of IB teaching and examining experience, David shares insights on how TOK shapes students’ critical thinking and how educators can effectively integrate it into their teaching.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems in AI

In this episode of IB Unplugged, hosts John Patton and Courtney Marline welcome Wakanyi Hoffman and discuss the need for culturally inclusive ethics in emerging AI systems to prevent environmental and social harm globally and explore how prompting can reveal how we are co-creating knowledge from different backgrounds.

Wakanyi is the author of several children's books and her latest book, "Sala, Mountain Warrior," was published by Otter-Barry Books UK and is available worldwide.

Mastering Approaches to Learning

In this episode of IB Unplugged, hosts Courtney Marline and John Patton sit down with renowned educator Lance King to discuss the Approaches to Learning (ATL) framework. Lance, the creator of the "Art of Learning" program and a key contributor to the IB’s ATL framework, shares strategies for developing student agency, resilience, and self-directed learning in IB classrooms.

Lance is still actively running ATL workshops for teachers, students and parents all around the world and can be contacted directly at lance@taolearn.com. Additionally, if you are interested in any of his books they can be accessed at https://www.taolearn.com/all-books/.

The Power of Enquiry Upon Results - Turning IB Data into Dialogue

What if IB results could spark real conversations that drive growth across your school? International school leader Jen Olmsted breaks down the Enquiry Upon Results (EUR) process and how it can be a powerful tool for team learning, school improvement, and professional growth. Whether you're a teacher or a principal, this episode will shift how you see your school’s data.

Designing for Autonomy: A Model of Blended Learning

What does true blended learning look like when you break away from traditional classrooms? Damien Vassallo shares how inquiry, autonomy, and digital tools can transform IB learning into a more flexible, student-driven experience across the DP and beyond.

Horn, Michael B, Heather Staker. (2015). Blended: using disruptive innovation to improve schools . San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Mackenzie, T. (2019). Dive into inquiry: Amplifying learning through student-directed investigations. Teacher's College Press. (as well as Trevor's other books on Inquiry learning).

Ericksson, L. (2017). A concept-based curriculum: Designing learning for understanding. Corwin.

Webb, J. (2019). Metacognition handbook: Developing reflective learners in the classroom. Routledge.

Fogarty, R., & Stoehr, J. (2016). Teaching for metacognitive reflection: An IB approach. International Baccalaureate Organization.

Fogarty, R. (2009). The metacognitive classroom: Teaching students to reflect on their learning. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

Murdoch, K. (2015). The power of inquiry: Teaching and learning with passion, creativity, and inquiry. Hawker Brownlow Education

Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2008). Cooperation in the classroom (9th ed.). Pearson Education.

How can schools foster wellbeing for both students and teachers in the IBDP?

Educator Junita Boy shares practical strategies for building healthier school cultures, promoting emotional resilience, and centering mental health in your daily teaching practice.

What if building student competencies—not just covering content—was the heart of your course?

In this episode, educator Matt Kuykendall shares how his Deep Learning Seminar reimagines reflection, agency, and metacognition as the core of learning, offering strategies any IB educator can bring into their own classroom.

Can one school deliver two diplomas—and do both well?

In this episode, IB educator Richard Jones-Nerzic shares how Ecole Moser in Switzerland integrates the IB Diploma and the Swiss Maturité into a single, demanding program. He reflects on the cultural, curricular, and pedagogical balancing act required—and what other schools can learn from it.

What does it take to shape a truly future-ready curriculum?

In this episode, Fidelis Nthenge, Director of Curriculum Development at the IBO, shares how the IB approaches curriculum design to empower student agency, promote lifelong learning, and respond to an ever-changing world. A must-listen for educators curious about what’s next in international education.

What does it mean to teach psychology conceptually—and why does it matter? In this episode, Rachel Thornton, a passionate psychology teacher, unpacks the updates to the course and how they support more meaningful, connected learning. From a reduced content load to a clearer structure and stronger real-world application, this is a must-listen for every IB Psychology educator.

