How We Learn 我們如何學習

What do Bitcoin, Finnish mythology, and the decommissioning of a nuclear reactor have in common? They are all topics that students in our graduating class chose to research as part of their International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

比特幣、芬蘭神話、核反應堆拆除之間存在什么共同之處呢？這共同之處就在于，它們都是我們十二年級學生在IBDP（國際文憑大學預科課程）中選擇的研究課題。

While most of us wait until our final year of university to present a dissertation, some SAS seniors are celebrating the completion of a piece of work of similar quality and rigour. One of the most challenging and rewarding parts of the IBDP is the Extended Essay: a 4,000-word independent research project, which all students must tackle as IBDP candidates.

我們大多數人都會等到大學最后一年才需要撰寫長篇學術論文，而在上海美國學校，一些十二年級學生正在慶祝自己完成了質量性和嚴謹性類似于長篇學術論文的專題研究論文。IBDP最具挑戰性、最有意義的一個環節就是專題研究論文：修讀IBDP的學生必須完成一個獨立研究項目并撰寫4000字的專題研究論文。

"One of the most challenging?

and rewarding parts?

of the IBDP is the Extended Essay"

 

The process is long and complex: students began working on their Extended Essays at the beginning of their junior year. At that time, they identified a subject and a research proposal, which they presented to their supervisor (each student is allocated a teacher to help guide and mentor them throughout the journey). Some students chose to write their essays in their second (or third!) language.

這個過程漫長而又復雜：學生們在十一年級一開始就需要著手準備他們的專題研究論文。首先，他們需要確定一個學科和一個研究提案，然后提交給他們的導師（在整個過程中，每位學生將由一位老師為他們提供指導）。一些學生甚至會選擇使用他們的第二（或第三！）語言撰寫專題研究論文。

"Embracing the international-mindedness?

and service learning that is at the heart of the IBDP"

Students can choose any IB subject in which to submit the Extended Essay. The most popular subjects for this cohort were English, including studies of literature and/or language; Economics; and World Studies, an interdisciplinary subject that combines the principles of two or more IB subjects. For that final category, one of our students used her experience of volunteering in Ghana as a basis for her research, and commented on her embracing the international-mindedness and service learning that is at the heart of the IBDP: “I have gained so much from exploring a global issue that I am determined to change. Not only have I grown my personal knowledge, but I became a more involved individual.”

學生們可以選擇任意IB學科來發布他們的專題研究論文。最受歡迎的學科是英語（包括文學抑或語言研究）、經濟學以及世界研究。世界研究是一門交叉學科，融合了兩個或多個IB學科的理論。我們的一位學生就選擇了這門學科，將她在加納從事志愿服務的經驗作為自己的研究基礎。對于作為IBDP核心的國際性思維和服務型學習，她說道：“在對我致力于改變的全球問題的探索過程中，我學到了很多。這不僅豐富了我自己的知識儲備，還讓我成為了一個做事更加投入的人。”

All of the students’ research questions were original and fascinating in their own way. How many of us could answer (or even understand!) the following?

學生們的研究問題都具有各自的原創性和吸引力。我們中有多少人能夠回答（甚至是理解！）以下問題呢？

• To what extent did the social and political atmosphere in the United States during Alvin Ailey's life influence the [dance] movement in the motifs of his work "Revelations"?
• Alvin Ailey時期美國的社會和政治氛圍在多大程度上影響了以其作品《Revelations》為主題的【舞蹈】運動？
• To what extent did British pressure lead to the abolition of slavery in Brazil in 1888？
• 英國施加的壓力在多大程度上導致巴西在1888年廢除了奴隸制？
• How can Lill’s method be used to reveal the roots of polynomials?
• 人們是怎樣利用?Lill的方法來求解多項式的根？

"I am no?longer the researcher I was?

at the beginning of the process"

In addition to their research, students also had to reflect on the process, including evaluating how they had approached the assignment and what they had learned about themselves as researchers. One student stated: “My [supervisor] and I both agree that I am no longer the researcher I was at the beginning of the process,“ while another offered some guidance to next year’s seniors: “I won the hard challenge of writing a 4,000 word essay, only with motivation, perseverance, and time.”

除了進行研究之外，學生們還需要對研究過程進行反思，評估他們是如何應對這項作業的，以及作為研究人員的他們從自己身上學到了什么。一位學生表示：“我的【導師】和我都認為，我不再是剛剛開始時的研究人員了。”另一位學生則為下一屆的學生提供了一些指導：“我之所以能夠完成4000字的專題研究論文，這與我的動力、堅持和時間規劃密不可分。”

"Extended Essay is highly valued by universities?

as it teaches students the skills of effective research,?

and self-management"

The assessment criteria for the Extended Essay are rigourous, and include marks for the research question, process, analysis and engagement. Each essay is now on its way to an examiner, who will review the essay and give the student a final grade, which will be part of the student’s final IB score.

專題研究論文的評估標準很嚴謹，評估內容包括研究問題、研究過程、研究分析和研究互動。現在，每篇專題研究論文都將接受評估人員的審閱并進行打分，作為學生最終IB分數的一部分。

As you can imagine, the Extended Essay is highly valued by universities as it teaches students the skills of effective research and self-management. According to one admissions tutor from a university in Australia, “the work on theory of knowledge and the extended essay are valuable introductions to the demands of university-level study.”

大家可以想象的到，專題研究論文之所以受到了高校的高度重視，是因為它能夠讓學生們學到有效研究和自我管理的技能。來自澳大利亞一所高校的招生指導老師表示：“知識理論和專題研究論文方面的工作能夠讓學生認識到高校學習的要求。”

"As teachers,?

we are immensely proud?

of seeing the work?

produced by our students"

As teachers, we are immensely proud of seeing the work produced by our students and accompanying them on their journey as they grow personally and academically. One teacher observed that he was “proud and very impressed with [the student's] exploration. This text is a credible product of passion and inexhaustible research and revision.” Another commented that “I am proud of the work that this student put forth and know that they focused a lot of their attention and efforts towards creating a product that they could be proud of as well.”

作為老師，學生們撰寫的專題研究論文讓我們深感驕傲，我們很高興能在他們個人和學術成長過程中為他們提供指導。一位老師表示：“【學生】的研究探索讓我感到非常驕傲，也非常的印象深刻。專題研究論文是學習熱情加上不斷研究及修改后的成果。”另一位老師表示：“學生撰寫的專題研究論文讓我感到非常驕傲，我知道他們為了撰寫高質量的專題研究論文付出了很多心血和努力。”

So next time you see an IBDP senior, be brave and ask them about their Extended Essay. Many of them have found it challenging, some of them have uncovered unexpected findings, and all of them have learned valuable lessons. There is no doubt you will walk away from the conversation enlightened about a topic you might never have heard of, and in awe of the student as a young independent researcher.

當你下次遇到一位十二年級的IBDP學生時，一定要走上前去問問他們的專題研究論文。他們中的很多人都認為這極富挑戰，一些人還獲得了意外發現，他們都積累了寶貴經驗。通過交談，你肯定能夠從自己可能從未聽說過的話題中學到很多，對作為年輕獨立研究人員的十二年級學生刮目相看。

How We Learn is a series created exclusively for SAS WeChat. We use it to share insight, from an educator’s perspective, on some of our student-centered best practices that work together to provide our students with the best education available in Shanghai. Check back regularly for more.

“我們如何學習”是上海美國學校微信公眾號推出的一個全新系列。這個系列讓我們能夠從教育工作者的視角分享一些我們以學生為中心的最佳實踐，在上海為我們學生提供最佳教育。歡迎定期查看更新。