Week 34 · Term Four · Question, sources, milestones and tests
Plan your own capstone the way the Wright brothers solved flight: ask a question you can test, check your sources against evidence, plan milestones with a realistic buffer, keep a test log that changes one thing at a time, and file a plan you can follow.
Monday writes a researchable question. Tuesday checks sources against tests. Wednesday plans milestones and beats the planning fallacy. Thursday starts a fair test log. Friday files the capstone plan.
25 minutes
Research · A question you can actually answer
Write a research question that is focused, testable and worth investigating, and narrow a question that is too broad.
Make
A research question
Report handoff: The research question is filed. Tomorrow you learn why the Wrights stopped trusting the best book on flight.
25 minutes
Sources · Trust, but check
Judge how trustworthy a source is, and explain why researchers check sources against their own evidence.
Make
A source check
Report handoff: The source check is filed. Tomorrow you plan your project's milestones, and learn why plans always run long.
25 minutes
Planning · Milestones and the planning fallacy
Break a big project into milestones, and use a ratio to build a realistic buffer into a schedule.
Make
A milestone plan
Report handoff: The milestone plan is filed. Tomorrow you test and revise like the Wright brothers.
25 minutes
Engineering · Test, record, revise
Design fair tests that change one variable at a time, keep a test log, and revise a design from evidence.
Make
A test log
Report handoff: The test log is started. Tomorrow you put the whole capstone plan together.
30 minutes
Writing · A plan you can follow
Write a research and project plan with a focused question, checked sources, milestones, fair tests and a revision log.
Make
A capstone plan
Report handoff: The capstone plan is filed. Your week's report is ready for the portfolio.
The capstone prototype uses only work entered here. It is a family record of this week’s work, not a grade, an attendance record, or proof of mastery.
