Miami Lakes Educational Center - Miami-Dade County Public Schools

CAPSTONE PROJECT REQUIREMENTAll seniors are required to complete an approved “Senior Capstone Project.” This project isdesigned to be an exciting and rewarding experience that allows students to showcase the skills andexpertise that they have been developing throughout their K-12 education. Most importantly, theSenior Capstone Project encourages students to engage in an in-depth exploration of a specificcareer area or topic of interest. It integrates knowledge, skills, and concepts from the student’sprogram of study into one culminating project. It must be successfully completed as a component oftheir senior English and Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes.Four Phases of the Senior Capstone Project The first is a research paper on a subject related to the student’s Career Pathway. Theresearch must be a stretch beyond what is already known. As part of the research, a mentoris selected by the student to assist and advise throughout the project. Preferably, the mentorshould be a leader in the field selected, not employed at MLEC and someone who isknowledgeable or a professional in the area of the chosen subject. The mentor will evaluateand grade the finished product. The second phase requires applying the information gained from the research to develop a“product” appropriate to the chosen Career Pathway. The third phase of the project is the portfolio, which is initiated in either ninth or tenthgrade. This phase enhances an ongoing effort on the part of the student. Records anddocuments of the student’s progress throughout high school must be preserved andmaintained to demonstrate the student’s journey through the entire Capstone Project.These documents include personal notes, photographs, mentor contact log, resumes,journal entries, receipts, letters, research paper, etc.Although components of the portfolio will be graded throughout the year, the senior Englishteacher will grade the entire portfolio for completeness and aesthetics at the end of thesemester. CTE teachers will also evaluate and grade the portfolio. The final phase of the project will be the presentation of the Senior Capstone product. Thiswill be a multi-media presentation, between eight to ten minutes, given before a board ofjudges made up of educators and career professionals. Students will be assigned a dateand time in advance for presentation of the Senior Capstone Project.32