AP Cambridge Capstone Pilot Program Cathy Brigham, Ph.D.
New Pilot Program: AP Cambridge Capstone
Program Goals The AP Cambridge Capstone Program aims provide the opportunity to practice:
Curriculum Structure and Requirements Year Two 10 Any th -12 year th Grade of HS Year One Team Project Research Project Research Project Essay (4500-5000 words) Seminar Course Seminar Course Individual Presentation Written Exam To qualify for the AP Cambridge Capstone Credential, students must: 1. Earn qualifying scores on the Seminar Course and Research Project Assessments 2. Earn scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams
Goals of the Seminar Course Year Two 10 Any th -12 year th Grade of HS Year One Team Project Research Project Research Project Essay (4500-5000 words) Seminar Course Seminar Course Individual Presentation Written Exam Develop and assess problem solving, team project-based work and effective communication. Expand critical thinking and awareness through inquiry and reflection on issues of global relevance.
Seminar Course Topics Students explore topics through multiple thematic dimensions to develop research & inquiry skills. Sample topics - Genetic modification - Urbanization - Alternatives to oil - Artificial intelligence - Technology & intelligent buildings - Online & interactive communities - China as an emerging superpower - Endangered cultures - International law - Supra-national organizations -Integration and multiculturalism Politics Ethics Culture Global Topic Science & Technology Economics Environment Sample topics -Genetic engineering -Medical ethics & priorities -Standard of living & quality of life -Ethical foreign policy -Religious-secular divide -Economic globalization -Migration and work -Impact of the internet -Ethics and economics of food -Economic role of women -Science and politics of climate change -Industry and pollution -Biodiversity Seminar Course
Development of Research and Inquiry Skills Is Central to both Courses Students engage in multiple iterations of the Critical Path, a teaching and learning process. Deconstruction Detailed analysis of a point of view. Reconstruction Identification & evaluation of evidence for and against competing points of view. Reflection Assess the impact of research on personal perspectives. Communication Communicate views, information and research effectively and convincingly.
Seminar Assessments Evaluate Multiple Modes of Performance Component Duration Weight Scoring Team Project Students are evaluated on their individual contributions as well as the group as a whole. Individual Presentation Students are given a problem statement and source materials; they conduct independent research and develop and deliver a presentation. Written Exam Standardized examination that assesses student mastery of inquiry. Group Report: <3,000 words Personal Report: <2,000 words ~20% Internally assessed; externally moderated 12-15m ~30% Internally assessed; externally moderated 1h 30m ~50% Externally assessed, short answers + extended essay Seminar Course
Goals of the Research Project Year Two 10 Any th -12 year th Grade of HS Year One Team Project Research Project Research Project Academic Paper (4500-5000 words) Seminar Course Seminar Course Individual Presentation Written Exam Builds on AP and/or Seminar Course subject, deepening program of study Articulates with and provides progression from Seminar Course Enables students to develop practical skills in research methodology and the skills to manage a sustained piece of academic work
Assessed Components of the Research Project 1. 2. Academic papers must include: 3. 4. 5. 6. Research Project
Capstone Pilot Schools Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL Miami Palmetto Senior High School Barbara Goleman Senior High School Miami Southridge Senior High School North Miami Beach Senior High School New York City, NY Brooklyn Technical High School Spring Independent School District, TX Carl Wunsche Sr. High School Irving Independent School District, TX Jack E. Singley Academy Nimitz High School Spokane School District, WA North Central High School Prince George s County Public Schools, MD Bowie High School Eleanor Roosevelt High School McCracken County Public Schools, KY Lone Oak High School Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, TN Hume Fogg Academic High School Independent Schools Chadwick School, Los Angeles, CA Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, MA Non-US Schools Hong Kong International School, Tai Tam, Hong Kong Strathcona High School, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Case Study 1: STEM About the School Hume Fogg, Nashville, TN Urban public school Majority white; 14% low income About Implementation 17 students in Seminar Course (mix of sophomores and juniors) Seminar students concurrently enrolled in a variety of AP science courses All Capstone teachers are science teachers Topics include a variety of global issues related to science
Case Study 2: Academy Model About the School Barbara Goleman HS, Miami, FL Large public school district Majority Latino; 20% low income About Implementation 92 students in Seminar Course (all sophomores) Students selected have a broad range of GPAs (25% have a GPA of 2.5-2.75) Anchor course: AP Art History A five-teacher team (representing the seminar, art history, English, math, and science) fosters an interdisciplinary approach Capstone students housed in a separate building for most of the day
Case Study 3: Community Engagement About the School Lone Oak HS, Paducah, KY Public school district serving a rural area Majority white; 20+% low income; 10% Latino About Implementation 20 students in Seminar Course (all juniors) Anchor Course: AP US History Students selected the global topics Seminar teacher engaged community resources to connect research to local issues
Case Study 4: Deep Study of One Theme About the School Deerfield Academy, MA Independent Boarding School About Implementation 16 students in Seminar Course (all juniors) Anchor Course: AP English Language and Composition Seminar Course focused on a theme: Global H 2 O Two-teacher team for the Seminar and Research courses Long-term goal: Every senior will complete an oral defense of their Capstone Research Project
Case Study 5: Vocational Education About the School Carl Wunsche, Spring ISD, TX District s magnet school for vocational education Majority Latino; majority low income Capstone replaces senior year research project About Implementation 12 students in Seminar Course (8 juniors, 4 sophomores) Anchor course: AP English Language and Composition Seminar topics: Genetically-modified organisms; water crisis; world hunger Capstone teachers led a PD workshop for all teachers in the school Wunsche Capstone students have been invited to attend a Global Education Conference at Texas A&M University
Campus Perspectives Benefits from an academic perspective Cultivating a student body more able to think critically, analyze, and communicate Benefits from an admission perspective Proactive steps to prepare for these students, and, recruit them Benefits from a campus community perspective Creates an opportunity to have a cross-disciplinary conversation about recruitment, degree requirements, and appropriate credit and placement policies
Recognizing Capstone in a Variety of Ways
Recruiting from Capstone programs
Higher Ed Statement of Support
*Institution represented on either AP Higher Education Advisory Committee or Cambridge Higher Education Advisory Committee Over 100 Institutions Have Signed Amherst College Boston University Brown University* Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon University Claremont McKenna College Columbia University* Concordia University (NE) Duke University* Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida International University Florida State University* Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology* New York University* Pennsylvania State University* St. Edward s University Stephen F. Austin State University Texas A&M University Texas State University San Marcos University of Arkansas University of Chicago University of Florida* University of Houston University of Miami University of Michigan* University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania University of Rochester University of Southern California* University of Texas at Austin* University of Virginia* University of Washington* Yale University*
More than 100 Institutions Have Signed the Statement of Support View the full list of institutions at www.collegeboard.org/capstone.
Get Ready for AP Cambridge Capstone Your institution may receive score reports and transcripts from Capstone students this summer. www.collegeboard.org/capstone
Status of the AP Cambridge Capstone Pilot Fall 2012 August 2013 Fall 2013 August 2014 Cohort 1: Students began the Seminar Course. Cohort 1: Score reports for the Seminar Course are sent to designated colleges. Cohort 1: Students begin the Research Project. Transcripts that include Capstone information are included with student applications. Cohort 2: Students begin the Seminar Course. Cohort 1: The first AP Cambridge Credentials are issued to colleges, along with score reports for the Research Project. Cohort 2: Score reports for the Seminar Course are sent to designated colleges.
AP Policies
Thank You! www.collegeboard.org/capstone To reach me: cbrigham@collegeboard.org