BELS Benefits from BLIS Expertise

Photograph by Hüseyin Durmuş

Şelale Atalar, Bilkent Laboratory & International School (BLIS) science head of department (HOD), has recently conducted workshops at Bilkent Erzurum Laboratory School (BELS) in Erzurum.

In a workshop for BELS science teachers, Ms. Atalar discussed examiners' use of rubrics and explained how marks are awarded. She also highlighted the importance of the initial investigative question to a successful Extended Essay. In the afternoon, she instructed the BELS faculty on Moodle, the open-source course management system. She shared ways she uses Moodle with students.

Ms. Atalar also spoke about BLIS's annual science fair, noting how it helps students develop organizational skills, learn to work in an interdisciplinary environment, become familiar with the scientific method and gain the ability to formulate and investigate a hypothesis. This background is of great benefit to students when they prepare their International Baccalaureate papers.

Contacts between faculty members of the two Bilkent laboratory schools have been increasing. BLIS teachers worked with BELS students in science and math last summer, in coordination with three BELS teachers. In October, two BELS teachers visited Ankara. Özgül Topal, social studies HOD, worked with Aynur Köksal, BLIS social studies HOD, and High School Director Ayşegül Erdem. Sandi Steffen, IGCSE English HOD, met with Anne Akay, BLIS IGCSE Coordinator and English HOD.