"Discussion is the exchange of ideas; an argument is the exchange of ignorance" - Robert Quillen

Here is our Discussion Forum where everyone can post their queries, critiques, feedback, and reflections. We shall answer all questions as soon as they are posted here and hope we can engage in a fruitful exchange of ideas through this platform.

Q1. When do we have to submit our project?

Ans) After the completion of your personal project your mentor and subject teachers will share a detailed method on how, where and when to submit it. A tentative timeline will be shared with you for the same.

Q2. On what basis will mentors be assigned?

Ans) Mentors will be assigned on the basis of choice of topic and playlist. After you submit your Project Proposal Form, our team will connect with you a week after to inform you about your mentor allocation.

Q3. What if we are doing a project with an external organisation and already have a mentor?

Ans) Once you have aligned your project to an academic discipline and a playlist, you will be assigned a mentor from school. Post that it is up to you and your mentor how frequently you want to meet and discuss your progress. The school mentor will be assigned to you regardless of you already having one, to oversee how well you are handling your project. You can collaborate with both the mentors if you wish to.

Q4. Are we allowed to submit a project that we worked on last year?

Ans) A project that has already been completed shall not be accepted as your Personal Project. However, you can submit a project that you started working on last year but you will have to tweak it appropriately so that it fulfils the guidelines set by the school. For example, aligning it with methodologies, academic disciplines, global context etc.

Q5. In what way will the personal project contribute to our grades in the report card?

Ans) After the students link their topic of choice to their academic discipline they will work on it for roughly 5 months. After the completion of this journey they will need to submit their personal project as a part of their formative assessment. The project will be evaluated as the ‘project work’ for the particular subject one chooses to give it for.

Q6. Are we allowed to choose our own mentors?

Ans) No, they will be assigned based on one's choice of playlist and area of study. However one can display their displeasure in working with a particular mentor in case of difference in ideologies/ vision and plans to carry the project ahead. We will consider all valid reasons and make changes accordingly.

Q7. Are we allowed to link our personal project to more than one academic discipline?

Ans) You are allowed to link your project to a minimum of one and a maximum of three academic disciplines of your choice.

Q8. What does "PP" stand for in "PP Overview"?

Ans) "PP" in "PP Overview" stands for Personal Project. So PP Overview is the Personal Project Overview.

Q9. What is the meaning of SOUL fest?

Ans) SoulFest is the culmination of the personal projects programme. It will take place in December where every student will get an opportunity to display their projects in any form they wish to. This is to celebrate your learning journey and to exhibit how far you have come as independent learners.

Q10. Are we allowed to merge two playlists of our interest and create a personal project incorporating both of them?

Ans) We would recommend choosing only one so that you have more clarity with regards to your project and it will also be easier for your mentors and teachers to understand what your project is. However, if you want to incorporate/ introduce an element of a playlist into another playlist, that is your choice.

For example: Incorporating/ introducing some elements from the ‘Mental Health’ Playlist in the ‘Human Behaviour’ Playlist.

Q11. Apart from just broadening our knowledge, are there any other benefits of participation?

Ans) Yes, there are many but the most important one is that this project holds a considerable chunk of your overall grade. So after you have linked your project with your academic disciplines, you will have to turn in your project to your respective subject teachers in place of a formative assessment. These marks will also be added to your report card. Projects with merit or outstanding results will also receive a special acknowledgement on our website.

Q12. How is the reflection journal different from the self-assessment checklist?

Ans) A Reflection Journal will help you record your progress routinely. It will help you keep track of how far you have come and what are the next steps that you should take in order to maximise the potential of your project. It is basically where your journey, your outcome, your learning has to be written. The self-checklist and assessment rubric is a guide for you to see if your project fulfills all the shared criteria and analyse where it stands on the scale.

Q13. Do we have to strictly follow the given timeline?

Ans) Definitely not! This program is completely self-paced. This means that apart from adhering to the final submission deadline which is 28th October, you can create a comfortable timeline for yourself and work whenever you want. However, if you are in need of a starting ground or direction, you can always revisit the tentative timeline given on the website.

Q14. If I am planning to submit my CBSE project as my personal project, do I have to take it one step higher or can I submit it as it is?

Ans) You must delve deeper and expand your knowledge on your chosen topic, if you feel that the project done by you under the CBSE curriculum is articulate enough and meets all the criterias set for a personal project, then please go ahead and submit it as is, otherwise we would strongly encourage taking it up a notch.

Q15. By when do we have to submit the project proposal form?

Ans) All details regarding the submissions of forms and any and all deadlines will be sent to you from your Homeroom Incharge or Year Lead.

Q16. Is it fine if my project deviates from what I had written in the project proposal form?

Ans) The process of assigning people mentors will be done by understanding their planned personal project. Therefore, it would be great to stick to what you had chosen initially, and if you are to deviate it would be ideal to slightly align it to the original idea.

Q17. Can the submission of the final project be of any form or does it have to be restricted to a written report / presentation?

Ans) The submission of the final project can be in any form at all. No need to restrain yourself to writing a report or creating a presentation. It is entirely up to you how you want to display your final product. Whether you want to present it through a prototype, performing or visual arts, a literary work or even a conventional PowerPoint Presentation; the choice is yours!

Q18. Is there any platform where we can ask questions to get quick responses to our queries?

Ans) The Personal Projects website has a Contact Us form where one may ask any and all queries, which you will get responses to within 3 days of asking it. We will also be opening discussion forums everyday for students to put in their queries and we would be answering them. No question is silly!

Q19. I can see many subheadings with images on top but when I click on the subheading (for example "Finding Inspiration") nothing seems to happen. How do I navigate my way through the website?

Ans) If one wishes to be redirected to a page for a certain subheading, they are to click on the picture associated with that heading and not the heading itself.

Q20. Will personal projects happen next year as well?

Ans) Based on how the students respond to the Personal Projects initiative this year, we will discuss making it an annual engagement.