Inside The IB Personal Project 

Hi! I'm an MYP4 student keen on unraveling the mysteries of Personal Projects in MYP5. For insights, I've lined up an interview with Mr. Vino, our Personal Project coordinator.  Here are five questions that could shed light on the process. If you're curious and want more details, check out Mihaela's blog (link to her blog).

1. How do you decide which personal projects to take on?

Students decide on their project topics, and I suggest only based on feasibility and appropriateness. I avoid making decisions for them, as long as the topic is not offensive.

2. Can you discuss an example of a well-done personal project?

A well-done project exhibits a high degree of organizational skills, meticulous planning, and an understanding of its potential success. The topic takes a backseat to these essential aspects.

3. What steps do you typically take when planning a personal project?

I ensure students grasp that they are in charge of their learning journey. Understanding the IB's expectations, we break down the phases of organization and planning.

4. How do you manage resources, like time and materials, for a personal project?

We rely on professional IB sources, but students decide which sources to use. Encouraging library use, we guide students with provided guidelines to ensure they make informed decisions.

5. What is the maximum number of people working together in a group?

While a Personal Project is typically individual, it can be done in a group. However, each member needs to submit an individual report. Although working in pairs is ideal, I don't strongly encourage group work to prevent a potential decrease in effort and learning outcomes for individual students.