International Organization Names Lakehead U Professor Deputy Chief Examiner for Visual Arts

(Thunder Bay - July 6, 2005) A Lakehead University professor was recently named Deputy Chief Examiner for the Visual Arts with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Dr. Fiona Blaikie was officially welcomed to the IBO in June, and starts her duties on September 1, 2005.

The IBO aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The IBO works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education. The IBO offers three programs to a wide variety of schools located throughout the world: the Diploma Program for students in the final two years of school before university; the Middle Years Program for students aged 11 to 16; and the Primary Years Program for students aged 3 to 12.

"I am extremely pleased to be offered this position with the IBO," says Dr. Blaikie. "I believe in developing the creative minds of our youth, and this is an excellent opportunity to encourage growth among these students, and take an active part in their artistic progress."

Deputy Chief Examiners are highly qualified and experienced educational practitioners. As the Deputy Chief Examiner for the Visual Arts, Dr. Blaikie will provide support to the Chief Examiner in providing leadership for a team of examiners in consultation with staff at the IB Curriculum and Assessment Centre (IBCA), and may be called upon to act for the Chief Examiner in his or her absence. Dr. Blaikie will participate in the preparation of examination papers, assessment criteria, and the marking and/or moderation of candidates' examination material, among other duties. Her term with the IBO is for two years.

Dr. Blaikie is a professor with the Faculty of Education at Lakehead U and the Director of the Joint Doctoral Program in Educational Studies. Her research interests include art education, aesthetics and art criticism in the classroom, multiculturalism and gender issues, and curriculum theory.

Dr. Blaikie also chairs the Community Arts and Heritage Education Project (CAHEP), which is designed to enhance accessibility to arts and heritage programming in the community, and makes the work of artists, performers, and the achievements of cultural and historical organizations more visible in Thunder Bay schools.

The Joint PhD in Educational Studies is offered jointly by Lakehead University, Brock University, the University of Western Ontario, and the University of Windsor.

-30-