I'm new to the Extended Essay Coordinator position. It's a job that has scared me despite my several years of experience with the EE process. Although I have worked closely with my school's DP coordinator and EE coordinator in the past, now...
I'm in charge of all of it and it's freaking me out.
In planning the launch of my first cohort of grade 11 students, I want the experience to be perfect for them AND I know that it won't be perfect for them. Part of the process requires independent navigation through any number of obstacles - I've never seen a student have a perfectly perfect EE journey. The struggle is real and that's part of the learning!
But still. I want them to be successful.
- independent learning
- open communication among all parties
- clear expectations for all
- successful completion of the task to each student's personal best.
Elements of our Plan:
- Timeline with expectations for students & supervisors on the same document
- This level of transparency keeps everyone on the literal same page
- Timeline is published as a draft in case dates need to be adjusted
- Formative "Gatepost" tasks in Managebac (MB)
- Proposal (required in order to be assigned a supervisor)
- Link to digital workspace (template provided or student-created)
- (Students don't seem to like the research space in MB)
- Annotated bibliography with sources showing evidence that answers the proposed research question
- Detailed Outline (2,000+ words)
- research question and/or thesis statement
- headings and sub-headings
- supporting evidence organized under headings and cited
- Option to submit the Draft to a "draft" Turnitin task before deadline
- Model of task posted as part of each MB assignment
- For example, a correct and complete annotated bibliography is linked in the post about that assignment
- Clear Admin "triggers" to catch anyone falling behind
- Missing any gatepost task elicits an admin intervention
- Differentiated training for supervisors
- Supervisors choose the workshop topics they're interested in or indicate their level of experience and have an option to help others
- Workshop Topics:
- Nuts & Bolts for Newbies
- Citation Refresher
- Evaluation & Moderation
- Dedicated EE work time on Saturdays
- One mandatory session in which students rotate among research skills and supervisor sessions about various subject criteria ("EE Cafe")
- Further Saturday sessions are optional if gatepost tasks are complete
- School provides bagels/pizza/salad for Saturday sessions!
- Scaffolded lessons along the way
- Reading Around Your Topic
- EE Introduction & Subject Requirements
- Finding Sources & Source Evaluation
- Developing Research Questions
- Note-taking & Organization
- Citations and Works Cited page
- Digital lessons for differentiated learning & extra practice
- Lessons are posted for future reference
- Consistent platform use
- LibGuides for resources, lessons, timeline, forms
- MB for submissions
- Teams for communication with students and supervisors
- WeChat group (optional) for fun.
- Students chose their preferred methods of communication: Teams and WeChat
Armed with this plan, we have embarked!
As I proceed with this cohort of students, I'll post updates, links to completed lessons, and other resources.
Until then, good luck to everyone out there who is launching a new EE group. Comments and feedback are always welcome!
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