Explaining the MYP in Under 2 Minutes – Can It Be Done? ????

A few days ago, I found myself in one of those classic "educator moments" — the kind that really makes you think on your feet.

I was deep in conversation with a senior IB educator when they hit me with this curveball:

“How would you explain the MYP in less than 2 minutes to someone who has absolutely no knowledge about the IB or the MYP?”

For a moment, I froze. How do you condense an entire framework — years of philosophy, practices, and pedagogy — into a two-minute pitch? ??

But after gathering my thoughts, I went for it. I said:

"In MYP, you have a real-life situation or problem in front of the learners, and you guide them to inquire about solutions and acquire necessary learning — rather than teaching them something first and then asking them to find contexts to apply it."

I waited, expecting a nod, maybe even a smile of approval. But nothing.

No smile. No hint of encouragement. Just the same skeptical look — the kind that makes you second-guess everything you just said. ??

And that’s when I thought to myself:

Was that the right answer? Did I really capture the essence of the MYP? Or did I completely miss the mark?

Was I on the Right Track?

Reflecting on it now, I wonder — did I say what needed to be said?

I tried to focus on what I believe is core to the MYP: inquiry-based learning, real-world connections, and the shift from learning content first to focusing on application and context. But could I have highlighted more?

The MYP is so much more — it’s about fostering curiosity, developing global-mindedness, and building skills through the Approaches to Learning (ATL). It emphasizes conceptual understanding, interdisciplinary learning, and even personal growth through the Personal Project.

But trying to say all that in under 2 minutes? It’s tough.

Your Turn! ??

So, fellow educators, how would YOU explain the MYP in under 2 minutes?

• Would you focus on the Global Contexts?
• Emphasize ATL skills and student agency?
• Or would you simplify it even further — finding that perfect "aha!" explanation?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. ????

Let’s see if, together, we can craft the ultimate “MYP Elevator Pitch” — something simple, yet powerful, that even someone completely new to IB could walk away from thinking, “Now I get it!”

And maybe, just maybe, it’ll be good enough to turn even the most skeptical looks into a smile. ??

So… what’s your 2-minute pitch? ???

#IBEducator #MYP #InquiryLearning #EdChat #GlobalEducation