Project Description: The successful completion of a senior project is both a State of Idaho and Preston High School graduation requirement (State of Idaho Minimum Graduation Requirements). Students complete their project outside of their regular school schedules to earn the PHS graduation credit. Students are given TWO project options that are described below in the project overview section.

Important senior project elements:

1. Students are allowed to begin their project the second semester of their Junior year (late January) and are expected to complete it by the end of the first semester of their Senior year.

2. All projects require: 5+ documented hours of research, 20+documented hours of hands-on type activities, the successful completion of a project portfolio, the successful completion of a formal presentation in front of a panel of judges.

3. Students must have their project plan approved through the submission of a project learning objective essay.

4. Work completed prior to the approval process will not be accepted.

5. Although students are allowed to complete work over the summer months; no plans will be reviewed or approved over the summer, and work completed prior to approval will NOT be accepted.

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Project Options: Currently, Preston High School offers two different options for students to complete the State of Idaho senior project graduation requirement. After consulting with parents, students should select the option that they feel is best.Option Ais college/tech/career exploration. Students who select this option will complete activities to help with college and/or career readiness.Option Bis new skill or skill set learning.  Students who select this option are to identify skills that they do not currently have, but they want to learn. They then complete a series of activities to help them learn the new skill or skill set.

Important senior project stipulations:

1. The successful completion of the project is a State of Idaho and Preston High School graduation requirement.
2. Students receive a required 1 semester credit for successfully completing the project.
3. The project requires a minimum of 25 documented activity hours, the successful completion of a project portfolio, and the successful completion of a formal presentation.
4. Students complete the project outside of their regular class schedule.
5. Students are to begin the senior project during the second semester of their junior year and conclude it at the end of the first semester of their senior year.
6. Travel time or other similar idle time does not count toward the required hours.
7. Time or skills completed/learned in another PHS class cannot be used.
8. All work/time must be documented on the provided time sheet with printed proof that each activity was completed in the provided portfolio binder.

Option A: College/Tech School/Career Exploration

Step 1 = Information Gathering Activities (5 Hours Minimum): Students are to search websites or print materials for information about potential post-high school education options and/or careers. Students must show proof that these hours were completed by printing the articles/websites, printing the student’s annotations, and printing a typed detailed summary of what they learned. This printed material is a required part of the student’s senior project portfolio.

Research Ideas:

• Interest/skill inventory
• General information about potential colleges, trade schools, apprenticeships, training options
• Schooling costs and funding sources (FAFSA, scholarships, other financial aid, work options, etc.)
• Needed degrees, certificates, experience etc.
• Occupational outlook
• Career and lifestyle analyses
• Career/job vs. personality lifestyle compatibility analyses
• Other by project supervisor approval

Step 2 = Action/Participation Learning Activities (20 Hours Minimum): Students must complete at least three (3) different hands-on type activities to help prepare them for college, tech school, or going straight into the work force. Students must show proof that the activities were completed through photos, screen shots, detailed activity notes, receipts, printed results, etc. Students must type a one/two-page summary detailing what the learned.

Action Ideas:

• Going on campus tours
• Attend the PHS college fair
• Completing ACT prep activities and ACT tests
• Participating in job shadowing or internships
• Conducting personal interviews
• Completing Application Forms (scholarship, college entrance, employment, etc.)
• Specific job-related skills (computer software, computer coding or languages, tool/machine use, etc.)
• Current job experience (students can earn 5 project hours through current job employment by working in a paid job. Students must work for a minimum of 20 hours; then identify who they worked for, what duties they performed, and explain in writing how the job will help them in future employment. The work must be completed during the senior project time frame.)
• Other by project supervisor approval

*Both steps one and two must include a typed detailed summary of what the student learned.

Option B: New Skill or Skill Set Learning

Step 1 = Information Gathering Activities (5 Hours Minimum): Students are to search websites or print materials for information directly related to the new skill(s) they intend to learn. Students must show proof that these hours were completed by printing the articles/websites, printing the student’s annotations, and printing a typed detailed summary of what they learned. This printed material is a required part of the student’s senior project portfolio.

Research Ideas:

• Best methods instructions or videos
• Common uses of the skill
• History of the skill or subject
• Related Sciences
• Related technology (computer software, tool/machines use, etc.)
• Cost analysis
• Other by project supervisor approval

Step 2 = Action/Participation Learning Activities (20 Hours Minimum): Students must complete at least three (3) different hands-on type activities to learn the desired skill or skill set. Example: building a shed is not considered a skill in itself; however, learning blueprinting, roofing, laying concrete, electrical wiring, precise measuring, tool use, etc. are a skill set. Students must show proof that the activities were completed with photos, documents, samples, learning journals, screen shots, graphs/charts, etc.

Action Ideas:

• Learn the guitar, photography, coding, new hobby …
• Design, build, create
• Learn then teach
• Complete a learning program or tutorial
• Experiment, improve, retest
• Other by project supervisor approval

*In addition to the required documentation/proof that the work was done, both steps, one and two, must include a one-page minimum, typed, detailed summary of what the student learned.