Senior Project Reflection

Part 1:

(1)   Two hour presentation student assessment

I feel I deserve an AE on my two hour presentation because I met all the requirements on the rubric and I managed to conduct my presentation at a level that is higher than proficient. My audience seemed to have  grasped what I was teaching, and I feel the information I provided them was very specific. I did my best to keep everyone engaged, and I was enthusiastic throughout my whole presentation. Although I was naturally nervous in the beginning, I believe that as time progressed I become more comfortable and I was able teach to my audience effectively.

(2)   What are you most proud of in your 2 hour and why? 

I am most proud that I was able to inform my audience about peer mediation because in a way I was promoting the program for next year. I feel my presentation gave the peer mediation program more credibility because my audience was able to understand all the hard work that goes into a peer mediation program. Some students may take the peer mediation program for granted but the students that were in my presentation seemed to obtain a new respect for the program at I-poly.   I know this because I could tell they were really trying to be engaged and by the positive comments that I received afterward by juniors and seniors.

Part 2:

(1)   What do you think you did well on in the project? What could you have done better? Please explain.

I took this project very seriously and because I did I was able to achieve more than proficiency in a lot of components that were part of the senior project. What I did well in this project was my independent components, I-search, exit interview and research folder. I really dedicated a lot of time and effort to produce quality work. I am satisfied with all of my work expect for science fair. I feel like I didn’t have the time to really invest in that component. It wasn’t bad but it could have better. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I was hesitant in doing a science fair project on “peer mediation” because I didn’t feel there would be much science to it.

(2)   What is your EQ and what is the best answer to your EQ?

EQ: What is most important to creating a successful peer mediation program?

Best Answer: Diversity

(3)   How has the last month of culminating events (e.g I-Search, Two Hour, Exit etc) affected your answer to your EQ? Has it changed? Why or why not?

Each of those events has reinforced my best answer, diversity. While doing my I-Search, I realized that diversity was truly my best answer because throughout all my research and interviews, diversity was the answer highlighted the most. Also in my Two Hour, I was able to convey to my audience why diversity was my best answer and my audience really seemed to understand the importance. My answer still remains diversity.

(4)   What suggestion do you have in order to improve the senior project?

I liked the methods that are being used now. A suggestion would be having reminders for students to continuously be working on their research folder. Maybe have more research checks? I am still unclear if creative expressions got graded so maybe work on that. Everything else that is being done now seems to work.

(5)   Overall Senior Project Assessment

I feel I deserve an AE. These are the reasons why:

·       I have created mock mediations that are currently being used in peer mediation.

·       I have created a media kit that will eventually be used to help other schools implement a program or simply have mediators from I-poly to mediate students at whichever school the media kit it being offered; which could result in an opportunity of community service.

·       I have given the peer mediation program a lot of visibility.

·       I have dedicated and contributed a lot of time and effort to make the peer mediation program as effective as possible.

·       I have mediated every conflict this year ( I wouldn’t be so available to do that  if I had done my project on something other than peer mediation)

·       I hosted the first peer mediation program ever.

·       I received a $500 scholarship on a peer mediation essay that I wrote. To be able to write a winning essay, that proves that I have an extent of knowledge on what I am writing about.

·       Last but not least, most of my work has been AE quality.

Service Learning

Service Learning Log:

Date:	Day:	Time In Minutes:	Meeting:
9/14/2010	Tuesday	60	Ms. Ortega
9/21/2010	Tuesday	60	Ms. Ortega
9/22/2010	Wednesday	40	Ms. Ortega
9/28/2010	Tuesday	50	Ms. Ortega
9/28/2010	Tuesday	90	PM Flyer
10/5/2010	Tuesday	60	Ms. Ortega
10/13/2010	Wednesday	90	Ms. Ortega
10/19/2010	Tuesday	50	Ms. Ortega
10/26/2010	Tuesday	90	Ms. Ortega
11/2/2010	Tuesday	90	Ms. Ortega
11/9/2010	Tuesday	120	Ms. Ortega
11/16/2010	Tuesday	80	Ms. Ortega
11/22/2010	Monday	60	Ms. Ortega
11/29/2010	Monday	60	Ms. Ortega
12/8/2010	Wednesday	120	Ms. Ortega
1/5/2011	Wednesday	60	Ms. Ortega
1/18/2011	Tuesday	80	Ms. Ortega
2/1/2011	Tuesday	90	Ms. Ortega
2/8/2011	Tuesday	60	Ms. Ortega
2/15/2011	Tuesday	60	Ms. Ortega
3/2/2011	Tuesday	60	Ms. Ortega
3/15/2011	Tuesday	60	Ms. Ortega
4/5/2011	Tuesday	90	Ms. Ortega
4/19/2011	Tuesday	90	Ms. Ortega
11/9/2010	2 weeks	900	DBAS Day
5/8/2011	Sunday	120	Slide Show
4/26/2011	Tuesday	90	Ran PM
4/27/2011	Wednesday	30	Awards Night
10/4/2010	Monday	120	DBAS Day
		TOTAL: 50.5 Hours

