Potomac High – International Baccalaureate Advanced Independent Research and Study Skills

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

The aim of this course is designed to help IB Diploma Candidates improve their learning effectiveness, attitudes, and awareness. The following skills are included in the curriculum – time management, concentration and stamina, study skills, close reading and annotation, formal writing, note-taking skills, textbook study methods, assessment strategies, and critical thinking skills. In addition, students will be guided by their instructor/advisor to access digital resources recommended for their various IB subjects, as well as enhance their communication and presentation skills. Students will also appropriately apply and reinforce learned research skills to complete assigned IB assessments. The outcome for this class is for students to produce a well-developed authentic essay that demonstrates their ability to formulate a research question, choose a relevant topic worthy of investigation, plan and use an appropriate range of resources, gather and organize data, demonstrate knowledge and understanding through a detailed, logical, cohesive presentation that is stated precisely with appropriate terminology. Students will be required to collaborate with their peers, maintain a portfolio for this class, and post weekly blogs on their performance expectations and learned outcomes.