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IOTA
(INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE) CAPSTONE PROJECT
Cabot School
Cabot, Vermont
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
OF PRACTICE
Required for graduation at Cabot School, IOTA Capstone Project allows a student
to choose a topic of his/her own interest and passion, select a faculty or community
mentor for support, then develop an individual learning plan around that topic. Common
elements of the student’s plan include research, portfolio development, job shadows,
apprenticeship, service learning, product and final presentation. The process is
celebrated by the school community, including students, educators, families and other
community members, at an IOTA Fair at the end of the year where all students display
their experiences.
IOTA begins the second semester of the student’s junior year, and a full class period
is devoted to research, career exploration, college preparation, and a discussion
forum. Students earn one credit for successful completion of the rigorous experience.
Students enrolled at Barre Voc/Tech Center are required to have a modified IOTA.
IMPLEMENTAITON STRATEGIES
- Graduation
requirement. Although begun as an elective in 1991, IOTA became a requirement
for graduation beginning with the Class of 1998. The Cabot School Board established
this requirement as an integral part of its restructuring endeavors.
- Support
for mentors. Specific training is provided to community and faculty mentors.
- Student
involvement. Tenth graders serve on each student advisory panel (SAP) to further
understand and prepare for the IOTA experience.
- Preparation.
Elements of IOTA (public speaking, technology, research, job shadows, career exploration)
begin in the earlier grades. The IOTA Capstone integrates past learning in a final
culminating project.
SUSTAINABILITY
PLAN
IOTA is a copyrighted program of Cabot School. Many schools throughout the state
and nation have utilized the IOTA format in developing capstone projects for their
own schools. In 1999, a committee of area educators and community members performed
an extensive examination and fine-tuning of the program. Utilizing an outside facilitator,
the group made some notable refinements including moving the beginning of the formal
experience to the second semester of the junior year, providing students with a summer
to perform job shadows, apprenticeships and research. The transition to that model
has been completed and IOTA is now a significant part of the culture of the Cabot
School community.
CONNECTION TO VITAL RESULTS AND VERMONT FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS
IOTA provides a wide variety of learning opportunities that directly support
the Vermont Framework. Detailed alignment documentation is available on request.
LESSONS LEARNED
- Students may
complain at first about the rigor of the requirement but always are grateful for
the opportunity to pursue a personal passion or interest by the end of the experience.
- IOTA significantly
cuts down on "senioritis."
- Students who
are not "high achievers" often have excellent and quality presentations.
- It is all
right to change topics up to the half way mark. Learning that one is really not interested
in that topic or vocational is in itself a good lesson learned.
- Most faculty
and community members are eager to support students in this undertaking.
- Family and
community members turn out for the final presentations in large numbers.
- Scoring rubrics
need constant revision.
- Students need
much encouragement to learn to make "cold calls."
- Thirty minutes
is really not long enough for a presentation and questions.
- The review
committees need more time after the presentation to discuss the content with the
student.
- Never underestimate
the potential of a student who is "on-fire" about an interest.
CONTACT
David Book
25 Common Road
Cabot, Vermont 05647
Phone: (802) 563-2289 (school)
Phone: (802) 223-5625 (home)
E-mail: dbcabot@aol.com
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