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November 12, 2024
“I never thought I would be able to talk for that long.”
“I learned that I definitely do not want to be a vet.”
These are just a couple of examples of feedback I get each year after students complete their senior project. The senior project graduation requirement has been a requirement for all seniors (including those on a modified diploma) at the small rural high school where I have taught English for almost 30 years.
Each year, as senior project coordinator and senior English teacher, I have the opportunity (and responsibility) to guide approximately 70 students through the senior project. Some years it seems like a daunting task – especially these last few years given the challenges that both students and teachers have faced since returning to school after the pandemic.
However, as the months-long process comes to a close and students give their presentations to their panel of judges, I once again am convinced that this project is both valuable and necessary for our students. And it can be useful and valuable for any high school that seeks to provide a self-guided, culminating project for their students.
Our senior project has three main components and students must demonstrate proficiency with each component. It’s a simple project with clear deadlines and straightforward expectations.
1. Research paper on a topic of the student’s choice.
2. Product/Experience in which the student spends a significant amount of time investigating a topic related to their paper by doing a hands-on activity, job shadow and/or community service project.
3. Formal presentation to a panel of judges detailing what they did and what they learned about themselves and their topic.
The above quotes from students serve as a small reminder that our senior project matters and having high expectations for our students may not always be fun for the students or easy for us as educators to uphold, but what our students learn about
themselves and their topics makes it worthwhile.
Over the years I have seen students do things they didn’t think were possible at the beginning of the process and have truly life-changing experiences. And while not all senior projects lead to life-altering experiences, most students say that they are proud of what they accomplished and it helped them determine their next steps after graduation since most of their projects revolve around a career or personal goal/passion. That personal growth and self-discovery are just two of the benefits of our senior project.
Some of the other skills we see our seniors use and improve include:
- critical thinking skills essential for higher education and the world of work as they learn to analyze information from their sources and interviews.
- research skills as they hone their ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources.
- project and time management as they plan and execute their physical product or experience; time commitment as they keep a log of their hours.
- Real-world application and learning as they connect their knowledge from the research paper to the practical application through their product/experience.
- Communication and presentation skills that enhance their ability to articulate ideas clearly and confidently.
- Professionalism as they learn to present themselves and their work professionally to their panel of judges.
As I always tell students at the beginning of the process, finding out what you don’t want to do as a career is just as important as finding out what you do want to do.
In summary, a senior project/capstone experience offers students a multifaceted opportunity to develop academic, professional, and personal skills essential for success in college and beyond. It combines rigorous academic research with practical application, fostering critical thinking, communication, and leadership abilities while
encouraging self-discovery and community involvement.
March 29, 2023
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