Activity 1 - What can I do to prepare?

Activity Tasks
  1. Task - Over the summer you will be expected to prepare for your IBDP Global Politics course by undertaking some experiences from the following activities on this page. The aim is to try and improve your knowledge and understanding of global politics. For any activity, you will of course need parental permission!
  2. Create - Choose a method for you to record your experiences and reflections over the summer as you undertake some of these engagement tasks. Consider creating a Padlet to record evidence of your learning. This could take the form of the following evidence:
    1. Images
    2. Interviews
    3. Media 
    4. Surveys
    5. Observations
    6. Videos
    7. Voice reflections
    8. Written reflections
  3. Present - Prepare your evidence of learning to present back to your class and teacher when you return after the summer. You will be asked to share your learning and experiences of what you have done to engage and prepare for the IBDP Global Politics course.

Activity 2 - What can I read?

Activity Tasks
  1. Review - Examine the list of recommended summer reading books on this worksheet. Review the synopsis of each book and consider which ones might be of interest to you.
  2. Select - Choose and select one of the recommended reading books to read over the summer. As you read, make a note of some of the political issues, concepts, and perspectives that emerge. 
  3. Reflect - How has this book challenged your understanding of global politics? What new issues have emerged in your thinking about global politics?
  4. Commit - Take your knowledge further by committing yourself to regularly reading world news from one of these online news sources or one of the following news magazines or even some of these independent magazines.

Activity 3 - What can I watch?

Activity Tasks
  1. Select - Choose one of the feature length documentary films on this worksheet to watch over the summer. As you watch, take notes on any political issues, key concepts, levels of analysis and perspectives that are relevant.
  2. Review - Explore these upcoming movies and see what is showing in Hong Kong this summer. Try and identify a movie that has a focus related to any possible political issues from global politics. Try watching and reflecting on the movie in terms of what political issues, concepts, and perspectives are raised in the movie.
  3. Subscribe - Take your watching further by subscribing to one of the news and politics YouTube Channels listed on this worksheet. Or even suggest one of your choice. Try watching it over the summer to explore global political issues further.
  4. Discuss - To what extent do documentaries and feature films enable us to explore political issues on a deeper level?

Activity 4 - What can I listen to?

Activity Tasks
  1. Select - Choose one of the following Podcasts (or find another yourself) to subscribe to and listen to over the summer on your IOS or Android device:
    1. BBC Global News Podcast
    2. Talking Politics and Talking Politics History of Ideas
    3. The Daily from the New York Times
    4. Today Explained by Vox
    5. Asia Unbound by the US Council of Foreign Relations
    6. China in the World by CNAS
    7. The Economist Radio by the Economist Magazine
    8. Hong Kong Today by RTHK
  2. Reflect - As you listen, try recording your reflections on the political issues raised in the episodes each week. Again, refer to the key concepts, levels of analysis, and stakeholder perspectives as a way to structure your notes.
  3. Discuss - To what extent does radio and Podcasts present global news in a more informative and measured way? Is it more useful to us than TV and video media?

Activity 5 - What can I study?

Activity Tasks
  1. Explore - Some further study can also be done by watching and taking notes from YouTube Channels. Try subscribing and watching regularly one of these YouTube channels to upskill your knowledge about global politics:
    1. The School of Life
    2. Visual Politik
    3. Bloomberg Politics
    4. CrashCourse US Government and Politics
    5. Vox
    6. TED - Ideas Worth Spreading
  2. Learn - Online learning has developed rapidly in the last few years and there are many online courses, some free and some paid, that can help extend your learning in global politics and help enrich your university personal statements. Try signing up for one of the following courses:
    1. Community Organising for Social Justice by University of Michigan, USA
    2. Global Diplomacy - Diplomacy in the Modern World by SOAS University of London, UK
    3. How to Change the World by Wesleyan University, USA
    4. International Law in Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes by Leiden University, The Netherlands
    5. Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens by University of Melbourne, Australia
    6. Moral Foundations of Politics by Yale, USA
    7. Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: Comparing Theory & Practice by Leiden University, The Netherlands
    8. The Changing Global Order by Leiden University, The Netherlands
    9. The Modern World - Global History from 1760-1910 by University of Virginia, USA
    10. The Sustainable Development Goals - A Global, Transdisciplinary Vision for the Future by University of Copenhagen, Denmark
    11. Understanding International Relations Theory by National Research University, Russia
  3. Prepare - You can also prepare for your IBDP global politics course by buying and pre-reading some of the sections of your recommended course textbooks which will be:
    1. Core Textbook - Kirsch, M. (2017). Oxford IB Diploma Programme: Global Politics Course Companion
    2. Revision Textbook - Murphy, R. & Gleek, C. (2016). Pearson Baccalaureate: Global Politics
    3. Extension Textbook - Heywood, A. (2011), Global Politics

Activity 6 - What can I do?

Activity Tasks
  1. Volunteer - Volunteering your time and energy for a local charity or NGO can be a fulfilling experience, helping you to learn new skills, meet new people, and experience political issues in the local community at first hand. It can also provide you with ideas for your CAS and Engagement Activities projects, and help broaden your CV:
    1. Social Career - This app is a great way to explore local charities, NGOs, and social enterprises that are looking for volunteers to help them out. Try seeing what is available over the summer.
    2. Volunteering in Hong Kong: 10 ways to help make a difference - This website gives some suggestions for organisations and charities that are looking for people to help them out.
    3. Volunteering in Hong Kong: local charities to support - Another selection of local groups that are in need of extra help and support from volunteers.
  2. Participate - Being actively involved in local political and social issues is a great way to learn about global politics by doing something experientially:
    1. ECAs - The school currently offers a range of opportunities with ECAs like the Model United Nations, ISSJ, and Debate. Why not propose and lead a new ECA?
    2. CAS -  Check out other opportunities for participation in community issues at the school CAS fair held in Term 1. Local organisations and groups will be advertising opportunities for you to get involved.
    3. Observe - Interested in law? Then why not visit a session of the Court of Final Appeal which is open to public viewing. More information can be found here. You can also visit LEGCO and observe the legislative council meetings. Check out how to do this here!
  3. Engage - There is nothing stopping you from engaging with political parties, becoming a member, and volunteering your time to a political cause and party that you believe in. In fact, this can often be a great way of experiencing politics and serving the community. Try exploring the websites of the following political parties for more details:
    1. Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong
    2. Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong
    3. Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions
    4. Liberal Party (Hong Kong)
    5. Democratic Party (Hong Kong)
    6. Civic Party
    7. Professional Commons
    8. Labour Party (Hong Kong)

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Best tips for success in IB Global Politics? : IBO - This Reddit thread and others like it are a great way to explore what other students are doing to prepare for IBDP Global Politics
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. IB GLOBAL POLITICS HL: HOW TO GET A 7 - An interesting video from an ex-IBDP student on what she did to get a level 7 in global politics.
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
  1. What can I do with an international relations degree? - This was written for UK students, but this is a useful page for exploring what possible career pathways are open to politics and international relations graduates

Y7-9 MYP

Y7 Humanities
Y8 Humanities
Y9 Explorations

Y10-11 IGCSE

IGCSE Global Perspectives
Global Politics & Debate
MUN

Y12-13 IBDP