MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Senior Project is to create an opportunity for students to produce a culminating project that challenges them to demonstrate and display a mastery of the technical, academic, and social skills needed for life long learning and success in a changing world.

PURPOSE:
The Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical School has added a Senior Project component to students’ regular workload as a means by which to “raise the bar” on learning, and to continue in our goal of challenging and enriching each student’s educational experience. Each student’s Senior Project will be completed before graduation.

The Project will add relevance and meaning to each student’s senior year, will integrate both academic and technical program areas, and does not necessarily have to be career related. It is an opportunity for each student to showcase his/her unique interests and talents, and is an excellent introduction to the world outside our doors. All projects should demonstrate a learning stretch for the individual student.

PARTS:
The Senior Project will consist of four parts: a research paper, a tangible product or demonstration, a project portfolio, and an oral presentation.

HISTORY:
Senior Projects have been used in the US since 2000 to showcase the knowledge, skills, and creativity developed as a result of 12 years of education. Projects are designed to be a year-long effort.


FAQs FOR SENIOR PROJECT

1. Who has to do this?
For the class of 2009, all shops are participating in this program.

2. What exactly do I have to do?
You will write a research paper, create a project, collect a portfolio, and make a presentation on a shop-related topic of your choice. All four of these components must be related to each other and approved by both the language arts and shop instructors.

3. Don’t I do enough work in shop already?
You do work hard in shop. However, as you get out into the real world you will need other skills that you may not be developing fully during shop time: research, writing, and presentation skills that will be necessary in whatever career path you may choose.

4. How will I get it done?
Senior Projects will be worked on during the course of the school year. You will have time during both shop and academic weeks to work on your project, but you will also be expected to do some work on your own outside of school as well.

5. When is it due?
Your Senior Project will be due in pieces during the school year. You will be given an exact schedule with due dates. It is your responsibility to meet these dates and deadlines.

6. How will I be graded?
Your Senior Project will be graded by individual teachers (product and paper) and also by a team (presentation and portfolio). Each piece will be worth 25 points toward the total Senior Project grade. Maximum is 100 points. Also, individual teachers will use portions of the Senior Project toward your class grade as well. Each teacher will explain to you how s/he chooses to do this.

7. What if I don’t do it?
Failure to complete the Senior Project will affect your senior year grades. As each piece is due at a certain time, and as each teacher will be including portions of the total assignment in your class grade, failure to complete the project will be very detrimental to your successful completion of class credits at BP. Failure to complete the project may result in a class failure.

8. Who evaluates my work?
Your shop instructor and language arts will have major roles in your Senior Project process. Other teachers, members of administration, co-op supervisors, members of the community, etc. will all be involved in some way.

9. What kind of paper will I be writing?
Your research paper must be related to your product. You will turn in both a rough draft and a final draft of the paper. It will be 5-8 typed pages. It will need to be in proper MLA format (spelling and punctuation, sentence structure, etc.). Your language arts teacher will provide instruction and guidance when the time comes. It will also include a properly formatted bibliography.

10. What about the portfolio?
The Senior Project portfolio will be different than the one maintained in your language arts classroom. It will be a record of all your work for the Senior Project: research, rough draft, outlines, project notes, presentation information, diagrams, etc. necessary for the completion of your project.

11. What is the product all about?
The product is something you will make/do/demonstrate to show the evaluation panel that you really do understand your chosen topic. It will be something that you build/demonstrate/explain/design/etc.

12. Why do I have to do a presentation?
The presentation is the final step in the Senior Project process. It is a chance to show off your knowledge and practice your presentation skills for the future. Every career demands some type of human interaction at some point, and this is a great opportunity to practice for those times.