AP Research students shared presentations on the topics they are currently researching in the class on Nov. 28. The administration and other faculty members watched the students present part of their findings.
AP Research is the second class in the AP Capstone series, and follows AP Seminar. Students must pass four AP classes, in addition to Seminar and Research, to receive a special Capstone diploma from the College Board, which goes on their official transcripts. The purpose of this program is to create a multi-purposeful educational experience for students and enhance the importance and growth of research skills.
In AP Research, students investigate a subject that they are eager to learn about. They map out a study to further investigate their topics.
At the conclusion of their study, the students write a research paper and give a presentation that gives an overall synopsis of what they have learned.
The symposium is a forum where the students in AP Research are able to showcase their research through presenting it. AP Research teacher Caroline Blanchard said the symposium had many purposes.
“It’s to get the students comfortable presenting, in the spotlight, their original work,” Blanchard said. “It is also supposed to be a jumping off point from where they’ve done all of their background research before they start their analysis.”
The last symposium was two years ago and was on a smaller scale because of the pandemic.
The school faculty was invited to the symposium, including all administrators, supervisors, department heads, the entire guidance staff and all AP teachers. The students in AP Seminar were also invited to attend the symposium.
“The students are about to start some really interesting original research,” Blanchard said. “So, [we are] trying to get staff and adults throughout the school community aware of everything that the research students are doing.”
