Plenty Valley Christian College

PYP Exhibition 2012 - Mentor Handbook

~ CENTRAL IDEA ~

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

Mentor – ˈmenˌtôr; noun an experienced and trusted adviser [ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: via French and Latin from Greek Mentōr, the name of the adviser of the young Telemachus in Homer's Odyssey].

Transdisciplinary Theme: Who We Are An inquiry into the nature of self, beliefs and values, personal, physical mental social and spiritual health, human relationships including family friends community and cultures, rights and responsibilities and what it means to be human.

Mentor Name:

_____________________

Group Members:

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

____________________

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 2

TIMELINE

Week &

Date

Phase Activities

Week 1 13/8/2012

Defining (Tuning In)

• Introduction to the Exhibition. Establish roles of students, teachers, mentor, teachers and parents

• Meet as a class to review the transdisciplinary theme for this year’s Exhibition and brainstorm ideas and thoughts around the Central Idea

• Issue Student Workbooks Week 2 20/8/2012

Decision Making

• Guest speakers to further explore how various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

• Students to identify areas of personal interest

• Groups to be formed based on student interest

• Role of mentor to be reviewed, mentors to be arranged Week 3 27/8/2012

Selecting (Finding Out)

• Meet in Exhibition groups to set goals for the week

• Initial meeting with mentor

• Formulate group ‘Big Idea’

• Write lines of inquiry, questions

• Commence finding information

• Reflect on progress in workbooks Week 4 3/9/2012

Selecting (Finding Out)

• Meet in Exhibition groups to set goals for the week

• Meet with mentor to review progress and focus inquiries

• Continue finding relevant information

• Consider options for authentic action

• Reflect on progress in workbooks Week 5 10/9/2012

Organising • Meet in Exhibition groups to set goals for the week

• Meet with mentor to review progress and focus inquiries

• Sorting out your information

• Decide on action

• Reflect on progress in workbooks Week 6 17/9/2012

Creating • Meet in Exhibition groups to set goals for the week

• Meet with mentor to review progress and canvass presentation ideas

• Plan presentation for the Exhibition

• Reflect on progress in workbooks School Holidays

Week 7 8/10/2012

Creating Action

Complete your presentation

Week 8 15/10/2012

Practice presentations

Present your findings to your peers, use constructive feedback to refine your work

Week 9 22/10/2012

Presenting Reflections – individual, and group The Exhibition on Thursday evening

In Christ: wisdom and knowledge Colossians 2:3

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 3

1. Introduction Thank you for being available to participate as a mentor in the PYP Exhibition Unit of

Inquiry. You will be working with a small group of Year Six students, supporting

them as they engage in a collaborative inquiry process that involves them in

identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues or problems.

The end result of this process is The Exhibition, a presentation to the College

community by the students of the results of their inquiries. This will be held in the

Gymnasium on the evening of Thursday 25 October.

2. Purposes The Exhibition has a number of key purposes:

• For students to engage in an in-depth, collaborative inquiry

• To provide students an opportunity to demonstrate independence and

responsibility for their own learning

• To provide students with an opportunity to explore multiple perspectives

• For students to synthesize and apply learning of previous years and to reflect

upon their journey through the PYP

• To provide an authentic process for assessing student understanding

• To demonstrate how students can take action as a result of their learning

• To unite the students, teachers, parents and other members of the school

community

• in a collaborative experience that incorporates the essential elements of the PYP

• To celebrate the transition of learners in the primary to secondary education

3. Major Features of the PYP

Learner Profile

The aim of the PYP is to develop internationally minded people who exhibit the

characteristics of the Learner Profile, people who strive to be: inquirers, risk-takers,

thinkers, knowledgeable, communicators, caring, open-minded, reflective, balanced

and principled. Students are expected to demonstrate these characteristics as they

prepare for The Exhibition.

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 4

Essential Elements

The PYP curriculum incorporates five essential elements, each of which are expected

to be evident in the Exhibition unit of inquiry.

Knowledge – which is explored in six transdisciplinary themes; for The Exhibition the

relevant theme is ‘Who We Are’.

Concepts – eight concepts have been identified that have relevance within subject

areas but also transcend them; the students within each work group are to follow a

line of inquiry related to a different concept.

Transdisciplinary Skills – students are expected to demonstrate the application or

development of skills that have been identified as necessary to succeed in a

changing, challenging world.

Attitudes – as they proceed through the inquiry process, students are expected to

demonstrate the application or development of the twelve PYP attitudes.

Action – students are expected to apply their learning through responsible and

authentic action.

