Presentations of Research Projects in Upper Secondary Year 2
On the 23rd, 24th and 25th of October the 2nd year Upper Secondary students gave an oral presentation of their Research Projects (RPs). The presentations were attended by first-year students in order give them experience with a view to their upcoming choice of the topic of their project.
The main objective of the Upper Secondary RPs is for students to learn how to conduct research. They also have a strong guiding component, especially in those cases in which the chosen subject is related to the branch of knowledge that the student wants to study. Often a deeper study of a subject of interest awakens a vocation or nurtures the conviction of a choice that is already beginning to take shape in first-year Upper Secondary students.
What do I want to research? What question do I want to answer and why? Detecting an interesting problem or topic and formulating it is the first step in all research. Once the topic has been formulated, it is necessary to start researching it. The student will begin by establishing the theoretical framework and formulating the research hypothesis. With this they will be able to make progress in obtaining relevant information that will allow them to provide the evidence that confirms or refutes the hypothesis raised and finally draw the conclusions.
The report that the student will prepare is not an open-ended essay, but a work that requires the observation of methodological rules. The student must demonstrate that they have followed a rigorous research method, that they have imagination and the ability to coordinate the information collected, that they have the creativity to demonstrate working hypotheses. The writing should be personal, with a clear and concise style, always tending towards scientific objectivity without disregarding the author's subjective impressions or intuitions, which can be inserted in the chapter dedicated to conclusions.
All this work is carried out during the 1st year of Upper Secondary, and each student is supervised by a teacher. At the beginning of the 2nd year of Upper Secondary, the student submits the report and begins preparation for the oral defence, which takes place in October.
At the end of the process, students can participate in different competitions promoted by educational and research institutions, as well as by the school itself.
