Middle Years Personal Project

The MYP personal project is a student-centred and age-appropriate practical exploration in which students consolidate their learning throughout the programme. This long-term project is designed as an independent learning experience of approximately 25 hours.

 

As stated by the IB, the personal project formally assesses students’ ATL skills for self-management, research, communication, critical and creative thinking, and collaboration. The personal project encourages students to practise and strengthen their ATL skills, to connect classroom learning engagements with personal experience, and to develop their own interests for lifelong learning.

The aims of the MYP projects are to encourage and enable students to:

 

  • participate in a sustained, self-directed inquiry within a global context
  • generate creative new insights and develop deeper understandings through in-depth investigation
  • demonstrate the skills, attitudes and knowledge required to complete a project over an extended period of time
  • communicate effectively in a variety of situations
  • demonstrate responsible action through, or as a result of, learning
  • appreciate the process of learning and take pride in their accomplishments.

 

Students must identify a global context for their MYP projects to establish their relevance and significance. The following global contexts direct learning towards independent inquiry:

 

  • Identities and relationships
  • Orientation in space and time
  • Personal and cultural expression
  • Scientific and technical innovation
  • Globalization and sustainability
  • Fairness and development.

 

MYP projects involve students in a wide range of student-planned learning activities that extend knowledge and understanding, and develop important academic and personal skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the personal project?

The personal project is an independent project that allows students to explore an area that is of interest to them, while developing the capacity for self-motivated study. The project itself could be anything from learning a musical instrument, to organising a fashion show, to researching an issue of global significance. It is an opportunity for students to choose a subject area and develop, design and implement a project from start to finish. The project is a key step in their personal development which takes them from learners who are dependent on the guidance and direction of their teachers, into students with the capability to learn independently – skills which will be crucial for them during the IB Diploma Programme, further education and later life.

What are some examples of personal projects?

The broad criteria for the personal project means that students have a great deal of flexibility in terms of choosing a project subject which fits their interests and abilities. Previous projects have ranged from everything from starting a business to building a canoes, providing a community service to producing a graphic novel, and composing music to learning construction. As long as the four objectives are met – investigating, planning, taking action and reflecting – the possibilities are practically endless.

Why are Woodstock's Class of 2021 doing the personal project?

While Woodstock’s class of 2021 are not participating in the IB Middle Years Programme, the are still required to undertake the personal project. As future IB Diploma Programme students, participating in the project will help prepare them for skills and self-discipline required for success in Grades 11 and 12. It’s a rewarding and constructive way for students to develop their skills in self-management, research, communication, critical and creative thinking and collaboration. And because it allows students to focus on an area of their choosing, it’s a chance to explore and share something they feel passionate about.

What will my student gain by completing a personal project?

The personal project is a rewarding opportunity for students to get engaged in something they are genuinely interested in. The process of choosing, designing, planning, implementing and evaluating a personal project is often a milestone in students’ education, the point at which they realise they can help shape their learning journey and start exploring what they may want to do with their lives.

By participating in the personal project, students:

  • benefit from the encouragement, feedback and support of the mentoring process
  • develop their creativity, planning and evaluation skills
  • create a individual piece of work which they can share with future employers or colleges
  • gain experience in demonstrating their strengths and interests
  • develop their communication abilities including writing and presentation skills.

Can a student propose a personal project that is linked to subject-specific learning?

Yes, although the project must not be part of the subject-based curriculum. The project’s topic may begin from a subject-specific inquiry, but the project must be further developed through the student’s independent learning.

Can a student propose a personal project linked to a subject that is not part of the curriculum?

Yes, students may have a personal interest in a subject matter that they do not study at school. For example, a student may develop a personal project based on an interest in philosophy, even if the school does not offer an MYP individuals and societies course in that subject.

Woodstock School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP).

 

Woodstock is an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy — a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Woodstock School believes is important for our students. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org

From Dependent to Independent Learner

Find out why the personal project is arguably the most challenging and rewarding part of the IB for middle years students.