What if our assessments focused on growth instead of ranking? In this episode, Dr. Conrad Hughes, Director General of the International School of Geneva and Senior Fellow at UNESCO's International Bureau of Education, challenges the traditional purpose of assessment. From the limits of high-stakes exams to designing systems that truly support learning and wellbeing, this conversation offers a bold and timely vision for how we can better serve students in the IB and beyond.

What if everything you believed about learning was only part of the story? In this thought-provoking episode, cognitive science expert and author David Didau challenges common assumptions in education and offers practical insights for IB educators. From memory and motivation to misconceptions and metacognition, David explores how understanding the limits of what we know can lead to more intentional, effective teaching.

The IB is rethinking assessment—and going digital.

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Glanville, Director of Assessment at the IB, about the organization’s evolving vision for digital assessments. From ensuring equity and accessibility to designing more authentic ways to measure student understanding, Matthew offers a clear-eyed look at what’s changing, why it matters, and how IB educators can prepare.

In this special season finale, hosts John Patton and Courtney Marline reflect on their journey through Season 1 of IB Unplugged. From conversations on TOK and AI to mental health and curriculum design, they revisit the standout moments and surprising takeaways that shaped their thinking. Tune in for heartfelt insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and a look ahead at what’s to come.

What’s the difference between cognition and metacognition—and why does it matter? In our Season 2 kickoff, educator and school leader Gareth Rogers breaks down how understanding how students think can elevate how we teach. From retrieval practice to busting learning myths, this episode brings practical, research-based strategies to your IB classroom.

What does it mean to truly educate for sustainability, not just about it? In this episode, we speak with long-time IB educator and global thinker John Cannings about how sustainability must be more than a concept in the curriculum—it must be reflected in the very practices, decisions, and environments of our schools. John shares his experience supporting schools across the IB continuum to embed sustainability through experiential learning, nature-based education, and systems thinking.

What if economics education wasn’t just about markets—but also about meaning, sustainability, and student agency? Jennifer Brandsberg-Engelmann shares how shifting to systems thinking can transform engagement, deepen understanding, and empower students to tackle real-world challenges. Packed with practical strategies and big ideas, this conversation is a must-listen for IB educators across Economics, Business Management, Global Politics, and beyond.

Regenerative Economics YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RegenerativeEconomics

How can schools better support students as they move from the MYP to the DP? In this episode, Paul La Rondie, IB educator and curriculum leader, explores how educators can better align the Middle Years and Diploma Programmes to support smoother, more successful student transitions. From curriculum misalignments to assessment expectations and teaching mindsets, Paul unpacks the small shifts that make a big difference.

What does the future of IB assessment look like in a world shaped by AI and digital learning? In this special IB Unplugged Live episode recorded at the IB Global Conference in The Hague, Matthew Glanville, Director of Assessment at the IB, joins us to unpack how assessment is evolving to stay relevant, equitable, and meaningful. From digital exams to AI-enhanced feedback and academic integrity, this conversation explores how the IB is rethinking assessment for the next generation of learners.

How can schools teach students to use AI responsibly while navigating the ethics of emerging tools? In this episode, educator and Eblana Learning founder Rita Bateson explores how IB schools can empower learners with AI literacy, critical thinking, and a strong ethical foundation—while staying true to IB values of agency, inquiry, and integrity.

This episode dives into the heart of IB DP Business Management —assessment. Maria Sayyed joins us to unpack what makes the IA process meaningful (and manageable), how to tackle case study-based questions with intention, and how teachers can help students shift from surface-level memorization to strategic, analytical thinking. Whether you’re new to the course or looking to refine your practices, Maria brings clarity and energy to help your students thrive.

How can schools move beyond flashy edtech and focus on meaningful, student-centered use of technology? In this episode, Terence Tan draws from his work in international schools and innovation labs to share how human-centered, intentional tech integration can deepen inquiry and amplify learning—rather than distract from it.