Exploring Science, the IB Way, with Ms Paige MacDonald

At Windhoek International School, science isn’t just about textbooks and lab coats—it’s about curiosity, creativity, and discovery. That’s why we’re so excited to welcome Ms. Paige MacDonald, our new DP Chemistry and MYP Integrated Sciences teacher!

We caught up with Paige to hear about her first impressions of WIS and what makes science in the International Baccalaureate (IB) such a game-changer for students.

First impressions matter! How has your arrival at WIS been?

Ms. MacDonald: Honestly, I’ve felt so welcomed. The students are incredibly kind—everyone says hi when I’m walking around campus, which makes it feel like such a friendly place.

The campus itself is beautiful. I love the mix of natural flora, upcycled materials, and art installations scattered across the school. It feels creative and inspiring. And my colleagues? They’ve been wonderful to work with. It already feels like a community.

What’s happening in your science labs right now?

Ms. MacDonald: The students dove right into their self-designed experiments! In the Diploma Programme (DP), they’re working on their Internal Assessments (IAs)—which are independent research projects required as a component of the 2-year DP Chemistry Syllabus which our Grade 11 and 12 students complete.

With these IAs, instead of just following step-by-step instructions, students get to:

• design their own research question,

• plan and run trials, and

• build conclusions from their data.

  
  

It’s all about student-driven science. So far, I’ve seen investigations on titrations, complexometric analysis, acid-base chemistry, and even testing how UV light affects Vitamin C. The level of student creativity and independence is great to see!

What’s the secret to being a good scientist? Why is the IB approach to science so life-changing?

Ms. MacDonald: In the IB, students don’t just learn science—they think like scientists. They practice asking deep questions, designing fair tests, controlling variables, and analyzing real data. These are skills they’ll use long after graduation, whether they go into medicine, engineering, business, or any other field.

The IB makes science about discovery rather than memorization. It helps students see connections between science and the real world, which makes their learning more meaningful—and exciting.

What do the students say?

“I like how Ms. MacDonald teaches us. She’s wonderful. Her way of teaching is really nice and she gives us the freedom to design our own experiments.”

“This class is challenging and I make plenty of mistakes, but it’s also fun. I like that I get to actually test my ideas. I need to stay focused, because if I procrastinate then I know that I won’t get my project completed like I want.”

“I never thought I’d be able to design my own experiment, but here I am – running trials on a question I came up with myself. Resilience is key. You need to start over a lot.”

“The IB approach makes me stay organised, because I have lots of different experiments running at once for my different classes. I want to study pharmaceutical sciences, and I can see how this class is preparing me for university and beyond.”

“As I design and conduct my different experiments, I’m learning when to ask for help and when to go it alone. I am learning that I can trust myself and depend upon my judgement.”

At WIS, science is hands-on, applied to real-life contexts, and student-driven. With teachers like Ms. MacDonald as guides and mentors, WIS students don’t just study chemistry—they’re preparing to change the world.

(Photos: DP students at WIS in action—titrations, UV light experiments, and more)