Your Personal Journey: A Guide to the MYP Personal Project
The Personal Project is one of the most essential elements of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). Students participating in this year-long IB MYP Personal Project can investigate their passions, follow personal interests, and use acquired abilities.
If you are a student, consider it your exhibition, a reflection of your values, personality, and knowledge gained. That’s why, for many students, this personal project is both exciting and challenging.
What is the IB MYP Personal Project?
The MYP Personal Project is a long-term project that runs through the last year of the IB (International Baccalaureate) Middle Years Programme.
This is a chance for students to highlight their Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, especially those they have honed since beginning the MYP. These skills cover self-management, research, communication, and critical thinking.
One key aspect to highlight is the uniqueness of this personal project. Students pick a theme based on their interests and desires. This ensures the project is meaningful and relevant, helping students stay motivated throughout the process.
Whatever their passion, environmental conservation, art, technology, or even cooking, the project lets students delve deeply into that field. The project consists of three primary components:
- Process: all about planning, researching, and developing ideas.
- Product/outcome: the outcome or final work students create, can be tangible or intangible.
- Report: The reflective report will assess student knowledge and development over the project.
After that, this IB MYP Personal Project is assessed based on the quality of the work and ATL skills. A school supervisor conducts the evaluation, and IB moderates it outside to maintain a worldwide benchmark of excellence.
Preparing for the Personal Project
While getting ready for the project may excite you as a student, it can also feel a little daunting. Here, we will discuss the essential items you need to be prepared for your project:
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Understanding the Personal Project
Understanding the goals, criteria, and timelines is vital before starting the project. Many schools begin the Personal Project in Year 4, allowing students plenty of time to plan.
Knowing the evaluation process of the IB MYP Personal Project will enable you to concentrate on fulfilling the requirements established by your school or institution. Familiarity with the marking criteria also allows students to reflect critically and structure their work more effectively.
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Choosing a Supervisor
Every student is assigned a supervisor, who is essential for the personal project journey. Your school might let you choose your own supervisor, or they might assign one based on availability or the project theme.
Establishing a positive working relationship with your supervisor can help you be guided, receive comments, and stay on target.
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Submitting Your Personal Project
Students must be sure they have included everything when it is time to turn in the MYP Personal Project. This includes:
- The academic honesty form
- Final report (in written, oral, or visual form)
- A bibliography
After that, the project will undergo internal review whereby managers verify the quality of the output before forwarding it to the IB for external review.
Structure of the Personal Project (Final Report)
The Final Report is among the most significant elements of the IB MYP personal project. Students use the report to explain their path, method, and final result.
Therefore, it is imperative to use a systematic approach that aligns with the project’s goals and assessment category. It should be split according to headings and subheads to fit the MYP standards. Here’s the complete guide:
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Report Length
The IB MYP Personal Project report should be between 1500 and 3500 words. This excludes the reference list, appendices, and student notebook.
Should your project be primarily written, like a book or research paper, that is seen as a separate component of the work and does not contribute towards the word count.
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Project Submission
Make sure you include all components in line with this structure below when you are ready to send the report for evaluation:
- The Personal Project coversheet.
- A completed Academic Honesty Form.
- Your Personal Project Journal.
- The final product (where applicable).
- The report itself is broken down into the following sections:
- Introduction
- A: Investigating
- B: Planning
- C: Taking Action
- D: Reflecting
- A list of references (includes sources cited in your report and is arranged alphabetically).
- A bibliography (listing all the resources you used throughout the project).
- 10 journal extracts to highlight key developments, which can take many forms, such as:
- Diagrams or visual thinking maps
- Lists or charts
- Short notes or paragraphs
- Timelines or action plans
- Annotated research
- Photos, sketches, or audio-visual material
Assessment Criteria for the Personal Project
The IB MYP Personal Project is assessed using four main criteria, each worth a maximum of eight points. These criteria comprise:
- A (Investigating): Student’s ability to clearly define goals, prior learning identification, and demonstrate exemplary research skills.
- B (Planning): How well students arranged their work, created criteria for the product or outcome, and showed self-management
- C (Taking Action): How well did students create the product or outcome, and what were their thinking and communication skills.
- D (Reflecting): How students reflect on the product or outcome, learning, and development as an IB learner.
Every criterion is broken into achievement levels ranging from 1 (limited performance) to 8 (excellent performance.). The final mark is determined by a student’s performance about these standards, and the supervisor will apply descriptors to make a “best fit” judgement.
Key Benefits of the Personal Project
The personal project provides many advantages, both psychologically and academically. First, it provides an opportunity to acquire vital life skills, including time management, problem-solving, and independent study.
It also prepares for future academic challenges, particularly if a student plans to continue in the IB Diploma Programme or other advanced studies. It inspires students to take responsibility for their education and present what they have acquired.
If you’re ready to start with the IB MYP Personal Project, BINUS SCHOOL Simprug offers the esteemed IB Programme to help you learn. Read about Navigating the IB MYP Science Curriculum for a Comprehensive Guide!
Referensi:
https://www.ibo.org/programmes/middle-years-programme/assessment-and-exams/personal-project/
https://houtbayinternational.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/08/Personal-Project-booklet.pdf
