Project Overview
As part of our Year 10 Humanities course, we are able to research and develop a project of our own jurisdiction, creating an outcome to showcase at a final exhibition in Term 4. Out of the four key topics within Humanities, we have selected Civics and Citizenship as our subject.
Capabilities Wheel
The HASS+ Project is designed to challenge and develop a range of capabilities alternative to traditional assessments. Within this project, we have largely improved the key capabilities of:
- Organisation: in order to complete necessary tasks in establishing our final product, we have utilised a timetable to keep us on track.
- Effective communication: as I collaborated with a group member within this project, communicating will be essential. We have touch out of school using mediums such as Microsoft Teams and Discord – and in person have learned to understand the other group members’ ideas and views, compromising in order to clearly outline individual tasks.
- Resilience: resilience is absolutely necessary in such a long task, wherein we will be presented with many challenges both internally and externally while working towards completion.
- Creativity: this capability is unavoidable within this project. After collecting research into our inquiry question, our creativity is challenged as we develop a final product worthy of presenation.
- Problem-solving: both internally and externally, many challenges were presented throughout the course of this project. From absence, to not being able to access certain resources, to attempts at final products not working the way we’d imagined, there were many tests.
Progress Update No. 1
Our progress so far has been launching the project, including initial ideation, research, and planning into the practical aspects of this task and our future progress.
1. Ideation
This was our first phase of the project, where after being assigned our HASS topic we discussed various ideas we could investigate, and produce a final product, based on. We found many areas within civics and citizenship we were interested in, and therefore attempted to incorporate multiple points of interest into our first idea.
How did Ancient justice systems function, and how do they compare to modern systems of law?
OUR INQUIRY QUESTION
Topic choice
After ideation, we concluded that we wanted to investigate and compare ancient laws and justice systems to the modern-day equivalents of these systems. This combined law with another HASS topic we were interested in, History, and also gave us the opportunity to analyze the ethics behind the justice system – investigating the influence of religion on government, and capital punishment.
Our interest in these areas of ancient law leads us to choose to investigate Medieval Europe specifically after some basic research, due to the major influence of the Church and punishments such as torture and capital punishment.
2. Research
After choosing our topic, we began the research stage of the project. As an assessment and check-in, we were required to complete 10 annotated references, cited in APA 7 style. We attempted to focus on reliable sources, citing academic interviews from reputable authors, articles from Encyclopedia Britannica, reports published by various Universities, and even images of primary sources.
I utilized a citation-generating website, scribbr, in order to create and organize the sources I found during my research. This made the process much smoother and ensured my partner and I could generate the citations in the formal style required.
3. Planning
After, and during, the completion of our ideation and initial research, we utilized a timetable in order to ensure we are getting enough work done and therefore are able to complete the project within the time necessary. We have also created some initial ideas of final products, and have assigned a little more research to each do over the holidays.
Timeline
The timeline to the left includes a detailed outline of our current and future planning, providing us with a cohesive outline of all the necessary tasks to be achieved over the course of this project.
This is very useful for our time management, as it ensures that we will complete all of the necessary tasks in the time allocated.
Progress Update No. 2
Our progress after update 1 included utilising peer feedback to improve our product, as well as assisting us in deciding what mediums we would use to present our information.
1. Feedback
Following Progress Update No. 1, our classmates were asked to review our progress so far and provide critical feedback, endeavoring to assist us in producing a high-quality final product. We requested more feedback about our ideas for our final product, and in summary, were given two main aspects to include in our presentation.
Preferred Feedback Medium
- Interactive Product
The idea of a game was appreciated, where the players would navigate their way through Medieval England. The idea we had to structure it like a choose-your-own-adventure game – as this is an effective way to engage the audience.
2. Visual Product
We were also advised to use a separate medium to provide official information – either through the use of a model with written labels and descriptions, or a series of posters that could be mounted behind the game for more contextual info.
This feedback was taken into consideration, leading to us deciding on two main products to be utilized to present our inquiry question.
2. Planning
Exhibition Floor Plan
To the left is the collection of our final products, and that plan for our exhibition. This means that we require a pin-up board, and will need to organise this before exhibition night. We decided to settle on using posters as a visual, information-heavy resource, with booklets that you can take home to accompany this. For a more engaging aspect, we decided to create a board game – involving the audience within our context. This was heavily influenced by our feedback, advising us to use a balance of interactive and visual products.
Pin-up Board Layout
To the right is a sketched layout of our various posters and sources to be displayed behind our exhibition. It is divided in half, one side focused on providing insight into the context of Medieval society, including theoretical and written law, feudalism, etc. The other half focuses on punishment – death sentences, torture, and a case study into the witch trials.
Song and Matt October 14, 2021
This progress update is well thought out and planned, presenting a clear understand of the task at hand. However, I think more information about their inquiry question will allow the auidence to understand what their project is really about.
emily October 14, 2021
Very detailed on the capabilities wheel and how you have used it in your project. I like the visual aspect of the progress update and the diagrams and pictures you have added. Next time, add more information on what the project is and information about it because I am still unclear about it and a week to week future plan
Amos October 14, 2021
– Like how the eportfolio has included capabilities that are needed for this project and how they are used
– Like how the eportfolio includes a timline for reaching different goals for the project
– Like how you have included processes like ideating, research and planning
– one thing that you could have included is how your are going to be presenting your ideas or what form of presentation
Marlon Yie October 14, 2021
The topic is really good and your planning has been really thorough and it seems like you have a clear vision on what your final product will look like. Maybe next time be more succinct with your progress updates (dot points, etc.) to communicate your progress clearer.
annabel October 14, 2021
I really like how you have set this out, it makes it fun to read. Maybe cut it down a bit to key information to make it simpler.
jade October 14, 2021
you have great understanding for this whole topic and put in a lot of effort and have a highly detailed plan and research