Literal
Contact name: Mrs.Ortega
Contact number: N/A
Description of duties: The meeting column on my log explains what we were doing when we met.
Mrs.Ortega-This means that Mrs.Ortega and I were working on something that was towards the peer mediation program at I-poly. Whether it be coming up with activities for the class or setting up for mediators to visit classes.

DBAS Day- This refers to the event hosted by the peer mediation program, Don't Be A Stranger Day.This took a lot of planning and when we met we talked about how the event was going to be conducted.
PM Flyer- This refers to the flyer I made for the peer mediation program.
Awards Night-This refers to the peer mediation awards night that recognized peer mediators.
Slide Show- This refers to the slide show that I created for the peer mediation awards night.


Interpretive:
The most important thing I have gained from this experience was being able to both dedicate myself to peer mediation and help the program It took a lot of dedication to have peer mediation as my senior topic and have it as an elective. I helped the program to my best ability through service learning and my independent components. On top of that I gained a lot of knowledge, that I didn't know prior. I learned how peer mediation programs can be really beneficial to schools, and just knowing the mediation process helps in everyday life. Being able to apply what I learned in peer mediation to my life is part of what made my senior project very significant. 

Applied:
Service learning helped me answer my essential question because I was able to work closely the peer mediation program and apply my question to the program. I was able to see what worked in the program and what didn't. I also got hands on experience by interacting with the students in the program and analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. This was significant because I could then see what the program was lacking and I was then able to apply my answers. All of my answers were appropriate to my essential question and tied in perfectly. Due to service leaning I was able to apply my answers and see if they were suited to be the best answers to my essential question.

Mrs.Ortega I really enjoyed working with you and the peer mediation program. It was a great experience and
one that I will never forget. Although the work that we did was serious, we always managed to have a good laugh. Thank you for making service learning educational and fun. I won't ever look forward to Tuesday's at 1:30 like I did when we had service learning. :) I wish you and the program the best! Don't worry I'll visit.

Thank you.

Lesson Plan

Sponge activity: For my sponge activity I plan to ask the students what they know about peer mediation. I am going to ask them what they think mediation is. I'm also going to ask them what they know about the I-poly peer mediation program.

Introduction:
My essential question is "what is most important to creating a successful peer mediation program?" Important meaning essential, creating meaning implementing, and successful meaning being able to maintain the program, compliment student body, and reach solutions in mediation. I chose peer mediation as my senior topic because I wanted to choose a topic that would benefit myself and other people as well. In choosing peer mediation as my topic I would be able to work with the peer mediation program and help them in whichever way I can. I also would be able to expand my knowledge and skills as a peer mediator. I have specifically made my lesson plan to educate students what is most important to creating a successful peer mediation program. I plan to educate them on why I chose my answers through my activities and what I will be saying.

Foundation:
Peer Mediation is a program that is a new approach to solve conflict. It is primarily implemented in schools. Students are taught a process that helps resolve conflict, but they must undergo some training before they can actually mediate two disputants. It is important to take the mediation seriously so that the mediation remains neutral and confidential. Once students receive the appropriate training then they will be able to officially mediate. That’s why it is important to have a diverse group students, so that the disputants can feel comfortable getting mediated. If the disputants don’t feel comfortable then it might negatively affect the mediation. The disputants might not want to tell their side of their study or simply cooperate in the mediation. It is also important to have administrative support because the peer mediation program can’t maintain itself; there is too much work required for an instructor alone.

