Senior Capstone Experience Framework A Guide for South Dakota Schools

Senior Capstone Experience What are Senior Capstone Experiences? Why a South Dakota Framework? Is this required for all South Dakota schools? Why implement Senior Capstone Experiences? How do we implement Senior Capstone Experiences? Where do we find the time?

“Enter to Learn: Leave to Achieve” A Rationale for Senior Capstone Experiences….

Senior Capstone Experiences….. provide the context for authentic learning – the pursuit of knowledge and skills for solving specific problems encountered in the process of accomplishing a larger task – rather than the kind of decontextualized or decentralized learning that takes place in many classrooms.

The Senior Experience… is a high school capstone that requires students to demonstrate not only what they know, but what they can do. States, school districts, and high schools focusing on restructuring, raising high school standards, and actively engaging all Seniors in a challenging and relevant educational process incorporate the Senior Capstone Experience.

Senior Capstone Experience Four Phases Paper Product Portfolio Presentation

Senior Experiences and Your School …..Designing a Quality System that involves students, teachers, parents, and the community

Elements of a High Quality Senior Capstone Program Clear and Aligned Purpose Explicit, Rigorous Criteria Student-Directed Learning and Youth Engagement Clear Scaffolding of Skills Learning Stretch Authentic Project Community Involvement Authentic Audience

Elements of a High Quality Senior Capstone Program Coordination and Comprehensive Communication Adequate Staffing and Supervision Mechanism for Training Community Partners Parent Involvement Professional Development Risk Management Plan Celebration and Recognition

Using the Senior Experience Framework The Senior Experience Framework is intended to be a “menu” for school districts to use in designing a local Senior Capstone Experience program.

Implementing the Senior Capstone Experience Organize Plan Design Implement Evaluate

Step One: Organizing As planning gets underway, reflect on these questions: What are our goals for the Project? Does the administration support the program? Does the staff support the program? Who are key people that should be involved? Has funding been allocated? What is our timeline?

Senior Experience Goals and Building Blocks All Seniors will demonstrate that they have essential skills to: transition to post-secondary. transition to employment. The community and school staff will work more closely together. All staff will work with Senior students. Parents will become more aware and be able to check their Senior’s progress.

Step Two: Planning In this phase, you are researching the answers to these questions: What feedback are we getting from stakeholders? What do we want the Senior Capstone Experience to look like in our school? Who is responsible for what areas of the project?

Senior Experience Options Project imbedded in a core subject Project offered as a stand-alone course Project offered as a semester course Project offered as a year long course Project is a requirement for high school graduation Project is assigned a letter grade Project is graded by pass/fail

Project Personnel What personnel do you need?? Senior Project Coordinator Faculty Advisor English Teacher Steering Committee Project Mentor Panel of Judges

Step Three: Designing This step involves identifying and tailoring the components for your school. This is the “big picture” piece.

Roles and Responsibilities Student It is the responsibility of the student to meet all guidelines and timelines for the Senior Experience. Faculty Advisor All professional staff members are available as advisors. Advisors should limit their advisees to no more than five to be able to work effectively with each one.

Roles and Responsibilities English Teacher The English teacher is responsible for monitoring the research phase of the Project. Senior Project Mentor Each student must have a Mentor who has expertise/experience with the topic. The Mentor must commit to working with the student for 15 hours.

Roles and Responsibilities Steering Committee The Steering Committee provides overall direction to the program. Committee members should include representation from the following: administrators, teachers, parents, students, and business/community members. Senior Capstone Experience Coordinator Schools should have one person designated as the Coordinator. This could be a paid position with release time provided.

The Four Project Phases How will these components fit together? Project Portfolio Paper Presentation

Initial Documents and Forms Senior Capstone Guidelines Letter to Parents Letter to Seniors Project Timelines Topic Selection Guidelines Topic Selection Worksheet Topic Selection Rubric Topic Proposal Topic Approval Form Letter of Intent Topic Change Form Your Action Plan will Serve as Your Compass…

Promotion and Marketing How will you promote the Senior Capstone Experience program to stakeholders? Students Parents School Staff Administration School Board Community Members

The Research Paper What are the guidelines for your school?

Research Paper Guidelines 8-10 pages in length Hard copy and electronic submitted APA or MLA format Five sources, to include one interview Bibliography Note Cards

The Product The product can be oriented around the performance of a skill, the development of some physical product, or the study of a profession. It is an appropriate and logical outgrowth/extension of the research paper. It demonstrates application of knowledge.

Product Criteria A Learning Stretch that can be: Experiential Performance-based Experimental

A Learning Stretch is An addition to the student’s own knowledge or skill Something they haven’t tried yet Searching for answers to questions they have about a topic.

The Portfolio Items to include: Topic Selection Form Parental Approval Form Outline of Research Paper Research Paper Journal Product Agreement Form Evidence of Work – pictures, materials collected, etc. Copy of Oral Presentation

The Journal Each weekly entry should cover the following: Describe what was done on the Senior Capstone Experience that week. Write a personal reaction or evaluation of what was done that week.

The Presentation The Senior Experience Presentation is the culminating event, which must include the entire learning experience. It should reflect elements of the paper, product and the portfolio.

Step Four: Implementing When you reach this step, you have already done the hardest work! A phased in implementation has hopefully been identified in your plan. Staff development is a critical component in this phase.

Step Five: Evaluating Results In this phase, you will need to frame your evaluation based on your goals for the Program and student outcomes.

Program and Student Evaluation Program Evaluation – should be a yearly event. What worked well?? What didn’t? What are we going to change for next year? Student Evaluation – How are we going to evaluate student results? What rubrics should we use? Should one phase count more than the other? Are we making any gains in student achievement?????

Building Your Action Plan

Contact Information Marsha Kucker – High Schools That Work State Director office cell –