When?: Throughout all phases of project. Look over your approved project steps and determine which steps will require the most documentation and take pictures of those.

Why? The judges will want to observe the entire process of your actual project and the process you chose to complete it. Photos are the easiest way for a judge to critique your project steps.

How? For most projects, use a 35mm camera with 200 speed film. 200 speed film is an "all purpose film" and can be used with/without a flash, indoor/outdoor.

• Get the film developed ASAP to make sure the photos came out.
• Take shots from different angles to make sure you capture all the detail of the subject.
• Remember , this is YOUR Senior Project. Make sure you document it well, two rolls of film or more is average. Will ALL these photos be used in your portfolio? Probably not, but with 48 pictures or more, you can select the photos that best document your project

Portfolio Construction: Select the best photos. Organize them according to project steps (begining to end).Check out sample!

• Using a glue stick or other adhesive, attach photos to a blank sheet of paper (aprox. 2 per page).
• Type a short descriptive caption explaining the what is hapening in the photo.

 

When?: Throughout all phases of project. Look over your approved project steps and determine which steps will require the most documentation and take pictures of those.

Why? The judges will want to observe the entire process of your actual project and the process you chose to complete it. Pictures are the easiest way for a judge to critique your project steps.

How?

• Take shots from different angles to make sure you capture all the detail of the subject.
• Download the pictures ASAP to make sure the pictures came out.
• Remember , this is YOUR Senior Project. Make sure you document it well. Will ALL these phictures be used in your portfolio? Probably not, but you can select the photos that best document your project.

Portfolio Construction: Select the best photos. Organize them according to project steps (begining to end).

• Using a word processing program (Microsoft Word, etc), insert the photos into a blank document. (aprox. 2 a page)
• Type a short descriptive caption explaining the what is hapening in the photo.
• Check out sample!

When? Throughout project completion, provide receipts for all purchases.

Why? To verify project steps and work completed.

How? When they ask if you would like a receipt, say "yes". Have an envelope labeled Senior Project and place ALL receipts in it for safe keeping (or until the night before portfolios are due).

Portfolio Construction: Organize them according to date.

• Using a glue stick or other adhesive, attach receipts to a blank sheet of paper (aprox. 2 per page).
• Type a short descriptive caption explaining what was purchased.

 

When?: Throughout all phases of project. Look over your approved project steps and determine which steps will require the most documentation and video tape those.

Why? The judges will want to observe the entire process of your actual project and the process you chose to complete it. Judges LOVE to watch TV and LOVE to watch students at work. No really, Video documentation is the best way to truly verify the process and project steps involved.

How? Senior Project Cameras are available in for check out in the Library. You need a SIGNED parent permission slip before check out the cameras. THINK AHEAD! Or maybe you already have your own or know someone that will allow you to borrow their camera.

• Purchase a DV (Digital Video) tape or an appropriate tape.
• Film footage of appropriate steps in your project. Film KEY points of your project, not ALL of your project.
• HOWEVER! If your proposal indicated full video, then do so.
• Remember , this is YOUR Senior Project. Make sure you document it well.

Portfolio Construction: If you plan to edit your video, select the best scenes filmed. If not, submit ALL video.

• All submitted video must be in either VHS or DV format. High-8 needs to have a VHS adapter included with it.
• Label all video tapes and cases with your NAME and PROJECT TITLE.
• All tapes must be cued up and ready to view.
• Each tape should have a written breakdown of what is on the tape.
• Place tapes in a ziploc baggie, zipper pouch, anything that will keep it secure inside your portfolio folder.

When? These should be utilized with any projects that require teaching of skills, a class, or running a presentation with goals (i.e. running a sports clinic, teaching a science lesson, presenting anti-defamation information at a meeting). You should create lesson plans prior to any actual instruction. These plans should be reviewed with consultants prior to presentations to make sure they are accurate and feasible (i.e While meeting your consultant who is a kindergarten teacher, an hour lecture to a kindergarten class upon review would be deemed insane)

Why? Lesson plans will help point out weaknesses in presentation/instruction prior to the actual teaching. Additionally, lesson plans will provide great documentation of your instructional time and will allow you to plan your time effectively to prevent boring your audience or not having enough presentation for your timeframe. All your teachers use lesson plans/agendas (or at least they should) to teach classes and you are essentially doing a similar activity and should do the same. Teachers LOVE to see students experiencing their tortuous jobs, so naturally these will be a plus to your overall presentation.

How? You may choose to do a formal lesson plan (search online or talk to teachers) or simply create a format that works for your project. Lesson plans should answer the following questions:

• What day and timeframe will the class take place?


• What is the goal of the activities?


• What materials will be needed by you or by participants?


• What previous knowledge do the participants need to know?


• What will occur throughout the process (i.e. a time breakdown for activities)?

Effective lesson plans will allow you to be fully prepared for the days activities, you will have enough handouts, minutes filled, and an appreciative audience. You may even want to reflect at the bottom of the lesson plan after the day’s lessons to critiques how “the best laid plans” worked out.

Portfolio Construction: Place lesson plans in your documentation section of your portfolio. You could also get your consultant or adult observer (i.e. class teacher) to sign off on them after you present. Remember drafts and scribble-scratch originals are great documentation too.