 Body:
Answer 1: Diversity
Activity 1: For my first activity I plan on creating a list of fifteen students with descriptions of each. The students will all be different and obtain different qualities and characteristics. I will ask the students to choose the perfect peer mediation team, but they are only allowed to choose eight students. Based on what I teach them on diversity they will have to choose a team that would be ideal. Each group will get to choose their ideal team, and after 10-15 minutes, I will ask each group to explain why they chose the team they did. This will help them understand why peer mediation needs a diverse group of students.

Answer 2: Administrative Support 
Activity 2: I am not doing an activity for this answer.

Answer 3: Training
Activity 3: For this activity I plan on giving each group a mock mediation scenario from my independent task #1. I will hand each group a scenario and I will tell them to read through it and make sure that the group elects two students to represent the disputants in the scenario. The first group will go in front of the class and act out the conflict. Once they are finished the, I will ask the class what was the source of the conflict and each of the disputants needs. They will be able to depict these things because I will have explained this beforehand. Each group will do this and the class will do the same for every group. By the end of this they should be able to understand conflict and its sources.

Conclusion:
My best answer is diversity. Diversity is my best answer because through research and experience I have learned that in order for a peer mediation program to be successful it must compliment the student body. The students in the peer mediation program must appeal to the entire school in order for people to feel comfortable being mediated. The program can’t thrive when it has a single type of person. Different qualities and characteristics are essential for the program’s growth and enrichment.

My three most important sources is service learning with Mrs. Ortega, Recommended Standards for School-Based Peer Mediation Programs produced by The Association for Conflict Resolution, and my third interview with Monya Kian. They are my most important sources because they were the most helpful towards helping me answer my essential question. They were all insightful and really have helped me elaborate on my answers.

My product is being able to have given the peer mediation program at I-poly more visibility from the students. In order for a peer mediation to grow is must be known to the student body what peer mediation is and that there is a program available at their school. I helped the I-poly program achieve that through an event named Don’t Be A Stranger Day, visiting the sophomore and freshman classes, and hopefully through my media kit. I think just doing my senior presentation has also helped give it visibility, because students that know me, know what I am doing my project on which at one point they probably didn’t know that there is a peer mediation program at our school.

Independent Study 2

 Literal: I, Jacqueline Salas, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work. I created a media kit that can be introduced to other schools. In my media kit I am trying to persuade schools to implement a peer mediation program. I am trying to get schools interested by explaining what peer mediation is and its benefits. My media kit includes a cover sheet, pitch letter, peer mediation explanation sheet, fact sheet, benefit sheet, about the program, bibliography and pamphlet.  

Interpretive: My media kit demonstrates 30 hours of work because I spent an hour each day revising every sheet to create an effective media kit. My media kit is significant to my project because it is possible that my media kit will persuade schools to implement a program at their school. I would be pleased if this happened because that would mean that information I presented was worth y enough to be taken into consideration. All the research I have done helped me put together this media kit because without the knowledge I wouldn’t have been able to produce the media kit.

Applied: This media kit helped me answer my essential question because when creating the media kit I had to keep in mind that all the information that I was writing had be based off of  factors that make a peer mediation program successful. For example when I was talking about how a program can be successful, I wrote about how it is important to have diversity in the program and why. I had to provide evidence for everything that I stated which overall helped me answer my essential question.

3/31/2011 60 min	4/1/2011 62 min	4/2/2011 59 min	4/3/2011 60 min	4/4/2011 65 min	4/5/2011 30 min
4/6/2011 61 min	4/7/2011 60 min	4/8/2011 90 min	4/9/2011 62 min	4/10/2011 60  min	4/11/2011 30 m in
4/12/2011 64 min	4/14/2011 60 min	4/15/2011 65 min	4/16/2011 60 min	4/17/2011 65 min	4/18/2011 63 min
4/19/2011 90 min	4/15/2011 30 min	4/16/2011 60 min	4/17/2011 50 min	4/18/2011 60 min	4/19/2011 60 min
4/21/2011 62 min	4/22/2011 65 min	4/23/2011 60 min	4/24/2011 65 min	4/25/2011 60 min	4/26/2011 62 min