20122013

[CAPSTONE PROJECT & PRESENTATION GUIDELINES]

NTH@C SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT

The senior capstone project is an opportunity for you to creatively showcase the growth that you have experienced at New Tech by designing and completing a project of your very own. This project should be connected to an area of interest for you. This is a comprehensive project that communicates that you are ready to move on to college or a career. You will create a project that is unique to you, your career field and your career goals. This project will be done outside of class. To meet all of the requirements found in this packet and to obtain a passing grade on the presentation, you will need to put a lot of time and effort into this project. Any learner who does not earn a passing grade will re-present until a passing grade is earned.

According to the CISD School Board Policy EIF(LOCAL), the Capstone Project is a graduation requirement for all New Tech Seniors.
Please be mindful as you choose your topic and begin working that this will showcase your growth and your readiness to move on from high school. Therefore, professionalism and work ethic will be paramount. Meeting deadlines will help you succeed in this process. The New Tech staff is here to help you! Each of you will be assigned a facilitator (your networking facilitator) who will walk with you through this process. Please note that you will be given grades based on meeting the assigned deadlines. Grades will be taken in your science class with the exception of the research paper. The Capstone Project is a 3-Step Process Step 1: Choose a topic, research and write a research paper. Step 2: Create something new and unique based on your research your research should compel you to do something with it. The capstone project is not a book report/research presentation alone. Your presentation needs to include a significant amount of research, but you are ALSO presenting what you created based on your research. Step 3: Present your research, project, and reflection (reflection questions given on page five).

CHOOSING YOUR TOPIC

Your capstone project topic should be something that interests or intrigues you. You are not limited to your future career field, but most learners find it helpful to focus on that area. Your project has the most potential for success if it is something that excites you. Please note that you have to write a research paper on your topic, so be sure that the topic you choose can be researched. Your project should answer a question, focus on an emerging trend or a new procedure, OR solve an industry-based problem so keep this in mind when choosing a topic. You have a TON of creative freedom with this project! Have fun, think outside of the box, and be ready to show off your SKILLS!!

CAPSTONE PROJECT DEADLINES

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE GRADES FOR MEETING THESE DEADLINES IN YOUR SCIENCE CLASS. September 14 (Friday) Capstone acknowledgement signed and returned to Ayers September 26 (Wednesday) Specific capstone topic idea due to capstone facilitator; discuss ideas for collaboration with capstone facilitator October 24 (Wednesday) Capstone research shared with capstone facilitator prior to this date; must meet one-on-one with capstone facilitator to discuss your research; must include research sources. DO NOT WAIT to schedule research review meetings with your facilitator the week of this deadline! November 14 (Wednesday) Research papers due by this date (if not writing this in Kerrs class, turn paper in to Ayers) December 12* (Wednesday) Capstone Project idea due by this date; Second meeting with capstone facilitator completed prior to this date; must have Ayers sign off on project idea by this date in order to meet fall exemption requirement February 6 (Wednesday) Rough draft of project due to Ayers meet with her to show progress made on project March 6 (Wednesday) Second rough draft of project due to Ayers including a rough draft of your presentation April 12* (Friday) Capstone Projects Due to Ayers; meet with capstone facilitator to practice presentation must practice 3 times and obtain signatures to receive capstone presentation rubric; meeting this deadline will determine spring semester exemptions May 3 (Friday) Capstone Presentations

*Exemption deadlines

CAPSTONE PROJECT IDEAS

The following are possible ideas for projects but remember that ALL projects ideas have to be birthed from RESEARCH. The list below is focused mostly on what you could do AFTER you research, so DO NOT start with this list. Start with your research and then visit this list once research is completed. Remember that your project is something created BY YOU based on YOUR RESEARCH. Some of the ideas are major-specific, while others are generic. You will be presenting your project to outside evaluators, so be sure they are professional in nature. Learners should exhibit their own creativity when choosing a project. You are only limited by your willingness to dream, plan, and follow-through! Create a business plan for a future business, bakery, etc. (business, entrepreneurship) Create a way to showcase new medical techniques, technologies or upcoming advances in the medical field (medicine) Create a working solar panel, a cell phone app or another emerging technology (engineering) Plan and execute an event (ONLY if this is fitting to your research) (event planning) Produce a video of sample procedures (medicine, law) Design an informational packet Write (for publication) a newspaper article on current, relevant topics Design a website for a small business, organization, or professional group (animation, IT, graphic design) Design a PBL project and implement it in a middle or elementary school classroom (education) Design a set of architectural blueprints (architecture, engineering) Design and build a model of a project (architecture, engineering) Plan a lesson, teach a class, and reflect on the outcome (education) Design a graphic (logo, advertisement, webpage) to be used by a business, organization, club, etc. (animation, graphical arts) Research and write pamphlets or booklets (graphical arts) Design and produce instructional media: video, audio, etc. (media, technology) Draw a cartoon book explaining a process or a procedure (education) Produce a day in the life video of your chosen major Design a marketing campaign for a business or product (graphic arts, marketing, hotel management) Research and design a menu for a restaurant with nutritional information (graphic arts, culinary) Set up an accounting system for a small business (banking and finance) Design a Green building or hotel (commercial real estate)

