The Capstone Project:An Overview

Why?• Provide an opportunity to

apply and exhibit skills learned throughout a variety of classes

• Demonstrate the skills learned

• Employ appropriate and available technology

• Attain 21st century skills useful in personal lives and careers

What?• Product

• Digital Portfolio

• Presentation

The Product or Service Activity

• Students will broaden their learning beyond the physical classroom through the following:

– Demonstrating independence, responsibility and time management

– Locating and utilizing resources and overcoming possible obstacles

– Applying the knowledge gained in the classroom to an authentic, real-world experience

The Product or Service Activity

• Must require a minimum time commitment of 20 hours on your part

• Must be documented (through photos, video, physical product, and/or journal entries)

• Must have a positive impact on the community OR be a valuable item

• Must be completed during the junior and senior year

• IS NOT just a brochure, PowerPoint, or poster board (although these items can be used as a part of the overall product/service activity)

Fine Arts Samples• Writing, illustrating, and publishing a children’s book

• Composing and performing/teaching a piece(s) of music

• Choreographing and performing/teaching a dance(s)

• Designing and building a guitar, steel drum, etc

• Creating a major piece of art work such as pottery, portraiture, still life, mural, photography, etc.

• Planning, rehearsing, and performing a recital at a local nursing home

• Volunteering with a local after-school program to teach art to elementary students

Citizenship Samples• Participating with a local campaign of your choice

• Volunteering with a local non-profit organization (Alamance Children’s Museum, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Allied Churches, Burlington Animal Shelter, etc.)

• Organizing, promoting, and participating in a community clean-up day at a local elementary school, church, or nursing home

• Organize, promote, and carry out a Theme Week for an important topic (African-American History, American Heart Month, Credit Education Month, Women’s History Month, etc.)

• Create an Oral History project (of something noteworthy related to Alamance County)

Career and Technical Samples• Designing and building a skate board ramp, picnic table, dog house, play

set, doll house, etc.

• Creating blueprints and building a model of a house, boat, plane, etc.

• Creating a business plan that includes logos, budget, building designs, etc.

• Rebuilding a car engine, doing custom paint on a vehicle, or installing a sound system

• Interning in a career field of your choice (Be aware that opportunities in the medical field are very limited due to HIPPA.)

• Creating your own recipe and entering a local culinary competition

Athletic Samples• Broadcasting for a sport season

• Planning and hosting a clinic for young kids where you exhibit skills, teach skills, practice skills, etc. (Time includes planning and advertising.)

• Volunteering as a coach for a local little league, elementary, or middle school sports team

• Learning a sport discipline that is NEW to you (swimming, figure skating, lacrosse, etc.)

• Assist the athletic trainer(s) throughout a sport season

• Organizing, promoting, and hosting a charity sporting event

Digital Portfolio• Stored online through the use of

Gaggle Digital Lockers

• Documents the ENTIRE high school experience

• Provides reflection to show student growth

• Includes documentation related to the Capstone Project

Digital Portfolio• Requirements Include:

– Résumé– Capstone Application– Advisor Checklist– Documentation of Product

• Hours Log• Photos • Other Artifacts• Written Verification• Links to Blog or Website• Brochures, Fliers, or PowerPoints

– Exemplars & Reflections• Research Paper • 4 Work Exemplars

The Presentation• Includes information about:

– Reasons for including exemplars and reflection on each

– Discussion of product/service activity process– Overall reflection on challenges and successes

• Requires a digital multi-media presentation – Microsoft PowerPoint - Prezi– SmartBoard Notebook - Slide Rocket– Webpage/Blog

• Could include possible other visuals – tools related to your product/service activity– your product/scrapbook

• Judged by 3 community members, facilitated by 1 school judge

Your Advisor & His/Her Role

• Is a faculty or staff member in Alamance-Burlington School System

• Does not necessarily have to know your area of interest, but it could be helpful

• Will– Help plan your product/service activity– Support you through the process– Score your portfolio– Score your product– Coach you on presentation skills– Communicate with parents, counselor, administrator if deadlines are

not being met

Timeline