Riddle of Relevance

1
Riddle of Relevance

• What do you call an assignment a student chooses
  to take home and ends up enjoying?

2
Capstone

• Homework they will be begging you to take home!

3
Background

• Aiken County Career and Technology Center
• 5/7 High School Feeders
• 375 students with 450 signed up for next year
• Morning and afternoon programs
• Travel time hurts us

4
Demographics

• Free and reduced lunch 43
• African American 28
• Caucasian 66
• Hispanic 6
• Non traditional 11

• Male 237
• Female 138
• Special Needs
• IEPs 63
• 504 6
• ESL 14

5
Programs

• Construction
• Electricity
• Machine Tool
• Welding
• Automotive
• Health Science
• CAD
• Mechatronics

• Computer Networking
• Cosmetology
• Nail Technology
• Agriculture Education
• Criminal Justice
• English
• US History

6
Goals for Our Students

• Good written and oral communication
• Finish assignments
• Collaborate with others
• Take pride in work
• Take responsibility
• Stretch personally and academically
• Be involved in the community

7
Previous Efforts

• Previously participated in Senior
  Project for five years
• Only students who took English 4 participated
• Research papers done in English, but projects
  done outside of class

8
Benefits of Changing to Capstone

• All students have potential of participating
• Project is part of the curriculum and addresses
  standards
• Work done in class and at home
• Students see the relevance of the project
• Students have a portfolio for future employers

9
Capstone Influence

• Scientific Method
• Project Lead The Way- Introduction to Engineering
  and Design
• Senior Project
• FIRST Robotics

10
Components of Capstone

• Notebook and project
• Written paper
• Oral presentation

11
Brainstorming

• Do not go with only one idea
• Combine and develop ideas
• Get input from several different people
• Students
• Teachers
• Parents
• Mentors
• Encourage collaboration
• Get Instructors permission

12
Research

• Encourage several different types of resources
• Internet
• Trade magazines
• Interviews
• Books
• Document research and create works cited page
  (www.easybibs.com)

13
ProceduresExamples of Evidence

• Sketches or drawings of necessary parts and final
  project along with dimensions
• Sketches of the end project and/or important
  intermediate steps
• List of important steps to complete the project
  or research
• Pictures of what the final project will look like

14
Practice DocumentationExamples of Evidence

• Notes from debriefing
• Pictures of the practice session
• Pictures of the student working
• on the prototype
• Sketches of changes for the final project
• Evidence that shows practice for the final
  project or procedure
• Changes made for the final project
• Create a budget

15
Final Project

• It is okay to work with other people
• You are never done tweaking
• A completed project is a learning accomplishment

16
Written Paper

• A collection of summaries (technical report)
• Peer Evaluation
• English teachers provide help time
• Teacher Evaluation

17
Oral Presentation

• Evaluated by three different people
• Industry (2)
• Teacher (1)
• Technology must be incorporated
• 10 minutes with 5 minutes for questions
• Dressed Appropriately

18
Plans for Next Year

• Strive to get all afternoon students involved
• Put more emphasis on students working with
  mentors and industry
• Provide mini-seminars for students and staff to
  help them with their weaknesses, ie Powerpoint,
  bibliography, dress, presentation, writing,
  and/or finding a mentor
• Start earlier
• More continuity between programs

19
Homework????

• New name for engaged learning?

20
Contact Information

• Patrick ONeill
• Aiken County Career and Technology Center
• poneill_at_aiken.k12.sc.us
• 803-593-7300
• www.aikencountycat.com
• Pick Capstone on the left