It’s hard to imagine a bigger challenge than the one COVID-19 has thrown at the world in the last few months, and in many ways, it has revealed which Beijing schools are truly able to maintain their high standards while also putting students first. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, and it’s become apparent that when life gives you COVID-19, Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) makes innovations. One of the skills that DCB cultivates with their students is adapting to change, and now those same teachers have gotten the chance to put their philosophies into practice, taking on three key challenges, and finding three unique, “Dulwich Difference” solutions.
The problem: IB Art students’ final exhibition could not be held on campus
The DCB solution: Hold a small IB Art Exhibition in 798 Art District and document it for the community
As the culmination of two years of hard work by IB students, the IB Art Exhibition is an essential component of the program and is usually held every year in spring over four weeks in the school’s Main Atrium. This year, with the school campus closed, DCB instead moved the exhibition to the prestigious 798 Art District for one intimate, socially-distanced opening event. As well as hanging the artworks, DCB hired a multimedia journalist to record the works, and also interviewed each artist about their portfolio.
One of the exhibition artists, Year 13 student Kristal D described what it was like to take part in the exhibition: “The exhibition and exhibition preparation not only pushed us to finish incomplete artwork from before the school closure, but it also brought us an invaluable sense of motivation during these tumultuous times.
Check out the exhibition and artist interviews yourself, right here.
The Problem: IGCSE exams are canceled for Year 11 students
The DCB solution: Use this time to give them a head start on the IB Diploma Program
Of course, the IB final show wasn’t the only academic milestone to be interrupted. With the usual IGCSE exams (UK’s General Certificate of Secondary Education) canceled all over the world, the Senior School instead used this time to enhance their Year 11 students’ transition into the IBDP stage of learning, with a special two-week induction program. Participating Year 11 students got to experience IBDP taster lessons, understand horizontal links between subjects, and develop a strong foundation in what to expect from the IB courses as well as the expectations of workload and commitment and an understanding of university-level studying demands.
The program was a resounding success. In the words of student Victoria F, “The experience has been eye-opening to say the least! It made me feel less overwhelmed with the upcoming year. I gained a lot from this experience because just knowing a little bit of what’s to come made me less afraid.” It was also an invaluable resource for teachers, as it provided them with a snapshot of each student’s ability to cope with IBDP learning, so that everyone can hit the ground running when the program begins. In fact, while exams should be running as usual next year, DCB plans to implement elements of this program in future academic years, to ensure it doesn’t go to waste.
The Problem: The school library is closed
The DCB solution: Transform a school bus into a ‘Bookmobile’ to deliver reading materials directly to students
Of course, Senior School students aren’t the only ones who have benefited from the Dulwich Difference in this tough time; with Junior School students unable to visit their beloved library, the library came to them instead! Thanks to the Junior School Bookmobile program, which was launched mid-May, students can now reserve books on the school’s online library system and have them delivered to designated spots around town, in a school bus that has been specially repurposed for the task. All the books are packed into special library bags (after being disinfected and sanitized) and brought to the students during two different delivery days (Shunyi on Wednesdays, and Chaoyang on Thursdays). Upon return, the books are kept in “book quarantine” for two weeks before being available for lending again.
The Bookmobile is a hit, with the Junior School students very excited to collect their books from the friendly, familiar school bus. And with students all over the world spending more time on computers and tablets than ever before, this kind of access to physical materials is critical. “With Beijing coming back to life, it was time to work with our Library Team on continuing to support our Junior School passion for reading, as well as encouraging screen-free time at home,” says Head of Junior School Daniel Nichol. “I feel very proud that we have taken this on and made the Bookmobile possible for Junior School.
KEEP READING: DCB Art Students Draw on Talent for COVID-19 Donations
