EQ2 Initiative: Graduate Profile + Capstone Resources

Capstone Projects In Community

Capstone Process Map

To begin designing your school or district Capstone Process it is encouraged that the design team starts with designing the Capstone Process Map. Process mapping is the graphical representation with illustrative descriptions of how the capstone project fits into the existing assessment structures.

Capstone Project Planning & Assessment

The capstone planning and assessment folder provides resources for how to map out a capstone learning experience with the capstone guidelines and graduate profile in mind. In addition, the assessment tool exemplar from Zuni High School is provided; as a way to assess your capstone with your graduate profile in mind.

NM Capstone Quality Criteria

When the design team has completed your Capstone Process Map the design team should familiarize yourself with the co-created the co-created New Mexico Capstone Implementation Quality Criteria. This is a tool to support schools and districts in evaluating high quality implementation of Capstones in New Mexico.

Capstone Quality Implementation

Each of the categories identified below are encouraged for high quality capstone design and implementation. Soon these will contain school and district resources as exemplars of the specific stages of capstone implementation.

Exploration & Capstone Focus

Students develop the projects based on their individual interests as they pertain to the needs of their communities of interest.
Projects should be culturally relevant to the student and the community.

Research & Proposals

Capstones are completed following a research oriented process that includes planning, reflecting, and developing a final product/project.
Students complete capstones in four phases: Proposal, individual research/fieldwork on topic, taking what was learned, and applying it to a product that results in a culminating defense and presentation.

Community Engagement

Before: Communities are directly involved with the development of student capstone projects. For example: ED Cafe
During : Diverse stakeholders (community members, employers, families) are embedded throughout the capstone process to support development, assessment, and completion of the capstone project/product, Group internships.
After : Public exhibition includes community members in the assessment of students’ projects.

Feedback and Revision

Evidence is provided through self-reflection assignments that includes feedback to the students.
Resources are in place to provide ongoing and regular teacher-to-student support that encourages capstone success leading to the public exhibition of learning.

Public Display of Learning

Students will have a public exhibition of learning to the community of interest that can be done in various formats.
Public exhibition includes community members in the assessment of students’ projects.

Reflection

Evidence is provided through self-reflection assignments that include feedback to the students.
Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge learned through both school and lived experiences to real-world solutions.