MiamiLakes Educational Center

JUNIOR CASE STUDY

Academy of Information Technology

2008-2009

Mr. James Parker, Principal

Ms. Martha Z Harrris, Vice Principal

Ms. Fabienne D’Pierre, Assistant Principal

Mr. Michael Tandlich, Assistant Principal

Dr. Angela Thomas-Dupree, Assistant Principal

Dr. Ana Maria Lopez-Ochoa, Assistant Principal

Case Study Committee

Mr. Michael Tanlich, Assistant Principal

Ms. Glenda Algaze, HealthAcademy Leader

Mr. Michael Bevilacqua, Entrepreneurship,Industrial & TechnicalAcademy Leader

Mr. Chris Goslin, Communication & EntertainmentAcademy Leader

Mr. Marlon Vernon, InformationTechnologyAcademy Leader

Ms. Erica Evans, Cambridge Academy Leader

5780 NW 158th Street

Miami Lakes, Florida 33014

(305) 557-1100

TABLE of CONTENTS

Letter to Students: The Junior Case Study at MLEC...... 3

Case Study Overview……………………………………………………………………………4

Requirements for Successful Completion of Case Study...... 4

Pacing Guide – 2008-2009 School Year...... 5

Consequences of Failure to Meet Deadlines...... 6

Sample Topic to Product Ideas...... 7

Letter of Intent …………………………………………………………………………………..8

Presentations: A Guide...... 9-10

Further Suggestions for Your Presentation (Toastmasters)...... 11

November 17, 2008

Dear Student,

As you are aware, all MLEC juniors are required to complete an approved “Case Study.” This project is designed to be an exciting and rewarding experience that allows you to showcase the skills and expertise that you have been developing throughout your junior year. Most importantly, the Case Study encourages you to engage in an in-depth exploration of a specific career area or topic of interest. A Case Study Student Handbook has been developed to help you through the phases of the project. With a commitment to selecting a project that truly reflects your interest, careful planning of your time, and following the suggested timeline, your Case Study can be a rewarding learning experience.

Good Luck!

MLECCase Study Committee

THE IT ACADEMY JUNIOR CASE STUDY OVERVIEW

THE PURPOSE OF THE CASE STUDY:

The Junior Case Study at MLEC is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you know and to showcase your achievement. It integrates knowledge, skill and concepts from your program of study into one culminating project. It must be successfully completed as a component of your senior English and Technical classes. Through the project, you will be able to demonstrate accumulated skills in time-management, research, problem-solving, human interaction, organization, and public-speaking. This is appropriate as the culmination of your junior education because these are the very skills and abilities which you will be expected to demonstrate as college students and/or employees.

THE TWO PHASES OF THE CASE STUDY:

  • The first is a research paper or ‘documented paper’. You must research and document information on a subject topic assigned by your CTE teacher. You must display how the information you have gained from your research applies to the ‘real world’. This portion of your Case Study will be graded by your English teacher.
  • The second and final phase of the project will be a PowerPoint multimediapresentation. This presentation must reflect an application of your research.This will be a speech of between ten to fifteen minutes, graded by your CTE teacher.

REQUIREMENTS for SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION of CAPSTONE PROJECT

PAPER

  1. Two copies of final paper (one for grading, one for your portfolio)
  2. Five sources minimum. A personal interview counts as a source.
  3. APA Documentation
  4. Five to seven typed, double-spaced pages in 12 point type
  5. One inch margins
  6. Works Cited page
  7. Mixture of writer's words, quotes, paraphrases
  8. Free from plagiarism (Plagiarism is cheating and results in an automatic zero on the paper. It also prohibits your continuing with the other components of the project.)
  9. Turned in on or before due date

PRESENTATION

  1. Between 10 and 15 minutes long
  2. Judged on content and delivery
  3. Appropriate business-style dress
  4. Visual to enhance understanding of research topic

PACING GUIDE: 2008-2009 School Year

Dates / Events
November 2008 / Introduction of Documented Paper; student will be assigned research and product.
December 5, 2008 / Approval of Project Topic & Documented Paper by CTE Teacher
December 12, 2008 / Letter of Intent Due to English Teacher & CTE Teacher
February 6, 2009 / Deadline for Preliminary Draft, Note cards and Outline
February 27, 2009 / Deadline for completion of Documented paper
March 16-20, 2009 / Power Point Presentation

CONSEQUENCES of FAILURE to MEET DEADLINES

One of the most important skills that the Case Study teaches is time-management. By breaking up the components into required deadlines, students will learn how to take a project and tackle it in manageable segments. This is a vital skill both for college and for the workplace. Students must also learn to meet deadlines. If a deadline is not met, consequences will follow as outlined below. Students MUST do each of the following components in the order in which they are assigned. Since each component of the Junior Case Study must be completed before the next component is begun, it is vital that students complete assignments on time.

