A Project Framework for IB Personal Projects

The IB Personal Project is designed to encourage the connections between curriculum and the real world. The focus is on “learning how to learn” by giving students opportunities to flex their communication, collaboration, self-management, reflection, investigation, digital literacy, creative and critical thinking skills.

It’s no longer just about acquiring knowledge, it’s what students do with that new knowledge that ready’s them for the workplace. The Personal Project fosters student development as independent, lifelong learners. However, ensuring that students set smart goals, engage in sustained inquiry, and celebrate and reflect on their work-in-progress isn’t always that easy, and yet, this is the criteria for a successful IB MYP Personal Project.

Spinndle’s framework will help you get from a student’s IB Personal Project Reality to a Personal Project Ideal.


IB Personal Project Reality

  • How do I get my students to slow-down?

  • How do I get my students to go deeper?

  • How do I ensure my students don’t miss any important steps?

  • How do I ensure my students choose a topic that sustains engagement?

  • My students always rush to their final product before doing the grind work

  • My students hide their work-in-progress and only share their polished work

IB Personal Project Ideal

 
 

  1. student-centered investigation
    rather than submitting final work to the teacher, students share work-in-progress with peers to reflect, build on ideas and learn how to learn for themselves

  2. sustained, student-driven inquiry of a particular interest, curiosity, or goal

students get a roadmap to guide them through their own investigations, research, plans, ideations and creations without taking away their agency

IB Personal Projects

3. cycle of inquiry action and reflection

students share their work-in-progress to a peer feed to get the feedback and insight they need when they need it

4. demonstrates application of knowledge & value process of learning

students post evidence of their learning, reflect on skills practices, and invite feedback

jack