FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Personal Project?
The Personal Project is a year long project for all sophomore students. The goal is self-selected based on an IB Global Context and student interest.
Is the Personal Project required?
International Baccalaureate requires the Personal Project for all MYP Year 5 (grade 10) students. At Reagan, we expect that all sophomore students complete the Personal Project. Students who are planning on being a part of the IB Career Programme or the Full Diploma Programme are expected to complete the project, as both of these programs require work above and beyond classwork.
Students who successfully complete the project with a score of 8/32 will earn a line on their transcripts that states, "This student successfully completed the IB Personal Project in 10th grade to fulfill the requirements of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years program. This research project was completed independent of the listed coursework."
Students who successfully complete the Personal Project with a score of 20/32 and higher will earn the transcript line, as well as an 0.5 elective credit.
How do I know how my student is progressing on their Personal Project?
Your student will need to log in to their Managebac account for you to see their progress. Additionally, there will be updates on this website to help you support your student. Many documents require that you have an MPS log in, so please have your student share their login information with you.
Expect newsletters home monthly with updates regarding the tasks students are to be completing within the next month.
What is the Personal Project Showcase?
The Personal Project Showcase is an event where students exhibit their final outcomes of their Personal Project. The showcase takes place in the Reagan Cafeteria and Gym.
Students are assessed by a minimum of three judges during the showcase, and part of their final score will come from their showcase presentation.
Families, friends, and community members are all welcome to come see the student's showcase!
How is the Personal Project graded?
Students will submit a final draft of all project components (process paper, outcome, and process journal) to turnitin.com. Students will also present to various judges at the Personal Project Showcase on March 1st.
Personal Projects are graded after the showcase, according to the rubrics. Two teachers will blindly assess the student's project, and the student's final score will be the average of their total scores.
Student scores will have no impact on their academic grades.
How will students receive support in completing the Personal Project?
Personal Project Lessons
Every Friday in ACP, students will participate in "Personal Project Fridays". These lessons teach students about the different components and requirements of the Personal Project. Most of these Fridays are focused on students learning about what they need to work on for the next week, and not work time on the Personal Project. It is important for a student who is absent on a Friday to see their ACP teacher to make up any missed work.
Students should expect to work on their Personal Project for at least 10 hours outside of ACP. The majority of this work should take place in December and January (the Taking Action Phase), when students are working on completing their outcome.
Supervisors
Each student will have the opportunity to self-select a supervisor from Reagan's staff, by October 5th, otherwise one will be assigned to them. The supervisor will be able to support students in meeting the requirements of the Personal Project, and provide feedback on their progress. Students are required to meet with their supervisors at least three times throughout the process of the project.
Coordinators
Personal Project Coordinator Mrs. Felten, and IB Coordinator Mr. Walker are available to help students with any parts of the project.
Mrs. Felten: Room 241D, croftal@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Mr. Walker - Room 200B, walkerd5@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
When will students get their grades for their project?
Students will receive a score report in the ACP in May. This report will include comments from the assessors, as well as their final score.
All scores are final. If a student believes that an error has been made with their score, they will need to contact Mrs. Felten (croftal@milwaukee.k12.wi.us or in room 241) as soon as possible.
If students earn the 0.5 elective credit or the transcript line, it should appear on the final semester 2 report card.