Components of the Personal Project The Four P’s

Importance of the Personal Project Represents a culmination of MYP –Area of Interaction and Learner Profile in action –Demonstrates ability to work independently –Demonstrates ability to work long-term –Demonstrates ability to conduct research A stepping-stone to completing an EE in the DP Requirement of MYP program –Without it-no MYP certificate –No admittance to Diploma Program

What are the four P’s? Process Journal Product Personal Statement Presentation

Process Journal Should be a running record of your progress –Should contain Successes Pitfalls Overcoming obstacles Brainstorming Planning Reflecting Research notes MLA citations –Should have Dates An organizational framework

Why is the Process Journal important? It is your record and is used for planning and reflecting to help you progress toward your goal It demonstrates your ability to brain-storm, plan, problem-solve, research, and reflect It helps your mentor to gauge your progress and to better guide you to achieving your goal It serves as the basis of your Personal Statement It is a graded component –Criterion A

The Product The product is your final outcome Things to consider –There MUST be a way to display/show your product –The process leading up to the development and completion of your product must be “challenging” Time-consuming –Min hrs. purposeful –Must have a research component –Must have “specifications” that allow for an evaluation of your success

What is the standard for “challenging”? “Challenging” depends on the product and the amount of time and effort it will take to achieve it. ChallengingHighly Challenging Raising political awareness among students through creating informational pamphlets Influencing the political system through drafting a bill & lobbying for its passage Design & creation of a couple of pieces of jewelry or a skirt using recycled materials Design & creation of jewelry or clothing line from recycled materials to be sold/ showcased for fundraising for charity Creating a puppet show script designed to entertain and educate children about bullying Creating & producing a puppet show to entertain & educate children about bullying & performing it at elementary schools or Boys and Girls Clubs in McAllen Staging an in-school teachers vs. students volleyball game for charity Staging a volleyball tournament that includes various schools or clubs throughout the Valley for charity

Why a research component? Because the Personal Project is the vehicle through which you will demonstrate your fulfillment of the Learner Profile characteristics you MUST have a research component –This demonstrates your ability to be a/an Inquirer Thinker Knowledgeable individual Open-minded in your seeking others’ points-of-view Principled individual in that you acknowledge your sources

What type of research? The research you do is topic and product specific –For example If you want to do a “walk” for diabetes your research component may include –How many people in this country suffer from diabetes? –What populations are worst affected and why? –What are the types of diabetes and what are their differences? –What organizations are involved in diabetes? »What work do they do? »What percent of their donations go towards administrative costs vs. to the “cause”? –What, if any, permits do I need and how do I acquire them?

Research Component Cont’d. If your project is based on learning the painting technique of pointillism your research component may include –What distinguishes pointillism from other artistic techniques? –Who developed pointillism and when was it developed? –What are some examples of well-regarded artists or paintings that demonstrate pointillism? –What type of brushes, paints, and mediums are most appropriate for pointillism and why?

What are “specifications”? the criteria you establish for your product and/or the manner in which you will evaluate your success. –They must be measurable –They must allow you to evaluate your degree of success in achieving your goal For example… –If you choose to conduct a football clinic to teach kids basic skills and techniques your specifications may include »Age appropriate to 5-6 yr. olds »Include 5 basic skills »Recruit a minimum of 10 kids »Conduct an hour long clinic »Evaluate kids skills at the start of the clinic and then again at the end of the clinic to determine growth »Parent questionnaire gauging level of satisfaction »Kid friendly questionairre gauging level of satisfaction

The Written Report The Written Report is a FORMAL report –It MUST be formatted properly –It explains the process that led to the your product & reflects upon that process –It includes Defining the goal taking into account the Area of Interaction An explanation of the selection & evaluation of appropriate sources Application of knowledge gained through research process An explanation of the process that led to achieving the goal defined Reflection upon the process including evaluation of your success The majority of your grade stems from this report

Homework My Interest –sports Inquiry Question –How can I encourage kids to become involved in sports? AOI & why –Health & Social Ed.-I think that participating in sports is not only good for kids’ health but also teaches social skills like teamwork Goal –To get kids to try a variety of sports that build teamwork and get them away from the TV and computer to be more active through having Saturday “Field Days” at Bill Schupp Park Product/Outcome –One month of Saturday “Field Days” at Bill Schupp Park Specs./Method of Eval. –Target age 9-10 –Minimum of 10 kids per Field Day –2 hrs. of activities ea. Field Day –3 different games or sports each field day –Parent survey –Participant survey Manner of Display –With permission of parents will video tape and/or take pictures of the kids during Field Day activities –Create a booklet of the games the kids played

Let’s Do a Sample This should just be an extension of what Ms. Kowalski had you do already. My Interest Inquiry Question AOI & why Goal Product/Outcome Specs./Method of Eval. Manner of Display