Senior Projects

A senior project is a key element of the College Tech Prep experience. Students choose an area of interest, conduct in-depth research and demonstrate problem-solving, decision-making and independent learning skills. Senior project involvement creates a strong senior year of challenging courses and practical experiences that prepare students for the workplace or further education.


Senior project components:

• The student selects a topic, gathers information, writes a research paper and keeps a portfolio of project activities.
   

• The student produces a product/process that applies some aspect of the research.
   

• The student makes a formal presentation to a panel composed of teachers, community leaders and peers who know about and are interested in the topic. After the presentation, panel members ask questions about the research and the product/process and find out what the student learned during the project as well as review the student’s portfolio.

The student is not alone during the project. Each student meets individually with a College Tech Prep teacher. The student may also work with related academic instructors depending on the design of their College Tech Prep program. The student will also work with a Product/Process Mentor who has expertise in the student’s field of study.

Senior projects should challenge students and reflect considerable student effort. If a student approaches the project incrementally and meets deadlines, he or she will be able to successfully manage the project.


Outstanding senior projects

• Foster student as “active learners,” capable of solving complex real life problems through collaborative learning with industry and community partners.
   

• Organize curriculum around authentic student projects which serve as a basis for inter-disciplinary learning from career and academic disciplines.
   

• Develop capacities not conventionally taught, such as independence, problem-solving, collaboration and communication.
   

• Engage students in complex, challenging tasks which allow integration of learning, generation of knowledge, reflection and creation of a product, while providing students opportunities to work with business and industry partners.
   

• Meet rigorous and measurable standards for academic and technical performance that reflects global demands.
   

• Serve as a capstone to a sequenced course of technical and academic study.

Link

Senior Project Manual (PDF)