about computer science principles · paper, present and orally defend the findings and research...

AACRAO 2014Pam Kerouac, Sr. Director, AP Higher Ed Policy, College Board

Ken O’Donnell, Sr. Director, California State University Office of the Chancellor

Kelly Stromberg, AP Capstone Teacher, Spokane , WA

Introducing AP Capstone™

Launching Fall 2014

Pam Kerouac-AP Capstone Program overview, and instructions for Registrars, Admissions, Recruiters, and Advisors

Kelly Stromberg-Perspectives from the Pilot and next steps

Ken O’Donnell-Perspectives from Higher Ed and next steps

Resources

Questions

Panel Presentation

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Introducing - AP Capstone™

Developed at the request of higher education and following a successful pilot supported by over 100 colleges in the U.S. and Canada,

AP Capstone will launch in fall 2014 in over 125 schools worldwide.

Emphasizes Critical SkillsComplements the in-depth subject-matter study in AP

Considering multiple perspectives

Careful evaluation of information

Writing evidence-based arguments

Identifying and Solving Problems

Oral communication and defending an argument

Collaboration & teamwork

is an innovative program that allows students to engage in rigorous college-level study of the critical skills necessary for

success in college. The Program of study includes a two-course sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research

AP Capstone Promotes the Skills Identified by Leading Educational Organizations

The Big Ideas and Learning Objectives in the AP Capstone program reflect the core academic skills needed for college, career, and life readiness identified by

leading organizations and College Board membership:

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)College Learning for the New Global Century, Essential Learning Outcomes

College Board - Advanced Placement ProgramSkills and Practices identified in AP Courses

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), A Framework for 21st Century Learning

Common Core State Standards Initiative, Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6-1

Council of Writing Program Administrators, Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing

Building on the Hallmarks of the AP Course & Exam Redesign, AP Capstone emphasizes critical thinking, inquiry, reasoning and communication

A flexible two-course sequence that exposes students to rigorous college-level curricula while promoting the critical skills needed for success in college and beyond.

AP Capstone Program Model

Students who earn scores of 3 or higher on the AP Seminar and AP Research Exams and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing will receive the AP Capstone Diploma™.

Students who earn scores of 3 or higher on the AP Seminar and AP Research Exams only will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™

AP Capstone

Diploma™

AP Research &

Seminar

Certificate™

Investigate real-world topics from multiple perspectives

Carefully analyze information, write evidence-based arguments and effectively communicate them

Work independently and with a team to research a topic, develop a written report and deliver a presentation

AP Seminar

Students learn how to:

1. Team Project & Presentation

• 25%

2. Individual Essay & Presentation

• 35%

3. Written Exam

• 40%

Exam Score Based on:

Teachers & Students typically select 2-4 topics for the course.

Example TopicsDemocracyEducationRevolutionFreedomProtest

TechnologySustainability

Design, plan, and conduct a year-long mentored, research-based investigation

Apply research methods and practices to address a real-world topic selected by the student

Write a college-level research paper, present and orally defend the findings and research methodology

AP Research

Students Learn how to:

1. Research Process

• 15%

2. Academic Thesis Paper (~5,000 words)

• 70%

3. Public Presentation and Oral Defense

• 15%

Exam Score Based on:

AP Seminar is a prerequisite to AP Research.

• Distinction – Stand out in the college admission process and have the opportunity to earn valuable college credit or placement

• Critical Skills – Students acquire rigorous college-level analysis, writing, and research skills that that are increasingly valued by colleges.

• Choice – Students choose their own research topic and study issues and topics of interest and importance to them

AP Capstone: The Benefits for Students

What Colleges are saying about AP Capstone

“[Through this program] you get students turned on to higher education in a way they are not currently and they enter university with a different kind of attitude.”

Susan Roth, Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies, Duke University, AP Capstone Curriculum Advisory Committee

“AP Seminar and AP Research are terrific classes that prepare students to think in non-formulaic ways.”Stuart Schmill, Dean of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“At the University of Washington, we would be very interested in enrolling students who have distinguished themselves through the AP Capstone program.”

