AP CAPSTONE
BOARD WORKSHOP PRESENTATION 10.21.14
Why/how was the program developed?
• Response to feedback from higher education faculty & at the request of
the College Board higher education membership institutions
• Partners in curriculum development and/or approval
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Smith College
Stanford University
University of Illinois, Chicago
University of Kentucky
Columbia University
University of California, Berkeley
Duke University
University of Tulsa
Stanford University
Brown University
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Brigham Young University
UCLA
• Institutions awarding credit for completion of Capstone courses
Framework of the AP Capstone Program
• QUEST
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Question & explore
Understand & analyze arguments
Evaluate multiple perspectives
Synthesize ideas
Team, Transform & Transmit
• Quest is a recursive process where students go back
and forth between the stages of the process as
new information becomes available
Coursework and Assessments – Grade 11
• AP Seminar
• Develop and strengthen analytic and inquiry skills through
exploration of 2 to 4 relevant issues chosen by the student and/or
teacher (possible topics – whether national security is more
important than a citizen’s right to privacy, whether genetic
engineering is a benefit to society)
• Consider multiple perspectives
• Evaluate the strength of an argument
• Make logical, fact-based decisions
• Students will question, research, explore, pose solutions, develop
arguments, collaborate and communicate using a variety of media
• Assessment - exam score is based on all 3 components and is
reported on the standard 1-5 AP exam scoring scale
• Team project
• Individual paper & presentation
• Written exam
Coursework and Assessments – Grade 12
• AP Research
• Cultivate the skills and discipline necessary to conduct
independent research in order to produce and defend a
scholarly academic thesis
• Design, plan, and conduct a year-long evidence-based
investigation on a topic of individual interest
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of research
methodology; employing ethics in research practices,
accessing, analyzing and synthesizing information to build,
present and defend their argument
• Assessment - exam score is based on all 3 components and is
reported on the standard 1-5 AP exam scoring scale
• Academic paper (approx. 5000 words)
• Presentation of thesis
• Oral defense of the thesis
Recognition
• AP Capstone Diploma
• 3 or higher in AP Seminar
• 3 or higher in AP Research
• 3 or higher for at least 4 additional AP exams
• AP Seminar & Research Certificate
• 3 or higher in AP Seminar
• 3 or higher in AP Research
PCS High Schools Participating
• 2014-15
• Boca Ciega, Countryside & Northeast begin to mplement
AP Seminar
• 2015-16
• Boca Ciega, Countryside & Northeast begin to implement
AP Research
• Dunedin, East Lake, Gibbs, Lakewood, Osceola, Pinellas
Park and Seminole begin to implement AP Seminar
• 2016-17
• Dunedin, East Lake, Gibbs, Lakewood, Osceola, Pinellas
Park and Seminole begin to implement AP Research
• Awaiting College Board approval to begin AP Seminar in
additional schools in th3 2016-17 academic year
Resources
• For additional information:
• https://lp.collegeboard.org/ap-capstone
• Teacher Training
• AP Summer Institute
• 2014 Miami – 3 AP Seminar teachers
• 2015 Tampa Bay area – 7 AP Seminar teachers & 3 AP Research teachers
• Instructional Materials
• Very little required due to the course content being determined based
on teacher and student interests
• Instructional resources needed – computer lab for research purposes
• Support for teachers of AP Seminar & AP Research
• Bard Keeler, College Board Director of AP Capstone
• Lives locally, provides support as needed in addition to being the lead
coordinator of teacher training