Robert College hosted the fourth annual Advanced Placement Learning Community Event in collaboration with TÖZÖK, Turkish Private Schools Association, and the College Board on Saturday, October 10. Akin to the Autumn Teachers’ Conference, host responsibilities rotate among several private schools in Istanbul including Hisar Schools, Enka Schools, and TED İstanbul Koleji.
On that day, RC hosted around 350 guest teachers to focus on Advanced Placement matters and skills development. Content sessions were offered on most AP subjects such as AP Calculus BC, AP English Language, and AP Physics C. Eleven RC teachers ran content specific workshops that focused on effective teaching and learning practices for AP courses. The day closed with AP exam scoring and preparation strategies sessions.
Several guest speakers made addresses during the opening ceremony, including the President of TÖZÖK, Zafer Öztürk, College Board Senior International Director, Dr. Matthew Chovanec, and College Board Director of International, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa Sharmeen Ahsan-Bracciale. Zafer Bey presented Whitman Shepard with a commemorative Iznik tile for the school in appreciation. The College Board guests gave important updates on new directions for the AP programs and testing internationally. Additionally, visiting AP educator, Andrew Tewsley from the American School of Dubai spoke in the afternoon about AP Classroom and other supportive resources available from the College Board.
One of the highlights of the day was a panel of five students including two RC graduates, Arel Ulukuş RC ’26, who is currently at Yale, and Zeynep Sağlam RC ’25, who is studying at Imperial University. There were also student panelists from Enka Schools, Hisar Schools, and TED İstanbul Koleji. Another highlight was the AP Art Portfolio Exhibition in Marble Hall, display of student 2-D and 3-D art works from current RC, Enka, and TED Kolej students.
