A Capstone Experience for Durango High School MYP Sophomores

What is the personal project? Why should students do a personal project? What support is available to students throughout the personal project? How do students communicate his/her achievements with others?

A capstone project for Durango High School MYP students An extension of student interests, skills, and individual abilities A statement of student’s deeper understanding of the areas of interaction; the broad themes upon which the MYP resonates

Students should: demonstrate organizational skills through time and self-management communicate and collaborate with the supervisor demonstrate information literacy, thinking and reflection.

Students should: identify and explain a topic based on personal interest justify one focus area of interaction as a context for the project outline a clear, achievable, challenging goal create specifications that will be used to evaluate the project’s outcome/product.

Students should: select varied, relevant sources to achieve the goal evaluate sources.

Students should: transfer and apply information to make decisions, create solutions and develop understandings in connection with the project’s goal.

Students should: evaluate the outcome/product against their own specifications for success. Students award a level that relates to the descriptors in criterion E in collaboration with their supervisor.

Students should: reflect on how completing the project has extended their knowledge and understanding of the topic and the focus area of interaction reflect on how they have developed as a learner by completing the project.

Students should: organize the project report according to the required structure communicate clearly, coherently and concisely, within required limits acknowledge sources according to recognized conventions.

It demonstrates students’ ability to organize, develop, and execute a long term project with independence, It shows mastery of essential skills in thinking, inquiry, commitment, and follow-through, It serves as a way to share interests, talents, and passions with others, Doing things because one is curious, motivated, interested is at the CORE of life-long learning!

Develop and write a clear goal statement Select a supervisor from the DHS faculty Meet with supervisor over the summer Begin research; start bibliography immediately!!! Begin process journal this spring, and keep it actively updated!

Develop a Goal Statement first! Regular meetings with supervisor Completion of the project Detailed reflection paper On-going process journal Participate in the Personal Project Open House

An original form of art (visual, dramatic, performing) A written piece of work on a certain topic A piece of literary fiction An original science experiment An invention A developed business plan, organizational plan, new student organization etc.

Becoming fully licensed in SCUBA with checkout dive in Hawaii Building a full-scale Inuit Kayak out of wood, w/o using glue or metal Developing a scrapbook of favorite time Building a piece of furniture out of wood

Traveling to Ecuador to work with people in poverty Learning how to cook gourmet chocolate desserts Writing a novel Directing a play Coaching the North Middle School Forensics team Learning how to dance, or sing, or play an instrument

Yes, of course! Go straight to these people for extra help! MYP personal project supervisor Teachers who have similar interests Parents/Guardians Community mentors Mrs. Colsman in the IB Office

Personal project will be due towards the end of 2 nd semester During the school year: Regular meetings with supervisor Completion of project, journal, paper Open House night