Stephen Taylor

Director of Learning and IBMYP Coordinator at Canadian Academy, Kobe, Japan. Former HOD Science and IBDP Biology and MYP Science teacher. Middle school girls’ football coach and high school Eco Club supervisor. IBEN school visitor and candidate school consultant.

Father of two Cross Culture Kids, living in Kobe, Japan, though originally from the UK. Bandung, Indonesia and the English Lakes are also ‘home’. Author of i-Biology.net. Recently graduated from the MA in International Education pathway at the University of Bath and trying to think critically about my teaching and act on my learning. Current interests include internationalism, evidence-based teaching practices and making meaningful use of educational technology.

Family, surf, snowboard, service and travel.

This is my attempt at a more reflective personal professional development blog. I believe that as international educators we occupy a position of privilege and should share our learning and resources with others.

The views expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of my school or the IB. 

If you want to get in touch, please send me an email at stephen[at]i-biology.net, or through Twitter.

Other roles

• Former Co-chair of the MYP East Asia Network (Japan & Korea).
• Former Chair of DPDunia (the Indonesian IBDP Schools’ Network), and co-created the “Dunia” teachers’ conference.

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Short Third-person Biography

I’ve been asked to produce this for a couple of things, so here it is. 

Stephen is currently the PK-12 Director of Learning and MYP Coordinator at Canadian Academy, Kobe, Japan and was recently co-Chair of the MYP East Asia (Japan-Korea) network of MYP schools. He was formerly an IBDP Coordinator in Bandung, Indonesia and until recently taught IBDP Biology and MYP Sciences. He is a UK-trained teacher with a keen interest in international education, curriculum development, educational technologies, pedagogical leadership and reflective practice. He has an MA in International Education with the University of Bath, a PGCE from Exeter and a BSc. Hons. in Marine Biology from Queen’s University, Belfast. With a philosophy of sharing, Stephen’s popular internet resources and i-Biology.net website support IBDP Biology and MYP Science teaching and learning while raising donations for a selection of charities. He probably tweets too much, and you can find him @sjtylr.

He writes personal and professional reflections on the blog sjtylr.net and is actively engaged in Twitter-based professional development, seeking and sharing resources and thoughts on science, education and #EdTech. He is one of the originators of #MYPChat and continues to enjoy learning with and from the PLN.

Stephen has presented at two IB Regional Conferences  MYP Mind the Gap: Tensions in Transitions between MYP and IBDP (2013) and Hack The MYP (2017), as well as Google Apps for Education Summits (Ready, Steady, Flow). He presented his dissertation (The IMaGE of an International School?) at the University of Bath’s 50th Anniversary Conference on International Education (2017) and continues to pursue his interest in research in this field.

His MYP and DP journey began in Jakarta in 2006, working towards authorisation for both programmes as a teacher at Tunas Muda International School. It continues in 2018 with a move to Western Academy Beijing to get back into the science lab as a teacher and to support colleagues as learning/tech coach.

Even Briefer Bio

Stephen has been involved in international education in IB schools since 2006 and is an experienced MYP Sciences and IBDP Biology teacher, Diploma and Middle Years Programme Coordinator. A UK-trained science teacher with a Marine Biology background and an MA in International Education, Stephen has a strong interest in effective, empowering inquiry education, putting research to practice and making the most of educational technologies. With a philosophy of sharing and collaboration, Stephen’s popular resources and i-Biology.net site support teachers and learners in MYP and DP, whilst raising charitable donations through Biology4Good. He writes about curriculum, pedagogy, technology and international education on sjtylr.net, has presented at a range of conferences/workshops and probably tweets too much (@sjtylr). Beginning his adventures in international education in Bandung, Indonesia, he is currently PreK-12 Director of Learning & MYP Coordinator at Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan and enjoys family, travel, surf, snow and service learning.

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Summary CV

August 2011-present

Canadian Academy, Kobe, Japan

MYP Coordinator, as of August 2012, Director of Learning (PK-12) as of August 2015. Previously: MYP Science  Grade 9 Intro Chemistry, Grade 10 Intro Physics & Environmental Science) & IBDP Biology teacher, Head of Department for Science.

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August 2007 – June 2011

Bandung International School, Indonesia

IBDP Biology, Grade 9 Science (integrated), Grades 6-10 Health and Personal Development, IBDP Coordinator, Chair of DP Dunia, the Indonesian IB Diploma Programme Schools’ Network.

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July 2005 – June 2007

Sekolah Tunas Muda, Jakarta, Indonesia (now Tunas Muda International School)

MYP Science (integrated), IBDP Biology, IBDP CAS Coordinator

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September 2004 – June 2005

University of Exeter, Ridgeway School, Plymouth & Ivybridge Community College, Devon

Secondary Science PGCE Student

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January 2003 – August 2004 

EF English First, Bandung Indonesia

English, TOEFL, IELTS instructor