| Pin Oak Middle School Dissertation |
Project Logbook: September 10
Each group will have a bound notebook. All writing, thoughts, calculations, ideas, etc. will be done in the logbook.
Group Formation/Proposal: September 10
Team members consist of three to four members in the same class period. Once teams are formed, they cannot be changed. Ideas are
developed for addressing a community problem. Students will propose what they will DO in the project. Students will hypothesize what can
make the problem better.
Team Binder with Logo and Team Name: September 10
Team must have a large (three to five inch) three-ring binder with a clear cover pocket to hold all final products. This will become the
project portfolio. Teams will create an original name and logo that will be used to identify the team. The logo will be placed in the clear
cover pocket of the binder as a cover. It may be used throughout the project on team documents. Four color copies are required, two of
which must be submitted to advisor.
Project Focus Sheet (Seven Questions): September 16
The abstract or focus sheet, formal description, including the hypothesis, will be written to describe the scope of the project.
Project Proposal: September 16
The project proposal will answer who the project is intended to affect, what action will be taken, and why the action is needed. Project
proposal will serve as a formal application for investigation and must be approved by adviser before beginning
Press Release: September 24
Each team member will write a press release describing the project. Include who, what, when, where, and why.
Combine the best for a team press release.
E-Cybermission Registration: October 1
Pretest: October 8
A rough draft of the pretest will be created and approved before being conducted. The question must identify the variable to be tested
(independent), the variable to be measured (dependent), and the variables in the test to remain the same throughout the investigation
(control). This test should prove there is a need for your project and, after implementation of your solution, the same test should be able to
prove your project made an impact on your problem. Questions should be written so the same test may be given as a post-test.
Reflection of Research and Community Contact Sheets: October 15
Each team member will research a topic related to the problem. The research should support the project. Each student will need to
identify the topic of the research and how the topic supports the overall project.
Completion of the project will require the help of community members outside of the home and school. Each team will develop at least five
community contacts (see bibliographic and source guide) related to their problem.
The team should identify how the sources support the project and write all information compiled while conducting the interview or research.
Documentation of the contacts will show who is helping and how. Students are required to keep business cards and other paper work from
the contacts. Any contact should be recorded in the project log.
Research Notes (Individual): October 15
Two and one-half pages of notes and bibliographical information will be recorded. Students should use at least five different sources with a
minimum of one-half page of content note per source of which no more than two are from the internet.
Research Notes/Experiment/Test/Investigate
Contact I October 15
Contact II October 22
Pretest Final Draft : October 29
The final version of the pre-test must be approved by the teacher before given to the subjects. Define how you will prove your project
made a difference to your problem.
Pre-test Results and Data Tables : November 12
After the pre-test is conducted, answers to each question should be tallied and recorded in data tables.
Photo Journal November 19
Initial photo journal with a minimum of two community contacts.
Multi-Media : November 26
First draft of multi-media and five-minute oral presentation. All team members must participate.
Activity/Photo Journal (Team): January 14
The activity, event, construction, etc., of the project should be completed by this time.
A minimum of 20 photos will have clear captions. Students are encouraged to take photos with their contacts and during their work.
Photos of students doing research or on the computer should be considered supplementary.
Post-test Results and Data Tables: January 14
After completing the activity, teams will retest to determine if their work has changed the nature of the problem. If done correctly, teams
may use the same test as the pre-test. Answers to all questions should be tallied.
Testing Graphs: January 21
Results of both pre-tests and post-tests should be collected In data tables and graphs and evaluated for changes. Graphs should be
computer generated.
Thank You Letters : January 22
Formal letters thanking each contact for their contributions must be typed and sent. Copies of each letter will be
put in the binder behind each contact sheet.
Multimedia Presentation: January 29
An oral presentation describing the project will be given. A multimedia component such as PowerPoint will be created to support the oral
portion of the presentation. (Five-minute maximum)
Christopher Columbus February 4
Christopher Columbus written and visual entry due. (See handout and visit website for detailed requirements.)
Submit to contest.
Portfolio: February 5
As work is completed throughout the project, final drafts will be placed in the team binder. This will become
the portfolio and will showcase the efforts of the team.
Submission to E-Cybermission Competition: February 18
Parents MUST visit your students’ mission folder on e-Cybermission website. All responses to the team’s mission folder must be
completed. All team members must sign off and the team must submit the folder.
School Competition: March 25
Selected teams will present their projects and defend their dissertation to a group of community members from the teams' fields of study.
