2012-13 Semester One POLs
A Presentation of Learning (POL) is a formal presentation given by students to a panel comprised of peers, community members, administrators, teachers and parents at the end of each semester. Before POLs, students practice their presentations and focus on specific public speaking skills, receive feedback from teachers and peers, refine and rehearse their POL delivery. Requirements for POLs are grade-level specific, but always include an oral presentation, use of the student’s digital portfolio, and include artifacts from students’ scholastic efforts.
Students who attempt but do not pass POLs/ are given one additional opportunity to present once they have refined their work based upon the review panel’s feedback. Participation in all POLs is mandatory and students are expected to present in professional dress. Students will be expected to panel on the day that they present (either Wednesday or Thursday of next week), but do NOT need to come to school on the day they are not presenting. All Make-ups will be scheduled for Friday, December 21st. Below are the specific details of each grades POL experience:
The 9th grade POLs will ask students to reflect on their growth and goals as AHS students, providing evidence of their successes and challenges. They will explore the Habits of Heart and Mind and 21st century survival skills, reflecting on their strengths and identifying areas of improvement moving forward. Students will address content that has impacted their intellectual growth and reflect on how the work they are doing at AHS is relevant to their lives and/or larger goals. The POL will consist of a 7-8 minute formal presentation, followed by 2-3 minute Q&A with a panel of their teachers and peers.
10th Grade POLs will take the form of a presentation followed by a Q&A session with the panel. In the presentation, students will be addressing two core content areas (Math, Spanish, Humanities, or Biology). In their presentation, they will be answering questions crafted by the teacher of that content area that will show their growth or mastery of concepts in that content area. In the Q&A session, panelists will have the chance to ask follow-up questions about the presentation, as well as questions from a list that students will be given in advance.
Juniors will be participating in POLs that combine a presentation with a Q&A session. During the presentations, students will discuss why they should get to keep their jobs as juniors at Animas High School. This will require thoughtful reflection coupled with evidence regarding their abilities in three performance areas: academics, culture, and LINK/College Prep. Each student's presentation will be followed by a series of questions about both the evidence s/he has offered during the presentation and his/her teachers' observations from first semester.
Our 12th Graders will participate in a very unique POL experience that is multi-faceted and evidence driven. Seniors will deliver a 10 minute polished presentation and then participate in a five minute Q & A with panelists. Students will tackle one of the following three options through their POL:
Option 1: In our culture, there is much talk of “Senioritis,” and the “Senior Slump.” In general, there seems to be an expectation that students in 12th grade are “done” long before the school year is over. To what extent have you hit a plateau with your academic progress? What evidence can you show of continued growth as an academic this year?
Option 2: At AHS, we are trying to develop students who create beautiful work that demonstrates careful thinking, highly developed academic skills, and an awareness of audience and purpose. Bring in the BEST piece of work you have produced while at AHS. Explain why you think it is the “best”, thinking carefully about the academic skills and frameworks you used in creating the piece. Remember, best doesn’t just mean prettiest!
Option 3: Your work is a symbol of who you are as a person, in all your complexity. Show the panel 2-3 pieces of work that demonstrate who you are academically and personally. Remember not to oversimplify here—you are a complicated individual, and we expect you to delve into those complexities in your presentation.