Failure to meet a deadline will result ina penalty of 10 points (or 10%) for each day late up to 3 days; after the third late day, the final grade on that component will be an F. Please note, all material for the component must be submitted even if the work is more than three days late (grade = F) in order to continue with the remainder of the Project. If a student feels that he/she has a legitimate excuse for being late on a component and should not be penalized, the student will have to address theCase Study Committee to make a personal appeal.

REMEMBER: Failure to complete one or more components of the Capstone Project will

result in an F on that component.

Both your documented paper and presentation are worth25% of the second semester grade.

Your technical teachers MUST approve both your research paper and your product.

Your English teacher will break the documented paper into required components, including a thesis statement, an outline, note-cards, a rough draft, and a final draft. Be sure you are aware of all the deadlines and that you meet them.

I understand the above information and agree to accept the consequences for failing to comply with the requirements.

Signature of Student: ______Date: ______

I understand the responsibilities of my son/daughter in submitting materials by the deadlines established and in maintaining academic honesty and integrity.

Signature of Parent: ______Date: ______

SAMPLE IDEAS: RESEARCH AREA TO PRODUCT

RESEARCH PAPER AREA

/

POSSIBLE PRODUCT

Radio Telecommunications /  / Build an AM/FM Radio
Digital Electronics /  / Design and build a digital clock
Analog Electronics /  / Design and build an amplifier
Microprocessors /  / Design and demonstrate a machine code program
Web Design /  / Design a web site for a company, school or teacher
Using Multimedia to Enhance Web Sites /  / Design an e-commerce web site
Wired LAN Network Design /  / Design & deploy a wired Ethernet network
Wireless LAN Network Design /  / Design and deploy a wireless Ethernet network
WAN Design /  / Design and deploy a WAN solution for a company
Network Security /  / Design a security solution for a company using ACLs
LAN/WAN Network Design /  / Design and deploy a LAN/WAN solution for company
Programming with C++ /  / Design and write a program to manage a business
Programming with Java /  / Design and execute a interactive game
Database Administration /  / Design a database for a company
Unified Communications /  / Design and deploy an Unified Network
IP Telephony /  / Design a network to utilize VoIP technologies















Source: MLECInformationTechnologyAcademy

LETTER of INTENT "YES" TEST

Here is a list of criteria on which your Letter of Intent will be evaluated. You should be able to check "YES" for each item on the checklist before submitting your letter to your English teacher. Your Letter of Intent MUST be approved by your teacher before you begin your documented paper.

Student: ______Research Topic: ______

YES / NO / ELEMENTS to EVALUATE
MECHANICS
Is your letter typed?
Is your letter free of mechanical and spelling errors ?
FORM
Is there a date?
Is there an inside address of an English teacher at Wheeler?
Is there a greeting followed by a colon?
Is the letter in block paragraphs with double space between each?
Is the closing capitalized and followed by a comma?
Did you sign the letter?
Is your home address on the letter?
CONTENT
Is the reason for your interest in the area explained?
Did you clarify any prior knowledge of the area?
Did you clearly state what the product will be?
Did you consider an estimate of the cost of the product?
Did you explain plans for obtaining a mentor?
Is there a clear connection between the research paper and the product?
Is there an acceptable "learning stretch" for you in both the research and product?
Is the last paragraph a clear definition of plagiarism and its consequences?

