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The WAB Podcast

The WAB Podcast

By: Western Academy of Beijing
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The WAB Podcast brings you engaging and inspiring stories about innovative learning, school activities, and community initiatives at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), a leading international school in Beijing. Join us for conversations that will connect you with the educators, students, parents, and staff who make our international school community unique.Western Academy of Beijing 2023
Episodes
  • Year-End Reflection with Students and School Leadership
    Jun 12 2025

    As the school year draws to a close and the summer holiday approaches, we bring you a special end-of-year episode and the season finale. In this episode, two Grade 11 students, Francesco and Grace, took the mic. They sat down with our Head of School, Marta Medved Krajnovic, and Stephen Taylor, WAB's Director of Innovation in Learning and Teaching, to reflect on the year’s highlights and look ahead to the future.

    A Year of Celebration and Connection

    From September 1, when our community came together to launch the 30th anniversary, this year has been a joyful celebration of WAB’s enduring spirit. Marta shared that alongside the opening ceremony and alumni profile awards, WAB hosted over 30 alumni reunions in cities around the world. These events offered opportunities to reconnect and reflect on what continues to make WAB feel like home, even decades after graduation.

    Another major moment was the #FOEN25: Future of Education Now conference in March, where WAB welcomed global thought leaders to engage with students, educators, and innovators around the future of learning. Student agency, the concept that students are powerful co-creators of their learning, was a central theme, as it has been since WAB’s founding.

    The unveiling of the Jane Goodall statue during Jazz and Chill also stood out. Jane, a long-time friend of the school, represents the values of curiosity, courage, and care that continue to shape our learning environment.

    Navigating Change and Transition

    Change is a familiar part of life at international schools, whether it's moving from school sections, starting the diploma program, or preparing to graduate. Stephen highlighted the importance of WAB’s traditions, like the Grade 8 bridge crossing or the Grade 12 graduation walk, in helping students make meaning of these transitions. These moments of reflection offer both a sense of continuity and celebration.

    Francesco reflected on his own transitions through WAB and how, even amid change, there is a comforting sense of familiarity and belonging. Grace shared how these traditions help tie the past and present together, allowing each new generation of students to feel part of something larger.

    AI in Education

    One of the most discussed topics this year was the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into education. Stephen described WAB’s approach as “careful and considered,” striking a balance between the opportunities AI offers and the ethical considerations it demands, while maintaining a strong commitment to student agency. Rather than banning AI or adopting it uncritically, WAB encourages students to use AI as a tool to support and enhance their learning. "Who is doing the thinking?" is the essential question, Stephen emphasized.

    Both school leaders and students acknowledged the challenges and uncertainties surrounding AI, from data privacy to environmental impact. Nevertheless, they agreed that learning to use AI responsibly is essential for future success. As Grace pointed out, demystifying AI and understanding how to use it appropriately prepares students for a world where such technologies will be integral to the workplace.

    A Community of Lifelong Learners

    A consistent theme in the conversation was the shared commitment to lifelong learning among students, teachers, and school leaders. Marta noted that even school leaders regularly participate in upskilling sessions, underscoring that everyone at WAB is "learning together", adapting to new technologies and global developments as a unified community.

    This spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and resilience is what will carry WAB into the next 30 years and beyond, intertwining its past and future, its traditions and innovations. Don't miss this student-led conversation as we honor the past and look forward to what's ahead!

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    19 mins
  • Toddle Comes to Middle School: A New Era of Learning
    Jun 5 2025

     Welcome to the WAB Podcast! In this episode, Kevin Crouch, WAB's Head of EdTech, IT, and Libraries, sat down with three students, Ville from Grade 5, Sophie and Ciara from Grade 7, along with Middle School Principal Marina Frias-Gavidia, to discuss the exciting rollout of Toddle in Middle School next school year. They also talked about how it can facilitate student learning, increase student agency, and incorporate AI-powered support.

