Ada Merritt K-8 Center

What is the 8

th

Grade Research Project?

The MYP Research Project is a great opportunity to:  learn about a topic that interests you  apply the skills you have developed while participating in the Middle Years Programme at Ada Merritt K-8 Center in all your subjects and through Approaches to Learning  develop and showcase talents and interests that you may have and apply them to a chosen goal  apply your knowledge of the Design Cycle Your Research Project should also clearly focus on an issue or theme closely related to one of the Areas of Interaction.

What your 8

th

Grade Research Project should be

:  have a clear and achievable goal  allow you to express a truly personal message  be the result of your initiative, creativity, and ability to organize and plan  reflect your special interests, hobbies, special abilities, or concerns about particular issues  deal with a topic or area to which you are committed and which has an impact on life, society, and/or the environment 

be entirely your own work

—authenticity is very important and you will be required to sign a document stating that the project is your own work.

What your 8

th

Grade Research Project should not be:

 a group project  an all-consuming project taking over your whole personal and social life  an interference with your studies, even though it will involve many hours of work  anything that does not truly reflect your own work, values, interests and/or concerns

How will it be graded?

 Your project will be graded using the

Technology assessment criteria

.

 The various phases of the Design Cycle will each receive a grade.

 Your final product, personal statement and presentation will be evaluated using a project rubric  All components of the project will be required to qualify for the Ada Merritt K-8 Center IB Certificate and Pin.

You will receive guidance and support during your technology /gifted classes to ensure that your project has all the required components.

What type of project can you do?

Depending on your goal, at the conclusion of your research, your product may be:  an original work of art (for example, visual, dramatic or performance)  a written piece of work on a special topic (for example, literary, social, psychological or anthropological)  a piece of literary fiction (for example, creative writing)  an original science experiment  an invention or specially designed object or system  the presentation of a developed business, management, or organizational plan, or the development of a new student or community organization.

What are the required components of the 8

th

Grade Research Project?

 A Design Folder detailing your work through all the phases of the Design Cycle  A product  A presentation of the project with visual aids  A personal statement Remember: All components will be required to qualify for the Ada Merritt K-8 Center IB Certificate and Pin.

The Personal Statement:

 A Cover/Title Page  A Table of contents  An Introduction: the focus of your project with a link to an Area of Interaction  A Rationale: why you chose this project  An Overview: the process you followed to complete this project  A Conclusion: reflecting on the process, the product and its impact on life, society, and/or the environment  A Bibliography  Appendices: any additional documents, charts, etc. needed to further explain your project.

Eighth Grade Research Project 2012-2013 Completion Timeline

 Brainstorm topics, propose 3 options  Revisions and Conferencing  Submit a final proposal 10/16 10/17-12/21 1/10/2013 Third Grading Period:  SMART Goal  Design Folder  Product  Personal Statement  Presentations Fourth Grading Period:  MYP Tech Fair

Enjoy this opportunity to:

•

learn more about yourself and a topic that interests you

•

show off your knowledge, skills, and talents!

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Proposal

 What is the guiding question you want to pursue?

 What do you think might be the answer to that question?

 What do you have to do to check whether your hypothesis/thesis is correct?

 How much time do you expect to need to do these things? To analyze them? To present your analysis?

 What do you expect to accomplish during class?

 Which Area of Interaction (besides Approaches to Learning) does your project specifically address?

SMART Goal

     Specific -What exactly do you seek to accomplish with this project? What knowledge will you have acquired by the end of the quarter, and what product will you have created?

Measurable -How will you know you have accomplished your goal? Attach a rubric that you will use to evaluate your finished product. The criteria should reflect application of your personal learning goals for this project.

Area of Interaction -Describe a clear and appropriate connection to an Area of Interaction that will help you to focus your work and perspective on the issue.

Realistic -Is the project of an appropriate scope ? Can it be completed within those constraints?

Timely -How will you manage your time during this quarter in order to complete the project you have selected?

Presentation

Create a visual presentation that can be used at our upcoming Technology Fair to display and explain your culminating project. Explain:  Your topic and why you chose it  Your academic goals and how this project meets them  The process you followed to complete this project, including your use of the Design Cycle  Your product