Student Workbook

The students have been issued with a workbook that will support them in achieving

the expectations of The Exhibition unit of inquiry. Mentors are encouraged to

become familiar with this document, particularly the following sections:

Section Title Notes 5. What Will The Exhibition Look Like (p4) Expected elements to be included in The Exhibition 6. Organising Steps (p5) Process 11. What Do We Want To Learn (p10) Student’s specific interests, and refinement of the

Central Idea (‘Big Idea’) 12. Concepts and Lines of Inquiry (p11) Student’s lines of inquiry 16, Transdisciplinary Skills (p13) Checklist to be ticked off as demonstrated 17. Attitudes (p14) Checklist to be ticked off as demonstrated 19. Mentor (p17) Student record of mentor meeting arrangements 20 to 27

Weekly Planning and Review Weekly page for goal setting, review of development of skills and attitudes, plans for next week.

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 5

4. Role of the Mentor The role of the mentor is chiefly to advise and keep students on track. The mentor

should:

• Meet regularly with the appointed group of students.

• Offer advice on locating resources and using them efficiently.

• Ask questions.

• Help interpret sophisticated/difficult information.

• Facilitate interviews, telephone calls, any electronic communication.

• Provide goal setting and time management advice.

• Be supportive and encouraging.

• Document all mentor meetings by commenting on the Mentor Meeting Record

Sheet.

• Celebrate achievements and successes with the students.

The mentor should not:

• Do the work for students.

• Tell the students the direction to take, but instead ask probing questions to help

facilitate their inquiry.

Do not hesitate to ask for help from the classroom teacher or the PYP Coordinator. It

is important also that any concerns over lack of progress be reported to the

classroom teacher as soon as it is evident.

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 6

5. Mentor- Student Meeting Suggestions 1. Build rapport with your students, explain why you wanted to be involved and

find out what the students are interested in.

2. Have the students explain the Central Idea, their ‘Big Idea’, lines of inquiry and

action plan. You might like to clarify their understanding of the topic by asking

them questions and by discovering what they have already found out about the

topic. You may make suggestions for further research.

3. As the students move along in their inquiry, they should be posing questions and

pursuing answers. Check their progress, give them advice, and lead them into

directions that will be helpful.

4. Ultimately the students need to ensure their final Exhibition presentation (as a

group) includes the following.

a. Written work in a variety of formats and styles.

b. Oral presentations, individually or in groups, to the school community.

c. Use of technology.

d. Ways students have taken action to help solve this real life issue.

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 7

Mentor – Record of Meeting

Mentor: Date: Students:

Tasks/research/ discussions etc completed since the last meeting: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

Meeting Notes: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

To Do List: (before next Mentor meeting)

Task Person Responsible

Mentor feedback/ Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Location:

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 8

Mentor – Record of Meeting

Mentor: Date: Students:

Tasks/research/ discussions etc completed since the last meeting: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

Meeting Notes: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

To Do List: (before next Mentor meeting)

Task Person Responsible

Mentor feedback/ Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Location:

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 9

Mentor – Record of Meeting

Mentor: Date: Students:

Tasks/research/ discussions etc completed since the last meeting: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

Meeting Notes: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

To Do List: (before next Mentor meeting)

Task Person Responsible

Mentor feedback/ Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Location:

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 10

Mentor – Record of Meeting

Mentor: Date: Students:

Tasks/research/ discussions etc completed since the last meeting: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

Meeting Notes: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

To Do List: (before next Mentor meeting)

Task Person Responsible

Mentor feedback/ Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Location:

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 11

Mentor – Record of Meeting

Mentor: Date: Students:

Tasks/research/ discussions etc completed since the last meeting: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

Meeting Notes: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

To Do List: (before next Mentor meeting)

Task Person Responsible

Mentor feedback/ Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Location:

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 12

Mentor – Record of Meeting

Mentor: Date: Students:

Tasks/research/ discussions etc completed since the last meeting: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

Meeting Notes: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

To Do List: (before next Mentor meeting)

Task Person Responsible

Mentor feedback/ Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Location:

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 13

Mentor – Record of Meeting

Mentor: Date: Students:

Tasks/research/ discussions etc completed since the last meeting: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

Meeting Notes: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

To Do List: (before next Mentor meeting)

Task Person Responsible

Mentor feedback/ Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Location:

Who We Are

Various factors contribute to the shaping and expression of identity

PVCC Exhibition Mentor Handbook 2012 Page 14

Mentor – Record of Meeting

Mentor: Date: Students:

Tasks/research/ discussions etc completed since the last meeting: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

Meeting Notes: (to be completed by the group using bullet points)

To Do List: (before next Mentor meeting)

Task Person Responsible

Mentor feedback/ Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Location: