Differentiated Learning Landscapes: How Capstone for All Adapts to the Unique Abilities, Circumstances, and Interests of Students

One of the most encouraging aspects of capstone learning is that, by its nature, students have a choice over their research topics and project designs. Adding to this student-centered approach is the way Capstone for All not only engages students through their interests but also adapts to their skill levels and the factors influencing the paths of their learning. In our years teaching Capstone, we have worked with students who have IEPs and 504s, English Language Learners, “typical” students, students with high absenteeism, honors students, and students working to compress their high school experience into just three years. 

While other courses result in a range of student accomplishments, Capstone for All builds a community of diverse learners who benefit from seamless differentiation that acknowledges and celebrates each student's uniqueness. The chart below documents examples of the topics and projects grouped by learners and learning paths, all of which are heterogeneously grouped in our classrooms.

A Range of Topics and Projects

Students Facing Learning Obstacles (both known and unforeseen)

Typical Students with Typical Learning Paths

Students with Honors-level and Accelerated Paths

Topic	Project	Topic	Project	Topic	Project
The Use of Animal Therapy in Schools and Prisons	Campaign to Bring a Service Dog to Our School	Social and Academic Benefits of Playing Chess	Promoted and facilitated a chess club in the high school	Women in STEM: An Analysis of the Leaky Pipe Theory	Interviewed Admissions Counselors and created student-friendly videos promoting STEM opportunities for fellow students
How Eating Whole Foods Changes How We Look and Feel	Put himself on a diet of whole foods and kept a diary about it	How Alzheimer's Disease Affects Families	Website and presentation	Neocolonialism in Africa: An Exploration of Government and Corporate Influences	Videotaped a series of lectures about how neocolonialism has impacted different African countries
The Impact of Social Media Use on Personal Wellbeing (became) Importance of Communication in Relationships	Self-study on DBT -- dialectical behavioral therapy	Analysis of Nursing as a Profession	Portfolio of research and exploration artifacts to share with fellow students	The Implementation of a School Bus Tracking App in East Syracuse Minoa CSD	Wrote a computer program to track bus routes and created slides to train parents in the school community about the new app
Therapeutic Qualities of Creative Writing	Consulted with a variety of English teachers and started a therapeutic writing club	To Transition or Not to Transition: A Guide to Gender Identity Exploration	Portfolio of research and exploration artifacts to share with fellow students	Use of green space to enhance mental health and learning in schools	Coordinated a student group to weed and beautify the green space outside of the library
Racial Discrimination in Sports	Facilitated a Panel Discussion with HS Athletes	Media Bias and the Confusion in Public Perception of Crime	Website and presentation	Sustainability of Electric Vehicles	Created a video exploring his topic
The Effects of Competition On Student-Athletes' Mental Health	Facilitated a Panel Discussion with HS Athletes	The Benefits of Art Therapy in School Settings	Convened a meeting of the school counseling department to present research and discuss opportunities	Sustainable Resources and Practices in Residential Construction	Built a model house to scale using sustainable resources and practices
How Live Streaming Impacts Gamers	Kept a journal and presented findings to an authentic audience	Career Path Analysis of Child Life Specialists	Portfolio of research and exploration artifacts to share with fellow students	Bias in Women’s Health Care	Convened a panel discussion of experts for a nursing class at BOCES
How Technology Can Help Reduce Poverty	Videotaped PSA to encourage recycling computers	Neurodiversity: a Difference, Not a Mistake	Planned and delivered a lesson in a 9th-grade class and a health class to build awareness and integrate making fidgets	Racial Bias in School Discipline	Convened a presentation and discussion for ESM administrators
UFO Conspiracy Theories, Misinformation, and the Importance of Fact Checking	Website and mini-presentation	Physiologically, Neurologically, and Social-emotional Dangers of Digital Technology	Planned and executed a tech-free homeroom period across the school	Analysis of Astronomy as a Profession	Compiled a portfolio of research and exploration artifacts and taught a science lesson to students at the MOST
The Effects of Musical Expression	A musical archive of original music created by ESM students	The Importance of Support for Students in Music Programs	Renovation of the high school concert program to include (student interviews, inspirations, and oral introductions before each song in the spring concert)	A Study of the Correlation Between Physical Activity and Academic Learning in Elementary Education	Designed a survey and a series of lessons for elementary school teachers
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness	Created an Instagram page for Sources of Strength and posted throughout the spring	Freshwater Pollution in Your Backyard	Website and live presentation	The Negative Effects of Redlining in Syracuse’s Southside	Convened a library presentation of research and discussion for leaders in the school community