Introduction
In IB schools, the unit planner is much more than a documentation requirement — it’s a window into thinking. Yet too often, planners are treated as static forms completed for compliance rather than as dynamic tools for reflection.
When used intentionally, unit planners become living reflection tools — helping teachers think critically about inquiry design, alignment, and student growth. A reflective unit planner evolves over time, capturing not just what was taught, but how learning unfolded, what changed, and why. This ongoing process turns planning into professional inquiry.
Quick Start Checklist
To turn unit planners into reflective tools, begin with these key steps:
- Shift from documentation to dialogue — treat the planner as a living document.
- Use reflection prompts throughout the teaching cycle.
- Collaborate with colleagues to co-reflect on unit effectiveness.
- Review planners regularly instead of just at the end of a term.
- Link reflections to IB evaluation and departmental growth.
These small shifts help teachers see unit planning as a professional learning process, not a paperwork exercise.
Why Reflection Belongs in Unit Planning
The IB framework is built on the cycle of inquiry, action, and reflection. Unit planners should embody that same philosophy. Reflection helps teachers:
- Identify how well learning experiences align with conceptual understanding.
- Recognize evidence of student agency and engagement.
- Adjust teaching strategies based on observation and feedback.
- Build a record of professional growth over time.
When reflection is ongoing, unit planners become maps of both curriculum evolution and teacher learning.
Making Unit Planners “Living” Documents
A “living” planner grows and adapts as teaching unfolds. Instead of filling it in before or after instruction, teachers revisit it throughout the unit.
Practical ways to bring planners to life:
- Use shared digital versions so teams can update reflections collaboratively.
- Add reflection checkpoints — mid-unit and end-of-unit.
- Encourage annotations directly within sections (e.g., conceptual understanding or approaches to learning).
- Record changes in real time when lessons shift or inquiry takes unexpected directions.
This approach not only improves curriculum design but also models flexibility — a hallmark of IB teaching.
Embedding Reflective Prompts in the Planner
Reflection thrives on good questions. Coordinators can enhance unit planners by integrating reflective prompts such as:
- What evidence of student inquiry did we notice this week?
- How effectively did students transfer understanding between contexts?
- Which learning experiences best supported the Learner Profile attributes?
- How might we redesign this task to strengthen reflection?
Embedding these prompts normalizes reflection as part of the planning routine rather than an afterthought.
Using Collaborative Reflection to Strengthen Alignment
Departmental collaboration transforms planners into shared inquiry tools. Teachers can:
- Review each other’s planners to discuss how concepts and skills progress across year levels.
- Identify patterns in student understanding that inform future units.
- Use planners as discussion anchors during moderation or curriculum reviews.
This collaborative approach supports vertical alignment and ensures consistency across classes — strengthening the coherence of the IB programme as a whole.
Connecting Unit Reflections to the IB Learner Profile
Every unit is an opportunity to reinforce the IB Learner Profile. When reflecting, teachers can ask:
- Which attributes were most visible during this unit?
- How did students demonstrate growth as inquirers or communicators?
- What opportunities could be added to foster balance, caring, or risk-taking?
Tracking Learner Profile connections across planners helps departments monitor how the school’s values are lived out in practice.
Reflection-Informed Planning Cycles
A reflective planner should always lead to action. Coordinators can close the loop by ensuring that insights from one cycle inform the next.
Examples include:
- Adjusting formative assessments to better measure conceptual transfer.
- Redesigning inquiry questions to promote deeper engagement.
- Incorporating student reflection evidence into future planning discussions.
This iterative process transforms reflection from commentary into improvement — a living embodiment of the IB philosophy.
Digital Tools for Living Unit Planners
Digital platforms make reflective planning more accessible and collaborative. Tools like RevisionDojo, Google Docs, or shared drives allow teachers to:
- Document evidence of student learning as it happens.
- Add comments and reflections asynchronously.
- Track changes across academic years.
- Generate reports for IB evaluation directly from planner data.
Technology helps planners evolve into genuine reflection systems rather than static records.
Building Reflection Into Departmental Culture
To sustain reflective planning, IB Coordinators can:
- Schedule time during meetings specifically for unit reflection.
- Use planners as evidence for professional growth conversations.
- Encourage teachers to share planner excerpts as case studies.
- Include reflection outcomes in annual curriculum reviews.
When reflection becomes embedded in culture, planners shift from compliance tools to professional mirrors.
Call to Action
Unit planners should tell the story of thinking, not just teaching. Turning them into living reflection tools elevates collaboration, improves coherence, and strengthens IB alignment across departments.
Explore how RevisionDojo supports IB schools in creating dynamic, reflective unit planning systems that bring inquiry to life. Visit revisiondojo.com/schools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What makes a unit planner “living”?
A living planner evolves throughout a unit — it’s updated with reflections, evidence, and adjustments in real time. It’s not static documentation but a record of ongoing inquiry.
2. How often should teachers reflect within planners?
Ideally, at least twice per unit: mid-way and after completion. However, short weekly reflections can capture valuable insights that might otherwise be forgotten.
3. How can reflection improve unit design?
Reflection reveals what worked, what didn’t, and why. It helps teachers identify gaps in inquiry, assessment, and alignment with IB principles.
4. How can departments use planners collaboratively?
Teams can review each other’s planners to discuss conceptual progression, alignment, and consistency — promoting shared professional growth.
5. What evidence should schools keep for IB evaluation?
Annotated unit planners, reflection summaries, and evidence of revisions between cycles provide strong documentation of reflective practice.
