Examples of Project-Based Field Periods

Create a research project that looks at historical and current events (e.g. Black Lives Matter movement, economic, presidential election, wildfires, and other natural disasters related to climate change, etc.) and develop a resource to help educate others.

Use Skillshare to learn something new and create a project in design, business, or more.  Seek feedback from several relevant professionals.  (2 months free!)

Research the history of your local area, including pictures of locations and artifacts, and develop a tourist-focused website using Weebly or Google Sites.

Participate in several Harvard University free online courses in data science, education and teaching, health and medicine, science, or much more.  From your learning, create a tangible project.

Create an Etsy or Shopify business and document your development and implementation process.  Seek feedback from virtual small business owners.

Learn to code through LinkedIn Learning Courses and develop a website.  LinkedIn offers courses on many topics (1 month free!)

Participate in a Gotham Writers Workshop.  Write a screenplay or short stories and have them peer-reviewed.

Begin to learn a foreign language using RosettaStone, develop a project based on new learning, and practice skills with native speakers.

Research ways to reduce your ecological footprint and develop an interactive social media presence on this topic. Hootsuite can help you plan and sync your social media posts.  Document interactions and traction.

Create a blog using Blogger or Square Space on the science of baking using documented research and experimentation.

Using academic resources, design a YouTube channel on teaching ASL for beginners and share it with appropriate stakeholders.  Use VideoScribe to create animated videos.

Develop a portfolio of activities for how teachers can use technology to engage and connect with their students, looking at the challenges currently faced by teachers and how they are adapting. Check out Camtasia for screen recording and video editing.

Become certified as a yoga instructor and document hours of teaching, interactions with clients, and personal reflections.

In a world where technology is relied upon for so much, there are still many unable to access these technologies or without the knowledge to use them.  This could be students, people working from home right now, the elderly, people living in remote areas, etc.  Research this.  Conduct informational interviews where you can.  How can you help?  What could you do to support these individuals?   

Learn to read music and play guitar.  Develop a vlog including recordings of your overall progress.  Check out iMovie and DaVinci Resolve for free movie editing software.

Take on a woodworking project and document learned tools, techniques, and steps.  Seek advice from experienced artisans.

Combine academic learning and research to develop resources on self-care (noting that you are a student, not a trained clinician).

Teach yourself Photoshop and InDesign and compile a portfolio of new designs to share with professionals for critique. Check out Portfolium or Behance to make a professional portfolio.

Paint a collection of pieces using new techniques and obtain feedback from local artists.  Display pieces in your community.

Invent something and document your research and trial and error process.  Share with relevant professionals. 

Develop a YouTube channel on how to make learning fun and share it with relevant teachers.  Learn to use movie-making and editing software such as iMovie, OpenShot, or Blender.