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Graduation Project for Seniors. A DHS Overview for Navigating the Process. Current Status. Class of 2010 –Requirement of Onslow County Schools for graduation Class of 2011 – Requirement for North Carolina diploma It’s Going to Take a COMMUNITY. Vision:.
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Graduation Project for Seniors A DHS Overview for Navigating the Process
Current Status Class of 2010 –Requirement of Onslow County Schools for graduation Class of 2011 – Requirement for North Carolina diploma It’s Going to Take a COMMUNITY
Vision: • EVERYgraduate demonstrates a broad range of skills learned through a topic of personal choice. • EVERY K12 educator is a teacher of seniors • EVERYschool community gets to see its students in a different light.
Why Graduation Project? • Business community complaints • College/university level complaints • Authentic learning
Impact of Implementation • Added academic emphasis to graduation year • Improved reading/writing/ comprehension • Scheduling • Curriculum analysis and alignment
What is Graduation Project? • Self-selected growth opportunity • Stretch beyond the known • Comprehensive • Utilization of multiple skills
Project Components • Paper – Thesis-based research • Product incorporating field work, projects and/or activities • Portfolio documenting process • Presentation to exit panel/ board of community members
Paper Components • Thesis-based; not “How to” • 5-8 pages of content • Specifications determined by English Dept.; draft graded in English 12 • 1 student-generated relevant visual • MLA format • Must be successfully completed before portfolio is graded
Product Components • Related to paper topic • Created/completed by student • Supervised by non-family community mentor • 15 hours min. to complete • 3 meetings with mentor • Documentation required • Extension of current skills and abilities • Must be successfully completed before portfolio is graded
Portfolio Components • Cumulative record of project • Presented for judges’ review prior to presentation • Must be successfully completed before presentation is allowed
Presentation Components • 8-10 minute speech to panel of community members • 5-10 minute Q&A session • Covers paper, product and process • Shows product in some format • Must be successfully completed in order to finish the graduation requirement.
Common Educational Themes • Academic Rigor • Learning Stretch • Student Accountability • Enthusiasm • Integrity • Student Vision
Implementation at DHS • Paper through English 12; graded draft • All other components through seminar; non-graded • Smaller seminars dedicated to GP • 2009-2010 plan
Skills Addressed • Research • Writing • Speaking • Problem solving • Team work • Time management • Attitude
What happens if there is a low score on a component? • Opportunities for correction • Corrections required to continue in GP process
What happens if a student fails to complete a GP? • Failure to complete all components require student to repeat process with new topic • Process may be done without the support of English 12 teacher for the paper component
Next Steps Topic Selection Worksheet in seminar May 6th GP Intent Forms distributed week of May 11th Early approvals due by May 29th; required for summer product work to qualify Intent Forms due by August 28th; last day to submit for approval