What is the Advanced Studies Project?
The purpose of this project is to allow level 4 students to exhibit the skills and knowledge that
he or she has gained in their program area while in high school. This project encourages the
three “R’s” as identified by the State Board of Education: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships.
Students will develop and explore a driving question, establish a relationship with a mentor
outside the school community, demonstrate relevance by presenting to an authentic audience
and student body, and develop a culminating product and/or presentation that is an outgrowth
of the student’s experience. The project is designed to incorporate the employability skills
students will need as they matriculate into the workplace or college. It allows each student to
identify a problem or issue in their program area, while encouraging inquiry, analysis, synthesis,
rigor, and collaboration.
 
The Components of the Project:
● The Driving Question: This is the foundation of your program specific research. The DQ
must reflect genuine inquiry relating to your program area and must be complex,
interesting, and lend itself to a concrete product or solution to an issue or problem in
your program area.
● The Mentor: Each student should choose a mentor who will guide them through the
research process. The mentor will be responsible for evaluating the student’s research
and proposed product.
● The Presentation: The student will present his or her findings to an authentic audience.
This is a formal professional opportunity for the student to explain the results of their
research and to answer questions from the audience. The presentation must include
both oral and visual components. The visual portion may be either a PowerPoint or Prezi
presentation. Other visual aids will be considered by the Advanced Studies teacher on a
case by case basis.

● The Product: Preferably, the product will be one that will benefit the greater
community; however, this is not a requirement.