Monday, 30th June 2008 - Y10 Personal Project Day (W1)

Whilst the younger years of the MYP are currently approaching the end of the 2007/ 2008 year, and finishing the year’s work, year 10 has now just commenced it. Today we were introduced to the Personal Project, an extended piece of work that concludes one’s MYP curriculum and is implemented as a preparation for the IB’s extended essay. Today we were provided with a guidance booklet and oral outline by Ms. Castro (Personal Project co-ordinator) and Mrs. Thompson (my supervisor and international PP moderator). Today’s goal was that each individual defined their project goal, the AOI that it relates to, and a production plan for the process.
Since the day that I assisted to the Y11 PP exhibition, I have been considering the topics that would interest me the most, being, nonetheless, viable, in order that a final idea could fit into a project goal. I found, throughout this initial process, that a subject that sturdily captivates my attention is school education. Being in a school that integrates an international programme, and acknowledging different environments and school educations, I consider this fact on a daily basis, questioning myself of whether different factors may, in fact, influence one’s knowledge, as well as their relationships and interaction with other individuals (peers, family, colleagues, teachers, etc.). After defining my goal, which was to produce a written investigation on this matter, and relating it to 2 AOIs, I began to produce the basis for my plan.
Following to identifying the AOIs to integrate in my goal, I conferred with Ms. Castro, concerning the choice of my supervisor. Because my relationships with the leaders of my AOIs were not yet existent (for I have not met them academically), I requested the supervision of Ms. Sharon Thompson, as I believe her understanding of the Personal Project process is very thorough (since Ms. Thompson has worked with such projects for a long period of time, being also an MYP moderator), and would thus be a very helpful guidance throughout this process.
My aim for the next work session is to produce a very informative and clear brainstorm of ideas, so as to conclude a clarified and fixed goal. My objective is also to complete a coherent plan with my possible work periods, commencing on the summer interval. In my opinion, the most relevant point in my current position is to reduce my variables and test aims within the project goal.