NTH@C SENIOR CAPSTONE PRESENTATION

Due Date: Projects are due on Friday, April 12. Presentations are on Friday, May 3.
Your capstone presentation is time for you to SHINE! You are the expert on your particular field of study, so it your presentation should reflect your hard work of researching and creating something new and unique! Your presentation should clearly communicate that you are ready to graduate because you were able to assign and complete a project of your very own. Presentation length is 7-10 minutes. Items to incorporate in your capstone presentation: Your research this is where you set the stage to showcase what you created. You have to start with HOW your project came into being, ie since it started with your research, get your audience on board by showing your research. Be sure to cite you sources as you share your research. Your Capstone Project this is where you show what you did with your research. It should be something new that was created by you based on your research. Reflection on the process (see below). Your presentation should answer these questions (reflection): How did you arrive at this topic of presentation? What intrigued you about the topic? Is there a tie to your job shadowing/internship? What obstacles did you have to overcome during the course of this project? How did New Tech prepare you for your future? Where are you going next?/Who are you now?

Components to Include: You should have a professional format for presenting your research (PowerPoint is NOT an option) You need at least ONE visual to showcase what you created (the presentation does not count) Any videos included do not count as a visual unless you create them. If they are supporting evidence of your topic, you may include videos, but they may not exceed 2 minutes in length. IT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION A MINIMUM OF THREE TIMES PRIOR TO YOUR PRESENTATION ON MAY 3. Missing the presentation day for any reason will result in an automatic ten-point deduction on the overall presentation score.

Presentation Techniques to Remember

1. Eye contact - This is extremely important. Practice often enough that you rarely need to look at any notes. Remember this is a friendly audience that wants you to be successful. 2. Posture - Stand proud. You have accomplished a great deal and should show pride in your accomplishments. 3. Voice - Talk clearly and audibly so the whole audience can hear. Sound natural. 4. Gestures - Use natural gestures to make points in the presentation. Over gesturing or distracting mannerisms should be avoided. 5. Transitions Be sure your presentation moves seamlessly from one component to the next. 6. Props - Practice using any props that are part of the presentation. 7. Dress Wear professional dress.

Rehearse!
1. The presentation should be rehearsed a minimum of 3 times to ensure you make the 7-10 minute time requirement. 2. Make sure that your technology components work properly. 3. Make sure that any videos shown as part of the presentation do not exceed a total of 2 minutes in length.

Capstone Acknowledgement
_____ We have read and understood the requirements for the Senior Capstone Project and Presentation. _____ We understand the difference between the Capstone Project and the Capstone Presentation. _____ We understand that the project and presentation preparation will be done outside of class time. _____ We have reviewed all of the deadlines for the Capstone Project. _____ We understand that grades will be given for meeting the deadlines in the packet. _____ We understand that meeting the December and April deadlines are requirements fall and spring exemptions, respectively. _____ We understand that this project is a 3 step process: Step 1 is finding a topic, researching the topic and writing a research paper; Step 2 is creating something new and unique based on that research; Step 3 is presenting your research and project and reflecting on the process. _____ We understand that the topic idea cannot be changed once this paper is submitted. _____ We understand that this is an individual project. _____ We understand that missing the presentation day for any reason will result in an automatic ten point deduction on the overall presentation score and that a passing score is still required to receive credit for the presentation.

_____________________________________________
Capstone Topic

________________________
Learner Name

________________________
Parent Name

________________________
Learner Signature

________________________
Parent Signature

NTH@C CONTACT INFORMATION:

Lindsay Ayers Career Experience Facilitator New Tech High @ Coppell 113 Samuel Blvd. Coppell, TX 75019 Phone: 214-496-5900 Fax: 214-496-5906 layers@coppellisd.com Brenda Brinkman NTH@C Assistant Director Phone: 214-496-5900 bbrinkman@coppellisd.com