In this week's episode, WAB's Director of Innovation in Learning and Teaching, Stephen Taylor, has taken over as host and engaged in a conversation with two special guests from the recent accreditation visit: Darlene Fisher, an International Accreditation Leader for NEASC, and Angela Meikle, Head of International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools. Together, they explore the development of the Collaborative Learning Protocol and its role in maintaining a strong focus on learning within schools.
Darlene explains that the creation of the CLP by both NEASC and IB is aimed at establishing a unified process for schools, eliminating the need for multiple reports for different organizations. By aligning efforts for reevaluation and reaccreditation, NEASC and IB sought to streamline the accreditation process. The CLP also served as a tool to facilitate deep conversations within schools about learning, its quality, and methods for improvement and transformation.
Angela adds that the CLP was designed during a transitional period when the IB introduced new foundational program standards and practices in 2020, with schools adapting to the new evaluation model in 2021. The CLP was developed to effectively direct schools' attention towards learning, providing clarity during this transition phase.
Stephen sheds light on WAB's decision to embrace this process, driven by the philosophical alignment between the IB and NEASC, as well as their shared commitment to future directions. "We don't want to be a school that just sits back and keeps on doing things the way we always do them, but to always keep growing. And this evolution of authorization and accreditation pathways is something that does force that growth mindset," said Stephen.
If you're interested in discovering how WAB collaborates with world-leading accreditation groups to enhance our learning and innovation, tune in to this episode for more insights.