Each group will have a bound notebook. All writing, thoughts, calculations, ideas, etc. will be done in the logbook.
Group Formation/Proposal: September 10
Team members consist of three to four members in the same class period. Once teams are formed, they cannot be changed. Ideas are
developed for addressing a community problem. Students will propose what they will DO in the project. Students will hypothesize what can
make the problem better.
Team Binder with Logo and Team Name: September 10
Team must have a large (three to five inch) three-ring binder with a clear cover pocket to hold all final products. This will become the
project portfolio. Teams will create an original name and logo that will be used to identify the team. The logo will be placed in the clear
cover pocket of the binder as a cover. It may be used throughout the project on team documents. Four color copies are required, two of
which must be submitted to advisor.
Project Focus Sheet (Seven Questions): September 16
The abstract or focus sheet, formal description, including the hypothesis, will be written to describe the scope of the project.
Project Proposal: September 16
The project proposal will answer who the project is intended to affect, what action will be taken, and why the action is needed. Project
proposal will serve as a formal application for investigation and must be approved by adviser before beginning
Press Release: September 24
Each team member will write a press release describing the project. Include who, what, when, where, and why.
Combine the best for a team press release.
E-Cybermission Registration: October 1
Pretest: October 8
A rough draft of the pretest will be created and approved before being conducted. The question must identify the variable to be tested
(independent), the variable to be measured (dependent), and the variables in the test to remain the same throughout the investigation
(control). This test should prove there is a need for your project and, after implementation of your solution, the same test should be able to
prove your project made an impact on your problem. Questions should be written so the same test may be given as a post-test.
Reflection of Research and Community Contact Sheets: October 15
Each team member will research a topic related to the problem. The research should support the project. Each student will need to
identify the topic of the research and how the topic supports the overall project.
Completion of the project will require the help of community members outside of the home and school. Each team will develop at least five
community contacts (see bibliographic and source guide) related to their problem.
The team should identify how the sources support the project and write all information compiled while conducting the interview or research.
Documentation of the contacts will show who is helping and how. Students are required to keep business cards and other paper work from
the contacts. Any contact should be recorded in the project log.
Research Notes (Individual): October 15
Two and one-half pages of notes and bibliographical information will be recorded. Students should use at least five different sources with a
minimum of one-half page of content note per source of which no more than two are from the internet.
Research Notes/Experiment/Test/Investigate
Contact I October 15
Contact II October 22
Pretest Final Draft : October 29
The final version of the pre-test must be approved by the teacher before given to the subjects. Define how you will prove your project
made a difference to your problem.
Pre-test Results and Data Tables : November 12
After the pre-test is conducted, answers to each question should be tallied and recorded in data tables.
Photo Journal November 19
Initial photo journal with a minimum of two community contacts.
Multi-Media : November 26
First draft of multi-media and five-minute oral presentation. All team members must participate.
Activity/Photo Journal (Team): January 14
The activity, event, construction, etc., of the project should be completed by this time.
A minimum of 20 photos will have clear captions. Students are encouraged to take photos with their contacts and during their work.
Photos of students doing research or on the computer should be considered supplementary.
Post-test Results and Data Tables: January 14
After completing the activity, teams will retest to determine if their work has changed the nature of the problem. If done correctly, teams
may use the same test as the pre-test. Answers to all questions should be tallied.
Testing Graphs: January 21
Results of both pre-tests and post-tests should be collected In data tables and graphs and evaluated for changes. Graphs should be
computer generated.
Thank You Letters : January 22
Formal letters thanking each contact for their contributions must be typed and sent. Copies of each letter will be
put in the binder behind each contact sheet.
Multimedia Presentation: January 29
An oral presentation describing the project will be given. A multimedia component such as PowerPoint will be created to support the oral
portion of the presentation. (Five-minute maximum)
Christopher Columbus February 4
Christopher Columbus written and visual entry due. (See handout and visit website for detailed requirements.)
Submit to contest.
Portfolio: February 5
As work is completed throughout the project, final drafts will be placed in the team binder. This will become
the portfolio and will showcase the efforts of the team.
Submission to E-Cybermission Competition: February 18
Parents MUST visit your students’ mission folder on e-Cybermission website. All responses to the team’s mission folder must be
completed. All team members must sign off and the team must submit the folder.
School Competition: March 25
Selected teams will present their projects and defend their dissertation to a group of community members from the teams' fields of study.
Project Timeline, 2011-12
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