How We Learn 我们如何学习

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).

比特币、芬兰神话、核反应堆拆除之间存在什么共同之处呢？这共同之处就在于，它们都是我们十二年级学生在IBDP（国际文凭大学预科课程）中选择的研究课题。

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.

我们大多数人都会等到大学最后一年才需要撰写长篇学术论文，而在上海美国学校，一些十二年级学生正在庆祝自己完成了质量性和严谨性类似于长篇学术论文的专题研究论文。IBDP最具挑战性、最有意义的一个环节就是专题研究论文：修读IBDP的学生必须完成一个独立研究项目并撰写4000字的专题研究论文。

"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.

这个过程漫长而又复杂：学生们在十一年级一开始就需要着手准备他们的专题研究论文。首先，他们需要确定一个学科和一个研究提案，然后提交给他们的导师（在整个过程中，每位学生将由一位老师为他们提供指导）。一些学生甚至会选择使用他们的第二（或第三！）语言撰写专题研究论文。

"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.”

学生们可以选择任意IB学科来发布他们的专题研究论文。最受欢迎的学科是英语（包括文学抑或语言研究）、经济学以及世界研究。世界研究是一门交叉学科，融合了两个或多个IB学科的理论。我们的一位学生就选择了这门学科，将她在加纳从事志愿服务的经验作为自己的研究基础。对于作为IBDP核心的国际性思维和服务型学习，她说道：“在对我致力于改变的全球问题的探索过程中，我学到了很多。这不仅丰富了我自己的知识储备，还让我成为了一个做事更加投入的人。”

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?

学生们的研究问题都具有各自的原创性和吸引力。我们中有多少人能够回答（甚至是理解！）以下问题呢？

• 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时期美国的社会和政治氛围在多大程度上影响了以其作品《Revelations》为主题的【舞蹈】运动？
• To what extent did British pressure lead to the abolition of slavery in Brazil in 1888？
• 英国施加的压力在多大程度上导致巴西在1888年废除了奴隶制？
• How can Lill’s method be used to reveal the roots of polynomials?
• 人们是怎样利用 Lill的方法来求解多项式的根？

"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.”

除了进行研究之外，学生们还需要对研究过程进行反思，评估他们是如何应对这项作业的，以及作为研究人员的他们从自己身上学到了什么。一位学生表示：“我的【导师】和我都认为，我不再是刚刚开始时的研究人员了。”另一位学生则为下一届的学生提供了一些指导：“我之所以能够完成4000字的专题研究论文，这与我的动力、坚持和时间规划密不可分。”

"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.

专题研究论文的评估标准很严谨，评估内容包括研究问题、研究过程、研究分析和研究互动。现在，每篇专题研究论文都将接受评估人员的审阅并进行打分，作为学生最终IB分数的一部分。

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，专题研究论文之所以受到了高校的高度重视，是因为它能够让学生们学到有效研究和自我管理的技能。来自澳大利亚一所高校的招生指导老师表示：“知识理论和专题研究论文方面的工作能够让学生认识到高校学习的要求。”

"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.”

作为老师，学生们撰写的专题研究论文让我们深感骄傲，我们很高兴能在他们个人和学术成长过程中为他们提供指导。一位老师表示：“【学生】的研究探索让我感到非常骄傲，也非常的印象深刻。专题研究论文是学习热情加上不断研究及修改后的成果。”另一位老师表示：“学生撰写的专题研究论文让我感到非常骄傲，我知道他们为了撰写高质量的专题研究论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.

当你下次遇到一位十二年级的IBDP学生时，一定要走上前去问问他们的专题研究论文。他们中的很多人都认为这极富挑战，一些人还获得了意外发现，他们都积累了宝贵经验。通过交谈，你肯定能够从自己可能从未听说过的话题中学到很多，对作为年轻独立研究人员的十二年级学生刮目相看。

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.

“我们如何学习”是上海美国学校微信公众号推出的一个全新系列。这个系列让我们能够从教育工作者的视角分享一些我们以学生为中心的最佳实践，在上海为我们学生提供最佳教育。欢迎定期查看更新。