MYP Personal Project Narrowing Things Down 2014-2015 School Year - Taft High School

At this point… You have been introduced to the Personal Project Reviewed (and signed) the entire Personal Project Student Handbook

Moving Forward Personal Project Topic Notification Form DUE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th (or sooner) to Ms. Varney and Mrs. Greenblatt via Homeroom or dropped off in 263 You CANNOT choose a completely different topic after submitting this form! Your supervisor, Mrs. Greenblatt, and I will be reviewing, providing feedback, and giving you FINAL approval.

Proposed Topic Why did you select this topic? Personal connection? Something you want to study in college? Something you want to try or experience at some point your life?

Sample Topics Developing a marketing campaign to address a teen issue Building something – a guitar, a canoe, furniture Developing a plan for a solar powered car Learning how to play an instrument Writing a book, script, or composing a song Using physics to perfect a sport (a pool shot, a hockey shot, a free-throw) Developing a new strategy for chess, poker, or another game

Sample Topics Designing and making jewelry or clothes Producing and directing a movie, music video, PSA, exercise video Doing a research/lab report for an original scientific idea Drawing a mural or providing a photo essay Researching your genealogy Inventing something Developing your own video game

Global Context Starting point for inquiry! Provides the real world connections. Consider the following before making this selection: What do you want to achieve through your project? What do you want others to understand through your project? What impact do you want your project to have? * Take some time to look through all of the Global Contexts (p. 14), SELECT ONE, and explain the connection.

Global Context Example Rap as a music genre Global Context Examples Identity and relationships Examine the question, “Why does rap speak to me? Orientation of space and time Explore the development of rap as a style of music across continents Personal and cultural expression Perform a rap song for peers and have a question-and-answer session

Global Context Example Solar energy devices Global Context Examples Scientific and technical innovation Design a 3D model of a solar device with instructions for construction Orientation of space and time Investigate how, in history, different cultures have made use of energy for different needs Globalization and sustainability Debate Herve’ Kempf’s ideas about “how the rich are destroying the Earth”

Statement of Purpose: I want to learn about… To write a statement of purpose, think about and answer a couple of these questions as best you can: What is my real interest in the topic? What knowledge do I hope to acquire? What skills I you want to develop? What do I specifically want to learn about my topic?

Statement of Purpose: I want to learn about… Too general… “I want to learn more about recycling and earth friendly materials.” Much better… “I want to learn about how earth friendly materials are used in surfboards.”

Purpose Driving Question “I want to learn about how earth friendly materials are used in surfboards.” Driving question: What materials can surfboard designers use to ensure that the future surfboards are friendly to the environment?

Therefore… Product: A newly designed surf-board Report: What materials can surfboard designers use to ensure that the future surfboards are friendly to the environment?

Another example… Statement of Purpose Too general… “I want to learn about AIDS.” Much better… “I want to know how close we are to a cure for AIDS.”

Purpose Driving Question “I want to know how close we are to a cure for AIDS.” Driving question: How close are we to the cure for AIDS?

Therefore… Possible Product: An information packet on AIDS and strategies people can use to lower their chances of getting the disease. Report: How close are we to the cure for AIDS?

Personal Project Products

So now what??? Complete the Brainstorm Sheet Start/keep using your Process Journals! Start doing background research Week of October 6 – MangageBac Training October 8 – Supervisor Meet & Greet at 2:15pm October 15 – Topic Notification Form Due

How are you feeling? Please put your name on a post it note and place it on traffic light to indicate how you are feeling at this point. Remember…