Students FAQs - About the courses

In our online courses:

• Most, if not all, of your fellow students attend different schools (and probably live in different countries) than your own.
• The main communication channel between teacher and students is via the Internet.
• Lessons are "asynchronous". In other words, you, your teacher and your fellow students are not necessarily online at the same time. (Given differences in time zones, they may just be going to bed when you are getting up!) Through the use of Web 2.0 collaboration tools, you will nonetheless be able to carry on a lively dialogue, and collaborate actively, with your teacher as well as your classmates. And even though the courses are designed to be asynchronous, teachers generally make themselves available for "office hours" via an online conferencing platform. If you find that you are working at the same time, or just want to chat in real time, you can, of course, also Skype with your fellow students from around the world. You will have weekly assignments, but the school timetable and your personal initiative determine when you log on to the course, access the course material, complete assignments, and communicate with your online teacher and classmates.
• A Site-based Coordinator ("SBC") at your school monitors your progress and is there to provide support and guidance where needed. That said, your primary relationship will be with your online teacher, who you will get to know well during the course.
• You will always know where you stand in the course. You (and your SBC) will receive a report on your course performance every two weeks.

• Pamoja Education online teachers are experienced IB teachers and experts in their subject areas. All of our teachers have been specially trained in online teaching methods and in many cases they have already been using online tools in their classroom teaching. They know how to take full advantage of the online environment.
• We recruit our teachers worldwide. In most cases, they are currently teaching at an IB World School®. In a few cases, they have decided to devote their full teaching capacity to online teaching with Pamoja Education. In all cases, they are fully dedicated to making this a great learning experience for you and your classmates!

• Online class sizes range from 8-25 students. This is a size that allows for both a diversity of backgrounds and optimal working relationships.
• Students come from IB World Schools around the globe. Our current classes have students from more than 55 countries, on all continents except Antarctica (we're working on that). We expect to have even more countries represented in our classes beginning September 2012.

• The "asynchronous" nature of the courses (see the first FAQ about differences between traditional and online courses) means that students (and teachers) don't need to be online at the same time. The use of Web 2.0 tools ensures that there is still a very high level of communication and collaboration - a bit different, but every bit as intense (sometimes even more so) than you will experience in a traditional classroom. That said, it's fun to Skype with classmates on the other side of the world if you discover that they are online when you are.

• You enrol in Pamoja Education online IB courses through your IB World School, and schools are required to provide a "Site-based Coordinator" to support you during your studies. Therefore, by the time you enrol, you can be sure of your school's support.

• Because we are relatively new, your school may not yet have heard about Pamoja Education or our online courses, or may not have had time to learn more about our offerings. Please contact your Diploma Coordinator and refer him/her to our website, or let us know if you would like us to contact him/her on your behalf. Diploma Coordinators can reach us by phone, email, or using one of the "Expression of Interest" forms found in the "Contact Us" section of this website.

• Pamoja Education online IB courses are developed in close cooperation with, and are approved by, the International Baccalaureate®. In the eyes of the IB they are the full equivalent of courses taken in a traditional face-to-face environment. Accordingly, the IB certificate or Diploma does not distinguish between online and face-to-face courses.
• Students taking IB Courses online develop additional skills which will help them in their university careers. Therefore, they may wish to mention that they have taken a Pamoja Education online course on their university applications.

• Neither the IB nor Pamoja Education limit the number of courses an individual student can take online. At present, most of our students take one course online; some take two.

• At present, enrolment is limited to Diploma Programme or Certificate students attending IB World Schools. Students not attending an IB World school should please go to the last point in this section.
• If you will be beginning Diploma Programme or Certificate studies in September 2012 or thereafter: please approach your school's IB Diploma Programme Coordinator ("DPC") to discuss enrolment. If he/she is unfamiliar with our offerings, please ask him/her to contact us, using the contact information on the "Contact Us" page of this website. We are also happy to contact the DPC on your behalf, if you send us an email with the necessary contact and background information.
• For classes beginning in September 2013, we hope to launch a pilot programme, with the support of the IB, to offer enrolment in online IB Certificate courses to a limited number of students who do not attend IB World Schools. These students would be supported by an "Open World School", which is an IB World School specially authorised by the IB to support "external" students. This programme is still being developed in cooperation with the IB. We will announce further details on our website, as soon as they are available.

• For students at IB World Schools, the cost of enrolment in Pamoja Education online IB courses is paid by the school. The per-student cost depends on the number of students enrolled from that school. For details, please refer to our "Enrolment Information" page on this website.
• Some schools may seek reimbursement from parents for some or all of the enrolment costs. This decision is made by the school, and typically depends on the way in which, and the level at which, the school receives its own funding. Please contact your school for further details.

• At present, all of our courses are two years in length, and prepare students for the May IB external assessments. That means that students entering in September 2011 will sit their external assessments in May 2013. In January 2013 we plan to start additional course sections to target the November 2013 assessments.

• SL (Standard Level) courses typically require 6-8 hours of work per week. HL (Higher Level) courses typically require 8-10 hours. For the sake of comparison, please remember that, although the distinction is blurred in an online setting, these estimates cover both "class time" and "homework".
• We ask schools to make time available at school for students to work on their online courses. Usually, schools will allocate the same amount of time as for a traditional course at the same level. The remainder of your work can be completed at home, or any other place where you are able to use your computer. While web access is required for research and interaction, you can also work on many assignments offline.

• The course will be more fun if you enjoy using computers for surfing the web, communicating with friends, etc. However, no technical skills or background are required. You will learn to use the various online tools within the context of the course.

• Our approach is similar to that in any school, with planned absences handled on an individual basis. Especially in light of the diverse nature of our student body, teachers will make every effort to be flexible if there are valid reasons for the absence. However, just like in a traditional class, the teacher needs to balance the individual student's needs with requirements for group work, etc. If you expect to be absent, it is essential that you contact your online teacher as early as possible in advance, in order to discuss appropriate arrangements.
• In case of illness, please try to let your teacher and Site-based Coordinator (SBC) know. If you are unable to do this, your parents or guardians can contact the SBC, who will contact us.
• You are, of course, responsible for making up any work missed during your absence.

• The requirements for, and scope of, internal assessments are the same as for a traditional course.
• External assessments (IB May exams) are handled in the traditional way (i.e. not online), and are taken at the student's IB World School. Students in Online courses take the exact same exams as students in traditional courses.

• No distinction is made on Diplomas or Certificates. In the eyes of the International Baccalaureate, Pamoja Education online courses are the full equivalent of a traditional IB course, taken at an IB World School.