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The Meaning of Engagement in the Extended Essay: Criterion E

By Ms. Barlow

Lecture

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By the end of today’s workshop, you will:

Gain an understanding of the EE reflection process;
Be able to identify the importance of reflections in the process;
Practice approaches to reflection and start a reflection journal;
Become prepared for the first formal reflection with your supervisor.

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What is engagement?

Part one

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Essential Questions

What does it mean to be engaged?

What are some ways that you can show engagement in the EE process?

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Why we reflect

Part Two

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“The basis of reflection is inquiry-based problem-solving. It requires curiosity, scrutiny and a quest for some sort of knowledge, insight or understanding.”

International Baccalaureate

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Reflection

What	Why
A conscious search for meaning and of making meaning An opportunity to plan and track your process of learning and record your discoveries	Make connections with prior learning Inform action Enable us to understand ourselves better as people and as learners

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What: A RSS is a place where you can record reflections on what you are reading, writing and thinking.

Why:

Helps to plan and make decisions in the research process
Fosters critical and evaluative thinking skills
Acts as a reference for meetings with your supervisor

How: It is up to you how you take notes and write your reflections during your EE process. Here is a sample.

Journal - hard copy or electronic, notebook or blog, use classic journaling skills to reflect and study. IB advice on journaling can be found here.
Portfolio - an electronic portfolio allows you to keep all of your notes and artifacts (data and other evidence from your research) in one place
Hybrid - Use both a journal and portfolio
Other - how else might you record your reflections?

Developing a Researchers Reflection Space (RSS)

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Essential Question

What are some ways that the reflection process can show your engagement?

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Criteria E: Reflection as proof of Engagement

Part Three

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“Criterion E assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process. It will be applied by the examiner at the end of the assessment of the essay, after considering the student’s RPPF (Reflections on Planning and Progress Form).”

International Baccalaureate

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Criterion E Markband

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An easy way to earn 6 points on your EE...

Meet with your supervisor

Schedule and meet with your supervisor at the dedicated times during the EE cycle (see EE Timeline).

Use your RSS

Your reflection space acts as evidence of your authentic work and engagement in the EE process.

Complete the Reflections on Planning and Progress From

By the deadline indicated on the EE timeline, submit 150-200 word recap of the conversation with your supervisor. Note that you can submit 500 words total for ALL reflections combined.

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What: 15-30 minute meeting with your supervisor to reflect on your reflections from your first two months of the EE cycle.

How many: Three meetings - Initial, interim and Viva Voce. You can watch a video with more details on the initial and interim meetings here.

Reflection sessions with your supervisor

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Reflection session focus

Initial - Descriptive (1st meeting) Student writes 150 words	Interim - Analytical (2nd meeting) Student writes 150 words	Viva Voce - Evaluative (3rd meeting) Student writes 200 words
What did I do? How did I undertake my research? What were the problems I faced? Did my approach or strategies change throughout the process? What have been the high and the low points of the research and writing process?	Was my research successful? If I changed my approach or strategies during the process, why did I do this? What did I learn from the experience in terms of my understanding of the subject area and/or the skills needed to undertake research? How has my understanding of the topic and research process developed throughout the task?	If I were to undertake this research again, would I do it differently—if so, why or why not? What has affected this? If I did do the research again, would I change the theories applied or the methodological approach? Would this have led to a different outcome? What can I conclude from this? Were the strategies I used for undertaking my research the most appropriate for achieving my outcomes? What, if any, questions emerged as a result of my research that I was not expecting? Would these questions influence my approach if I were to undertake the research again?

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Start or continue your RSS
Schedule your first formal reflection meeting with your supervisor by March 3rd
Write and submit your 150 word meeting recap on ManageBac through the Planning and Progress Form by March 3rd (see video instructions)

Next steps: