Graduation Projects

1
Graduation Projects

• Oxford Area High School
• Oxford, PA

2
Pennsylvania Requirements

• "Requirements shall include course completion and
  grades, completion of a culminating project, and
  results of local assessments aligned with the
  academic standards. The purpose of the
  culminating project is to assure that students
  are able to apply, analyze, synthesize and
  evaluate information and communicate significant
  knowledge and understanding."
• - State Board of Education, Chapter 4 (1999)

3
What does NOT count?

• Any item done for course credit
• Any work done for an employer
• Vacations to sites with little or no educational
  value
• Court ordered assignments

4
Getting Started

• What qualifies?
• Types of Projects

5
Picking a Project

• Select something that interests you!
• Many times, something you already do in your
  personal life can be incorporated in your project
• Brainstorm at least 2-3 ideas
• Determine which type of project it is
• Research/Scientific Research
• Service
• National History Day competition
• Cultural/Career/Historical Experience
• Demonstration/Exhibition/Performance
• Eagle Scout/Gold Award
• Upward Bound

6
Research Projects

• Select a topic to research
• Conduct research
• Keep track of all sources of information
• Write a formal research paper
• Minimum of 10 pages required
• Submit paper by deadline

7
Scientific Research

• Select a scientific topic to research
• Set up necessary experiments to prove or disprove
  your thesis
• Enter your project in science fair
• Write a formal scientific research paper
• Submit research paper by deadline

8
Service Project

• Brainstorm community agencies that you have an
  interest in helping
• Working with children, animals
• Coaching a sports team
• Volunteer at local hospitals or non-profit
  organizations
• Contact the director or department in charge of
  volunteers
• Perform 35 hours of service keep track!
• Keep a journal, take photos
• Request a letter from director to verify that 35
  hours of volunteer time has been completed.
• Submit reflection paper by deadline

9
Cultural, Career, or Historical Experience

• Cultural Experience
• Travel abroad
• Hosting an exchange student
• Career Experience (Job Shadowing)
• Choose a career that you are interested in
• 35 hours of on-site time w/log of hours
• No pay
• Complete paper w/visual
• Historical Experience
• Participate in re-enactments
• Visit a location with educational value from a
  historical perspective
• Submit a reflection paper by deadline
• Include historical information about sites
  visited

10
Demonstration-PerformanceProject

• This project involves learning a new skill
• Document the process in your journal
• What did you already know before you began?
• What NEW skill was accomplished?
• Rehearse, practice, work towards your goal
• Plan to demonstrate or perform for the evaluation
  panel
• Submit a reflection paper before deadline

11
Exhibition Project

• This project involves something that you created,
  built, raised, or updated
• Artwork or photo exhibit
• Work on a car or tractor
• Care for an animal to enter into competition
• Document the process in your journal
• Take photos before, during after
• Save receipts for materials purchased for your
  scrapbook/journal
• Bring your item(s) to your presentation
• Bring photos if this is not possible
• Submit reflection paper before deadline

12
National History Day

• The National History Day competition is a newly
  added option for a graduation project.
  Currently, Mrs. Manniso works with students
  interested in accepting this challenge. Students
  who successfully complete this project and
  present at the regional, state, or national level
  will not need to present at OAHS.

13
Eagle Scout/Gold Award

• Perfect! See Mr. Canaday Eagle Scout and Gold
  Award

14
Upward Bound

• http//www.lincoln.edu/upwardbound/

15
Project Components

• What is required?
• What must be turned in?

16
Parts of a Project

• Regardless of the category, each graduation
  project has four parts
• Research/Information
• Documentation/Visual
• Typed Paper (reflective, research)
• Presentation for Evaluation Panel

17
Examples of Research Process and Information

• Research/Scientific Research Project
• Sources used in library or online
• Interviews
• Service Project
• Finding an agency
• Training to learn how to do volunteer tasks
• Demonstration/Performance Project
• Lessons, videos, or manuals used to learning how
  to do the new skill
• Exhibition Project - reference information
• What type of car part is needed for this model?
• What type of art supply is most appropriate?

18
Examples of Documentation

• Photos before, during, and after to demonstrate
  progress of project
• Edited video footage that shows work being done
• Time sheets or verification letter for community
  service hours completed
• Journal documenting the process
• Certificates for completion of training

19
Graduation Project Paper

• Paper Requirements
• Typed, double-spaced, one inch margins
• Standard size font (no larger than 12)
• Submit paper/log of hours w/signature for
  evaluation by deadline.
• Hard Copy (2) must be submitted for evaluation
  panel to read in advance

20
Presentation

• Dress/Professionalism
• Be Prepared
• You must present individually
• Your explanation of the project
• Why did you select this topic?
• What did you learn through the process?
• Problems along the way?
• Use your visual aid presentation
• Do not plan to read your paper to the panel
• 7-10 minutes in length
• Discussion with the evaluation panel
• Be prepared to answer questions about your topic
  or presentation

21
Paperwork

• The Necessary Evil

22
Official Paperwork Required

• Proposal/Sponsor Form/Log of Hours
• Grade 10-11
• Scheduling Form
• Grade 12
• Graduation Project Committee
• will take care of scheduling.
• Presentation takes precedence
• over most activities.

23
Proposal/Sponsor Form

• Submit as soon as youve selected topic
• Class of 2010 Now!!
• Class of 2011 Now!!
• Committee will use these forms to evaluate your
  topic and to ensure that it is appropriate and
  meets all requirements
• http//www.oxford.k12.pa.us

24
Scheduling Form

• You will need to include the following
  information, if applicable
• Scheduling conflicts
• Equipment needed VCR, computer
• Specific location needed outdoors, auditorium

25
Can I present my junior year?

• If time slots are available, you may present.

26
Being Evaluated

• Evaluation Scale
• What if?

27
Evaluation Rubrics

• Please check the high school web page under
  guidance for a complete list of all rubrics.
• You will be evaluated on all aspects of your
  project
• Research/Information
• Documentation
• Paper
• Presentation

28
Scale Used for Evaluation

• 4 Advanced
• Exceeded requirements
• 3 Proficient
• Fulfilled requirements
• 2 Basic
• Poor work, or did not satisfy all requirements
• 1 Below Basic
• Incomplete or non-existent

29
What if I dont pass?

• Students will need to meet with an administrator
  to review the deficient areas.
• If you do not complete all requirements for the
  project, you will not receive your diploma.

30
What if Im not ready?What if I dont show up?

• All seniors will be scheduled for a presentation
  time in November of senior yr.
• If you are not entirely completed with your
  project, you SHOULD still present or see Mr.
  Canaday!
• You should explain the purpose of your project,
  and its status so far. You may also discuss
  difficulties youre having we might have some
  suggestions to help you!
• No-Shows will have several additional items
  added onto the requirements for their project to
  be completed.

31
Keys to Success

• Select a quality topic
• If your topic is unclear or not on target, it
  will be difficult to make everything else fall
  into place to meet requirements
• Select something that interests you so it
  becomes more enjoyable to do the project
• Get organized NOW!
• Documentation, Research, Photos, Journal they
  matter!
• Dont procrastinate!
• Dont try to wing it it will show!
• Recommendation Youll spend less time in the
  long run doing a good job the first time, than if
  you have to re-do items that dont meet
  requirements.

32
Still have questions?

• Contact
• Mr. Canaday
• Email jcanaday_at_oxford.k12.pa.us
• Phone [phone]
• Graduation Project Committee Members
• Mr. Carlough Mrs. Greer Mrs. Witman
• Mrs. Caudell Ms. Webber. Mrs. Manniso