Independent Independent StudiesStudies

Independent StudyAn independent study program is comprised of varied connected activities. Each activity serves as a prerequisite for the others and each activity reinforces a student’s ability to move successfully through an independent study experience

Steps to Independent Study

1. selecting a topic2. forming research questions3. gathering many and varied

resources4. gathering information5. developing a product6. evaluating work habits

The Independent Study topics can be quite diverse. Scholars conduct research on topics of personal interest.

This may include the spine, solar system, brain, cloning, fossil fuels, falconry, dragons, global warming, Fenway Park, Rome, Pi, Pakistan, Disneyland, World War II, J.K. Rowling and Amelia Earhart, just to name a few.

Students follow the steps of non-fiction research that closely mirror how professionals pursue knowledge in our world today.

Interest Survey

Steps of an Independent Study

1 TopicSelecting a

topic of study.

2 Questions

Defining a set of questions or areas of interest prompting the studyof the selected topic.

3 Resources

Gathering print and nonprint resources and

references to answer questions and extend comprehension

of the selected topic.

4 Findings

Gathering andOrganizing information to

Summarize and orderthe findings.

5 Product

Presentingthe findings

in a convincingmanner.

6 EvaluationsEvaluating and assessing

the performance andlearning related to the

independent study experience.

Relationship to the Standards

Standards Independent Study StepsTo read and interpret a variety of genre (LA)

The research step of an independent study supports the need for students to use print and nonprint references to investigate a topic.

To read and interpret maps (SS)

The research steps of an independent study encourages the use of multiple and varied references.

To comprehend a graph: to display information in a graph (Math)

The presentation or product step of an independent study requires that students illustrate quantitative data using a visual such as a graph.

Primary Contract

Upper Grade Contract

Six Powerful P’sProjectPlanningPushPersonalizationPerformance

PurposeLisa Graham, Daryl Spector (Nelson)

Assessing Independent Studies

Self-EvaluationRubricsGrading