Posted on 07 July 2012 at 23:57h

At my latest IB workshop in Brussels, we had the pleasure of having a curriculum manager on site. We had the chance to ask her several questions about the ways in which schools must administer the language and literature course. In other words, we wanted to know about the further oral activity reflective statement forms and the written task rationale forms. I know many of us are guilty of keeping poor records on reflective statements, because 1) they do not count for a mark and 2) we do not have any forms. Here are a few answers that are worth mentioning:

• The written task rationale forms will be filled in on IBIS directly. The written tasks themselves will be uploaded in a way similar to the TOK essays in the past. Teachers must check a box that verifies that the student's work is authentically their own. It is still unclear if teachers must upload the documents and fill in the electronic fields for the rationale form, of if students will be enabled to do so. (If anyone has experience with students uploading their material onto IBIS, please comment here. I believe it is possible.) 
   
• The further oral activity reflective statements will be kept on an old-fashioned paper form that we keep in school for school purposes only. Remember, the best student performance is the one that counts toward their internal assessment mark. 
   
• There will be an electronic form that we must fill in to communicate our course overview to the IB. In this overview, you list as many 'topics' for Parts 1 and 2 as would like. You may also call these topics anything you like. We do not have to use the 'suggested topics' list on pages 18-20 of the guide. I have been told that examiners will be able to look at this overview as they assess written tasks, Paper 1s or Paper 2s. (Please keep in mind that with e-marking next year, we will not be sending all of the exams from one school to one examiner. They will be dispersed.)