Twenty-one years later I find I am still working through and developing my understanding. So my first message today, if you are new to the PYP, is do not worry if it all seems a bit confusing. However what is evident for me now is how forward thinking the IB were in their development of this programme.
Many of the ideas that are now recognized as vital parts of education were already in place in the PYP 21 years ago. Our set of attitudes which are now part of the IB Learner Profile recognized the importance of elements of collaboration, communication and creativity - all of which occur in current literature around excellent 21st century learning. Skills education was embedded into the programme as part of the essential elements and now educators and researchers are acknowledging the importance of skills focused education in addition to the acquisition of knowledge.