5 reasons why you should take online IB courses

The new norm in higher education might be online learning, but what about pre-university programmes like the International Baccalaureate (IB)?

The response is yes. You will take online IB classes.

But as a programme designed to teach students transferable skills such as collaborative thought, is it really wise to take IB courses online for young students?

In an exclusive interview, Avantika Senel-Walp, Principal of Online Courses at online education provider TestprepKart, told Study International about the subject.

In preparation for the Diploma or career-related programmes, students can take online IB courses with TestprepKart, but not the full IB Diploma Programme.

You get to take charge of your own learning

"As Avantika explained, "A UK UCL Institute of Education report showed that online learning helps train university students, making them more self-directed and independent learners.

"Students who took online courses at school took greater ownership of their learning, were more likely to set goals based on their own performance, were less likely to rely on university tutors for assistance, and were better able to manage their studies and pace them."

They also gain a practical understanding of the use of immersive and multimedia technology that are increasingly used in today's workplaces.

Other benefits of online classes are the fact that schools and teachers will consider last-minute or ad hoc requests to tailor and personalise a pupil's learning experience.

An incentive to work with a thriving cyber community

One of the questions about taking IB courses online is the possibility that it can be an isolating experience.

The good thing is that they still have opportunities to engage with and connect with other students.

Avantika said, "They are also joining a global student community, also studying with TestprepKart online, with whom they can collaborate."

She adds that creating study groups and working with others on your course and compiling your own structured notes for students is also useful.

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Help & instruction from specialist teachers 

Teachers of TestprepKart are seasoned educators and subject matter experts, but students are also able to learn from the best teachers regardless of location by learning online.

Online instructors are also highly qualified and professionally educated in methodologies for online learning, so they can respond easily to questions from students. They also track student involvement and operations closely to offer assistance at the point of need.

In addition, these instructors also assist students to develop considerable skills such as productivity, coordination, and time management.

TestprepKart students have nourished that liaising with their teachers has been helpful in improving these skills that have proven valuable in their continuing academic careers," Avantika said."

Your success with online IB courses is closely monitored. 

The framework offers visibility into the success of a student, enabling the support team at TestprepKart to step in and assist as and when necessary, along with Site-Based Coordinators (SBCs) on campus.

She explained, "In a number of ways, SBCs support students." Throughout their course, they follow the success of students, supporting them whenever possible. The SBC also meets up with our pupils on a daily basis and maintains constant contact between students, our teachers and our School Services Team.

By supervising rather than tutoring, SBCs often enable students to take control of their learning, offering guidance in the creation of a term-time planner to facilitate effective time management.

Plus, for each pupil, they have set time aside to analyse their individualised method of analysis, recommending changes where necessary.

International insight rooted in a big success

Academically, many students who take IB online courses via TestprepKart have progressed. Avantika said that 61 percent of online TestprepKart students earned a grade 5 or higher in the IB Diploma exams from 2014-2018.