2-20-2024 1:37pm

AP Seminar students presented the challenges and then delivered their solutions

Donnella Tilery Editor

The students addressed the issues at stake—and then they applied their tackles.

This process of discussing and then offering options to solve worldwide issues is the annual Team Multimedia Presentations that Bridgewater-Raritan High School students in Advanced Placement (AP) share with a collection of teachers who in return ask questions in regard to their problem-solving options.

The presentations were delivered during school hours during the week of February 5 and again during the following week of February 13. The high school library’s main conference room served as the venue for these enlightening events.

According to Jennifer Edge, who is the Grades 6-12 Social Studies Supervisor for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, these presentations of the students—-who form groups from three to five members—-are a required part of the total assessment for this AP course.

She explained the ground rules of the presentations for the AP Seminar students.

“AP Seminar student teams will present projects where they have to identify, investigate, and analyze an academic or real-world problem or issue; consider options and alternatives; and present and defend a proposed solution (s) or resolution (s). Each group will deliver an eight-minute presentation and then participate in a short oral defense.

That defense was in the form of questions produced by Bridgewater-Raritan High School AP Seminar Teachers Jim Challandes, Andy Clark and Sarah Cleary and Dr. Kathy Messano, who is an AP Research Teacher.

These presentations are the first performance tasks that students must complete as part of the AP Capstone program.

The AP Seminar requirements of two presentations—one team and one individual—will be followed by the AP Research, which is an individual presentation that will be held in late April. Students in these courses, according to Ms. Edge, develop research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting skills.

Their presentations earned high grades from the teachers.

“We are very excited about how the students performed,’’ Mr. Clark said. “We look forward to their individual presentations.’

Dr. Messano was impressed with how the teams were ready for the challenge.

“I thought the students were fantastic and well prepared,’’ Dr. Messano stated. “They clearly did their research and worked really well together.’’

Dr. Mark Jarmon, who is the Supervisor of English for the high school, attended a few presentations as an interested spectator. He, too, admired the performances of the students.

“Every year I am in awe of the AP presentations. I'm always impressed with the level of research and effort the students put into their projects,’’ he said. “The fact that these students present on topics that they have selected, makes it even more enjoyable and meaningful.

Students will receive their grade in AP Seminar and AP research at the conclusion of the school year.

But for now, these gifted scholars passed with flying colors.

Here are the topics the AP students presented their facts and then their theory of solution to each.

Social Media-Teens
Political Violence in Central Africa
College PED’s
Social Media
School Start Times
Children and Poverty
Artificial Intelligence
Gun Control
Autism
Divorce
Impact of Covid-19
Germline Gene Editing
Name, Image, Likeness
Political Media Bias
Teenage Vaping
Health Care System
Public Transport System
Kashmir
Prison Reform
Social Media and Adolescent
Obesity Epidemic
Climate Change
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Regenerative Medicine