Fernando M. Reimers et al.

The study of each of the challenges will be rooted in a semester—long course.
The case study includes teaching and learning about the following: the skills
and knowledge needed to address the challenges associated with that process
and various ways to think about the challenge, such as the kinds of questions
to ask or the frameworks in which to look at the issues.

The independent (or group) project strand focuses on a multiyear indi—
vidual (or group) capstone project on an issue that the students will identify
by the end of their ninth-grade year, after taking the two semester courses.
This project includes independent research, an internship with a mentor
and/or an organization working on the issue, the development and imple-
mentation of an action plan to help address the issue, and a final senior—year
presentation to the rest of the school community on the experience. The
students will be placed in advisory groups with peers who are interested in
similar issues and will be supervised throughout grades ten through twelve
by an assigned advisor and possibly by outside mentors. This project can
be executed individually or in groups. The focus is on helping students use
their talents and interests to meet global challenges.

' Examples of projects/ issues include the following:

0 In working on emerging technologies, students will identify (at
the end of the semester course) one emerging technology that
they believe could address a relevant global challenge. (This is
the final activity of the semester course.) They will then identify
firms, universities, or other organizations working on the issues;
find and do an internship; and write a final paper summarizing
their contribution to the issue in their engagement with the
firm or university.

0 In working on the issue of countries in conflict/geopolitical
challenge, students will identify organizations working on the
issue of interfaith understanding in NYC; map what they do;
locate gaps, particularly for high school students; form a student
club at their school with other students to develop interfaith

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