Senior projects require independent learning

OXFORD HILLS — Every school year, before a student can graduate from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, he or she must complete an independent project called a Senior Project.

These projects can determine whether a student graduates from OHCHS and after a year of planning, working and presenting the project, the student can finally breathe in relief. 

The Senior Projects began at OHCHS in 2002. Before they existed, each student had to complete a “portfolio,” a collection of work the student had done since grade school.

The portfolio could have art, essays, work they completed in class and other assorted projects to show how the student has grown academically. 

“The portfolios started in 1999," said Brewster Burns, a teacher at OHCHS.

He explained that they "started because of the Maine Learning Results, which is a long list of things kids need to complete before they graduate.

"The student had to use the work in the portfolio to show how they had grown and met these 'guidelines',” he said. Burns also happens to be the official "go to" teacher for anything about Senior Projects.

“The staff liked how independent the portfolios were, but a lot of them felt like the students were just taking work they already did and explaining it all over again," Burns explained. 

That's when OHCHS transitioned to Senior Projects. Each year the projects have all been different, as every year a new rule is established or changed to accommodate learning curves from the year before.

Requirements 

“At it’s core, it’s always been the same. It’s an independent project,” Burns said, of the requirements. 

According to the OHCHS Senior Projects blog, "in order for a project to meet Senior Project standards, it must involve significant new learning, be independent in creation and execution, and create a quality real-world product or service.”

There are many guidelines that students must follow in order to complete their Senior Projects, including submitting forms, practicing their presentations, completing the project and presenting the final project in front of a panel of judges. 

The project is defined as something that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim and must be acceptable real-world quality and must incorporate independent learning. The student must work at least 10 hours on their project and consult with an expert in some aspect of their project.

A 'valuable' experience

At the end of every school year, staff and students at OHCHS fill out a survey asking whether the Senior Project is valuable. 

According to the 2011-2012 survey, 94 percent of the 168 respondents thought that their Senior Project was a positive experience.

Staff also completed the survey and a majority of respondents thought the Senior Project presentations were also positive. 

OHCHS Principal Theodore Moccia said he fully supports the Senior Projects. “What students learn when they create their [Senior] Project is something they wouldn’t learn in a classroom,” he explained. 

Burns agrees. “I think it’s an important skill to be able to work independently and not be told exactly what to do," he said.

"The Senior Projects give [students] skills that everyone needs to be successful. Like how to plan, self-control, self reliance, timing and so much more.”