Final Exam: Portfolio

Your portfolio should have a professional look, either a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves for each page, or some other type of folder with plastic sleeves.

Plan on studying for the final you have that afternoon or the next day, since I will be meeting with you one-on-one, meaning you will have a lot of down time before and after our portfolio review.

Final Portfolio

This week you should be preparing your portfolio for this class, which is due on the day of the final exam. All items must be typed. The contents should include:
Cover Page
Table of Contents
Letter of Intent
Research Paper
20 Hour Log
One or more score sheets from your presentation
Reflection

You may also include any additional items that you feel are important, such as photos, evidence of your projects, or paperwork pertaining to your project.

On the day of the final, I will call each of you to my desk one at a time. You will show me your portfolio. I will read your reflection and you give a grade. You may keep your portfolio.

Belated Congratulations on Your Presentations

I was only able to see a few presentations, but I was pleased with what I saw. I have also talked to many of the judges who had positive things to say. All of them said your PowerPoint slides looked good. Most said some people were poised and articulate, others were nervous. I think as you read over the score sheets, you will see most of the comments were valuable and encouraging.

Be the Expert

Tuesday in class is the last chance for those who haven't practiced to do so. I am making this a credit/no credit classroom assignment.

Read pg. 55 in the Pathfinder on appropriate attire.
Ladies: No distracting jewelry or high-heeled sandals. (You are not going clubbing.)
Men: You don't need to wear a suit, but a shirt and tie would be nice. (No sneakers)

Turn in an entry detailing what you did on your project since we went on break. You can turn in the 20-hour sheet Wednesday.

Finally, remember: you are the expert. You know more about your topic than anyone in the room. Put down your note cards and speak from your heart.

All PowerPoints Due Tomorrow

Bring your PowerPoint on a flash drive in a version that is compatible with a Mac laptop. The laptops run Microsoft Office 2008. Computer technician Jonathan will be in class period one to help us sort out any problems as you transfer your file to the particular laptop that you will be using on Jan. 19. Hopefully, by period two we will have it figured out. If not, I'll ask him to stay and help.

In addition, I'd like to have the people who were scheduled to present today, to do so tomorrow. It is a shortened day, so we can't waste any time.

Are Your PowerPoint Slides Ready?

If not, time to get to it. I have drawn up a schedule for practicing in front of the class. Those scheduled for Monday are (in reverse alphabetical order for a change):

Period 1
Adriel
Kathy
Eduardo
Jasmine T.
Evelyn
Ilse
John
Allie

Period 2
Chulee
Kevin
Jocelyn
Norma
Armine
Natalie
Dulce
Anthony Q.

If your slides aren't ready on Monday, you make speak from notes. Everyone else should have their slides, since they are due on Tuesday, when we will load them on to the particular laptop that you will use for your presentation.

Have you finished your 20-hour project?

If not, now would be the time to do so. Before the holiday break, I had said the 20 hours were due on Jan. 18, 2010. That is a school holiday (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday), however, so you have an extra day, until Jan. 19, the day of your presentation.

To repeat: the 20-hour project should show a learning stretch, meaning you learned something new. This is what you should stress during your presentation. Emphasize what you have learned from your research paper and your project.

It will be graded as follows: 20 hours = A, 16 hours = B, 14 hours = C, 12=D, 10 hours =F (better than zero).

I will compare the number of hours you turn in with your weekly log entries to keep you honest. You will turn in one more log entry covering what you did over the holiday break.