PRESENTATIONS: A GUIDE

Three areas of consideration for your presentation should be

  1. Visual
  2. Content / Talking Points
  3. Delivery & Appearance

I. VISUAL

  1. The visual should be something that helps the audience understand the content of your presentation as well as a device to keep your speech organized and on track.
  1. The visual should focus on “substance,” not “show.” Since it functions to help guide both you and the audience, it should not in itself be distracting, nor should it take attention away from you.
  2. The visual should be an outline of your talking points, and could be in any number of forms including (but not limited to):
  3. a flip-chart outline (minimal text)
  4. overhead transparencies (again, minimal text)
  5. a hand-out to be given to the judges, to help them follow your speech.
  6. a poster
  7. a PowerPoint presentation (limited in number of slides, with minimal text on each slide). When using PowerPoint, care must be taken:
  • Student must be very familiar with the program so as to use it with ease during the presentation
  • Reliance on computers carries a risk of their breakdown during the presentation and incompatibility problems with transfer of data
  • PowerPoint visuals must not distract from the speech itself
  1. A secondary visual may include photographs, a video, a demonstration of a skill, or the showing of a tangible product. However, these items--if used-- would further enhance your outline, and would not substitute for it. Your speaking time, regardless of visuals, must be 8 minutes.
  2. Be aware that any type of technology used in your presentation (TV, computer, overhead) may fail, so that reliance on such a visual should be minimal.

II. CONTENT

Tell them what you’re going to tell them

Then, tell them

Then, then tell them what you told them

  1. Your speech should attempt to anticipate questions that might be asked about your Senior Project, and to answer those questions before they are asked. Certain questions should be answered by ALL presenters; other questions depend upon your particular topic.
  1. Questions to be answered by all presenters:
  2. Why did you pick this topic for your research?
  3. What did you hope to gain by researching this topic?
  4. What DID you gain from your research?
  5. How did you tie in your product to your research topic?
  6. What was your “stretch” in doing this particular product?
  7. What role did your mentor play in your product? Explain the process you went through in doing your product.
  8. What challenges did you face in doing your Senior Project?
  9. What were the benefits you derived (if any) from doing this project?
  10. What costs did you encounter ?

b. Considerations for presenters with specialized topics

  • Be certain to define any technical or important terms for your audience.
  • What equipment did you need for doing the product?
  • What components made up this particular product that the audience should know?
  • Discuss the benefits of your product or the attributes that attracted/helped you.
  1. Imagine being in the audience for your presentation. Address those points that would be confusing or unusual, so that the audience fully understands your topic, your challenges, your triumphs, and your achievements.

III. DELIVERY & APPEARANCE

1. Delivery

  • Note cards may be used, but they should not be read; use your visual outline as you proceed through your presentation (by pointing to items as you speak)
  • Feel free to walk around a bit, within a defined area
  • Use your hands to gesture for emphasis if you are comfortable enough to do so
  • Use voice inflection and repetition to highlight important points and to keep interest
  • Make eye-contact with all of the judges -- not just one
  • Face the audience at all times! Do not turn your back on your audience to look at a TV screen or an overhead projection.

2. Appearance

Your should be clean and well-groomed

Your clothes should represent your respect for your audience

You should remove face rings and distracting jewelry, unless they are part an integral part of your presentation

  • Your mannerisms should not be distracting to the audience.

Source: Joyce Taffee WHS

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION

From Toastmasters International Better Speaker Series

Requirements: The student is required to present an eight to ten minute speech with visual aids before a panel of judges. He or she should wear appropriate business attire. Students should avoid dressing as they would for a party or date.

Planning the Speech: The student should complete an outline to help organize the speech. It will help to write the main points of the speech on note cards and use those cards when practicing. Sufficient practice is the key to a good speech. Students should time the speech when practicing so they know the time limit is acceptable. Delivery techniques include: 1) Speak slowly and clearly, 2) Know the material, 3) Make frequent eye contact with the judges and 4) Do not read.

Organizing Your Speech

Start With a Formula
1)Tell them what you’re going to tell them.
2)Tell them.
3)Tell them what you’ve told them.

Basic Speech Outline

1)The Introduction
2)The Body
a)Main ideas or points
b)Supporting Material
3)The Conclusion

Begin in the Middle

1)List key points
2)Arrange them in order
3)Expand those points
4)Develop an introduction
5)Develop a close

Successful Speech Openings

1)Get attention
2)Introduce the topic
3)Establish rapport
4)Take 5 – 10 percent of the speech time
/

Some Opening Techniques

1)State importance of topic
2)Startle the audience
3)Arouse suspense/curiosity
4)Tell a story
5)Ask a rhetorical question
6)Begin with a quotation
7)Reference the occasion

Successful Speech Conclusions

1)Achieve closure
2)Summarize main points
3)Make an impact
4)Take five to ten percent of speech time

Some Closing Techniques

1)Use a quotation
2)Tell a story
3)Call for action
4)Ask a rhetorical question
5)Refer to the beginning
6)Repeat main points

1

1