Classroom Spotlight | AP and DP History

by BIS / 2022.03.25 Friday / Published in NEWS, news & event

BIS offers various classes that prepare students for university level courses. DP History is a two year course available for Grade 11 and 12 and AP Modern World History is a one year course available for Grade 9 and 10. Both courses involve the study of political, economic, social and cultural history and encourage students to think historically and to develop historical skills. In this way, both courses involve a challenging and demanding critical exploration of the past. Ms. Gina Smith is the teacher of both classes.

The DP history course is a world history course based on a comparative, multi-perspective approach to history and is focused around key historical concepts such as change, causation and significance. Our Paper 1 Prescribed Subject is “Rights and Protests” on South Africa and the United States. Our Paper 2 World History Topics are “Independence Movements (1800-2000)” with an emphasis on Zimbabwe, India/Pakistan, and Ireland, and “The Cold War: Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)” with an emphasis on the United States and Soviet Union. Our Depth Study is “History of the Americas” with a focus on Latin American authoritarian regimes and guerilla movements. A grade of 5 out of 7 will earn students credit in most American universities.

AP World History: Modern is an introductory college-level modern world history course. Students cultivate their understanding of world history from c. 1200 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation. A grade of 3 out of 5 will earn students credit in American universities. Although the course prepares students for the AP exam, it is not just an exam-prep class. A wide range of activities are deployed, ranging from lecture, student lead lessons, and gamified simulations. The class uses MYP criteria and adapts the philosophy of the IB by evaluating the holistic performance of the student, including their creativity and presentation skills.