Electric skateboards. Stunning cityscape photos. A study of immigration and culture.
The Personal Project is the culminating event of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), which gives Grade 10 students the opportunity to take on a topic or project of their choice. Once again, this year’s Grade 10 class at WAB demonstrated their academic prowess, diversity, and personally relevant application of knowledge and skills.
Annabel T. is a passionate electric skateboarder. She saw the Personal Project as an opportunity to make herself a customized board. Starting with research into the best quality and most cost-efficient parts, Annabel explored electric circuitry and completed a project she was proud of.
“I learned that electric components aren’t as scary and intimidating once you understand the function and precaution of each component,” Annabel said. “The most important thing is to choose a topic and product you’re passionate about- something you can work on for half a year. I learned that I tend to work harder and more efficiently when it’s a project I’m really passionate about.”
Check out the video above of Annabel riding her electric skateboard!
Melissa T. set out to learn more about her family history and Malaysian-Chinese culture to gain a fuller understanding of her identity and raise awareness about the cultural impact of immigration. She created a booklet (click image on right to view) filled with her research and interviews introducing herself and her family, investigations into immigration on a global scale, and the adoption of cultures.
“The fact that the personal project is something I chose and is close to heart made it a fascinating project to me,” Melissa said. “From learning the basics of where and when the migration started and the demographics of Malaysia, I was ready to dig deeper and get more personal. My personal connections to the project definitely helped me engage deeper in the learning.”
Paulina K. chose to take a deeper dive into photography, using the seasonal changes in Beijing to explore the technical aspects of using a camera to manipulate lighting, color tones, and aesthetics. See one of Paulina's photos on the right.
“I wanted to learn more about street/reportage photography and capture everyday life and culture in Beijing throughout the pandemic,” Paulina said. “Something I learned throughout this project is that photography takes a lot of time, perseverance, patience and practice. It showed me that there are always going to be challenges and things I might not be happy about, but through that process it helped me look at my work more critically and set new goals, as there is always something I can improve on and learn from.”
Other projects included investigations into mental health, learning how to play musical instruments, robotics, the psychology of food, fashion design, among others. Find photos of the Personal Project Showcase event here.
Liam O’Shea is the MYP Personal Project Coordinator at WAB.
“The Personal Project (PP) is a chance for all students in the final year of the Middle Years Programme to explore and develop their interests and skills,” Liam said. “Through these projects, students make connections, extend and expand their learning, and create a difference in the world around them. In another COVID-affected year, WAB's Grade 10 students rose to the challenge to create some truly amazing projects. Please join us in celebrating their efforts!”