Phillip Ballinger, Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Undergraduate Admissions, University of Washington

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Name Institution Represented

Teresa Reed, Co-Chair University of Tulsa

David Miller, Co-Chair Deerfield Academy

Maria Albano Barbara Goleman Senior High

Melvin Butler University of Chicago

Stephanie Carter McCracken County High School

Rita Davis Hume Fogg Academic Magnet High School

Ellen Woods Stanford University

Janet Eldred University of Kentucky

College and High School Faculty Involved in the Development of AP Capstone

AP Seminar Curriculum and Assessment Development CommitteeName Institution Represented

Rakesh Bhandari University of California, Berkeley

Hui-Ching Chang University of Illinois at Chicago

Janet Eldred University of Kentucky

Alice Hearst Smith College

Luis Martínez-Fernández University of Central Florida

Teresa Reed University of Tulsa

Susan Roth Duke University

Nicole Wallack Columbia University

Ellen Woods Stanford University

AP Capstone Advisory Committee

Additional Information about AP Capstone

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AP Capstone online: www.collegeboard.org/apcapstone

Email questions to:

apcapstone@collegeboard.org

The AP Capstone Brochure

Registrars

Admissions/Recruiters

Directors of Honors Colleges

Directors of Undergraduate

Research

Faculty/credit policy review

Academic Advisors

AP Cambridge Capstone Pilot scores and transcripts may arrive with student applications

AP Seminar and AP Research (1-5) scores are posted to the AP Score transcript along with other AP Exam scores

Starting Academic year 2014/15-AP Capstone students will present official AP Capstone Seminar and Research courses & Exam scores in College Application process

Institutions need to review curriculum for credit/placement recommendations\

14 states/systems with articulated credit policy are currently reviewing for credit recommendations

Practical Considerations……

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Case Study: North Central High School

North Central High School – Spokane, Washington

We are an Urban Comprehensive Public High School

located 5 blocks from downtown -operating since 1908

Student population 1,200

Case Study: North Central High School

• Urban Comprehensive Public High School

• 86% Graduation Rate

• 68% Graduate with college-ready transcript

• 73% College Retention Rate (BERC Group data)

• 77% Caucasian and 23% Students of Color

• 60% low income/Free or Reduced Lunch

• Of that 60% representing low income-40% are identified as living in

extreme poverty according to the Federal Description (less than 50%

of Federal Poverty Level)

• This translates to 25% of our student body living in “extreme poverty”

• 45% of NC students participating in AP eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch

• 33% of our seniors eligible for Free/Reduced lunch took an AP class vs.

18% of seniors statewide & 14% nationally

AP Capstone PILOT Implementation

Case Study: North Central High School

Implementation of Seminar Course:

• 42 students enrolled in Seminar Course (year two of pilot)

• Seminar students are each concurrently enrolled in AP Language & Comp

• 80% Seminar students are concurrently enrolled in a variety of additional AP

courses including Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Physics, US History, Chemistry,

Studio Art, Statistics, Music Theory, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science…

• Capstone teachers are experienced AP teachers (AP Language and Comp, AP Lit

and Comp and AP European History) AND - Librarian/Information Resource

Instructor

• Topics include a variety of global issues related to technology, environment,

scientific advances, individual rights, demographics and economic

development – these are solely based on individual student choice

AP Capstone PILOT

Case Study: North Central High School

Implementation of the Research Course:

• 19 students enrolled in Research Course (year two of pilot) This represents

100% retention from year one (woohoo!)

• 100% of our Research students are each concurrently enrolled in a variety of

additional AP courses

• Capstone teachers include experienced AP teachers teamed up with the

Librarian/Research Specialist

• Topics are selected by the students on an individual basis – driven by

personal areas of interest and potential college majors or career paths

• Students work one-on-one with mentors who are experts in the area of the

research project

The AP Capstone PILOT

perspectives from higher ed

- 23 universities

- 430,000 students

- mission of access as well

as quality

60%of CSU graduates begin

their college education

somewhere else.

Sources of General Education (48 units total)

California State University (“receiving institution”)

nine upper-division units

certifyingCalifornia Community College

(“sending institution”)

39 lower-division units

prior learning at thebaccalaureate level

(“pass-along”)

* other CCCs or four-years* military and other training* external exams (AP or IB)

up to 39 units

perspectives from higher ed

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where we are

46%

40%

23%

14%

Six-year

graduation rates

for full-time first-

time freshmen

Six-year transfer

rates among

degree seekers

all

students

all

students

students of

color

students of

color

Source: CSU Graduation Initiative and

CCC Student Success Task Force

perspectives from higher ed

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perspectives from higher ed

perspectives from higher ed

where we are

where we would rather be

more integrative and engaging

more contextualized

more rigorous

If the current policy

can’t accommodate

AP Capstone, then

change the policy.

Discussion...

Questions?

Thank you!

Pam Kerouac

pkerouac@collegeboard.org

Kelly Stromberg

kellyst@spokaneschools.org

Ken O’Donnell

kodonnell@calstate.edu