The teacher's role is to monitor the student's progress during the semester for which the student enrolls in the independent study. Initially, the teacher will assist the student in finding a place to work. Once the project begins, the teacher and student might meet briefly once a week, or less frequently, to discuss the student's progress and to resolve any roadblocks the student might be encountering. At the completion of the project, the teacher and student jointly review the student's progress and final product. This evaluation is based on the goals the student developed prior to beginning the study.
Students receive one semester credit for their projects.
They register for this credit as they would register for any regularly scheduled class and work on their project during a scheduled time just as they would other courses. Traditionally, independent project credits serve as elective credits within the content area that the student has chosen to investigate. The photography project mentioned earlier could count as an art elective, while the laser project would serve as a science elective. While one staff member is responsible for teaching the SDC class that prepares students for their independent projects and which is required before students may design their independent studies, the entire secondary faculty is available to guide students through their projects. This serves three purposes.