    Why Toddle?

    For the past four years, Toddle has been a cornerstone of learning in the Elementary School, streamlining everything from lesson planning to student portfolios. Now, it's expanding to Middle School, bringing its all-in-one platform to older students.

    As Kevin explained, Toddle unites the entire learning process—teachers can plan, assess, and report in one place, while students gain more ownership of their learning through digital portfolios. Unlike Teams or other platforms, Toddle keeps everything connected, ensuring that learning goals, assignments, and feedback stay aligned.

    What Students Love About Toddle

    Grade 5 student Ville has been a Toddle user for many years, and he highlighted its functions and flexibility:

    • Rubrics help students self-assess and improve their work.
    • The Portfolio lets students showcase learning anytime, not just when teachers assign tasks.
    • Toddle AI acts as a creative assistant, helping brainstorm project ideas.

    For Middle Schoolers like Sophie and Ciara, the move to Toddle will mean better organization across their eight subjects.

     New Features for Middle School

    Kevin pointed out that Toddle has also evolved since some Middle School students last used it. Exciting updates include:

    • AI-powered tutoring: Students can get instant feedback and practice at their own pace.
    • Adaptive "Worksheets": Like Education Perfect, but integrated directly into Toddle.
    • Parent access: While daily classwork stays private, parents can see assignments, feedback, and portfolio posts.

    Marina emphasized that Toddle supports personalized learning, whether a student needs extra practice or is ready to advance.

    What About Teams?

    Sophie and Ciara also wondered whether Teams will still be used. Kevin explained that Teams will remain for school-wide communication, while Toddle becomes the hub for classwork, assignments, and portfolios.

    Want to hear the full discussion and get to learn how Toddle can bring more student agency, clearer feedback, and better parent insight? Tune into this episode!

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    14 mins
  • Exploring Minds, Shaping Futures in Middle School
    May 30 2025
    Welcome to the WAB Podcast! In this episode, we're learning about Middle School Individuals & Societies. Joining us were Grade 6 student Justin, Grade 7 student Frederic, Grade 8 student Iris, along with their I&S teacher, Claudia Gomez. Claudia explains how Individuals & Societies goes beyond traditional social studies. Rooted in the IB Middle Years Programme framework, it’s an interdisciplinary, skills-based subject where students learn to: Formulate meaningful research questionsDesign and implement action plansReflect deeply on their learning journey This approach nurtures critical thinking, ethical action, and global awareness, preparing students for high school and a future shaped by complexity and change. What makes Individuals & Societies truly unique, Claudia noted, is its interdisciplinary nature. Students engage with history, geography, political science, economics, and psychology to understand how societies function, and how they can shape a better world. Real World Learning Our students shared how Individuals & Societies has influenced their learning across subjects and in their personal lives. Iris highlighted how the research skills she gained helped her distinguish fake news in her math and science projects. Justin found that the research and critical thinking skills he's developed are invaluable in debate competitions outside of school. Frederic appreciates how Individuals & Societies helps him understand the economic and political factors that shape history. The Individuals & Societies curriculum also centers on real-world issues through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Students research topics like environmental, social, and economic sustainability, often conducting field studies within our school community. For example, Frederic studied the economic impacts of tourism, examining a whale shark tourism model in the Philippines. For the recent field studies, he chose to explore responsible consumption and production, focusing on how efficiently we use school supplies. While Justin focused on investigating the globalization of fast food and its effects on local economies, he shared that this made him realize how global businesses can hurt small restaurants and communities. Iris emphasized how Individuals & Societies has strengthened her ability to engage with current events. She also pointed out that through her learning, she could understand more about the news, discuss with her parents at the dinner table, and ask better questions. Curious About Middle School? Tune in to this episode to hear directly from our students about how Individuals & Societies is shaping their thinking, empowering their voices, and preparing them to face real-world challenges with ethical action and informed insight.  
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    14 mins
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