The personal project is a significant student-directed inquiry produced over an extended period, completed during year 5 (9th grade) of the MYP. It holds an important place in the MYP and is the culmination of the EIS student's middle school experience. It provides an excellent opportunity for students to produce a truly personal and creative work and to demonstrate the skills they have developed through approaches to learning. The personal project is made up of three components: a process journal, a product and a project report. This site showcases only the product (or outcome).
The personal, individual nature of the project is important; the project is based on a topic that motivates and interests the student: it is a student-driven, student-directed project. The process of completing the personal project contributes to the development of students in many ways. The process of carrying out the project helps students construct their conceptual understandings.
The personal project reflects our commitment as a school to developing independent, lifelong learners as emphasized in the IB learner profile and the Finnish National Curriculum.
The project also helps prepare the student for the next stage in their education, whether it be an upper secondary Finnish school, a vocational school or an IB school. All of these institutions will expect the students to be independent learners who can take control of their own learning. Those who successfully complete the project will also be more prepared to successfully tackle the challenges ahead.