The Independent Study Program at Berkshire allows students to pursue
an academic interest that extends beyond the core courses and the dozens
of electives offered in the regular curriculum. Working with a faculty
mentor, a student designs a course and directs its in-depth development
in either a one-semester or yearlong study. Independent Studies may
combine academic work on campus with shadowing area professionals or
volunteer internships at local organizations.
So far this year, seventeen students are undertaking an Independent
Study, and one student is engaged in two different independent courses.
Having presented their written proposals to a panel of faculty members
for approval, students now meet with their mentors each week, sometimes
more than once, depending on the course. Assessment varies by topic:
most students read extensively and write essays or critiques in addition
to leading discussions with their mentors on their progress. Others
demonstrate through projects or compositions that they are progressing
in the syllabus they created.
Primarily available to Fifth and Sixth Form students, the program is
flexible if a strong proposal comes from an under-former. An Independent
Study may be taken as a fifth course, to earn a letter grade, or as an
additional course, either graded or pass/fail.
What inspires a student to study independently? For some, it’s a chance to explore an additional AP subject: Andrew Walther and Tim Kou in AP Economics, and Seyoon Lee in AP Physics Electricity and Magnetism. Others are extending their work in previous classes: Eric Zahn’s experience in Sustainability inspires him to examine how Berkshire can operate buildings under LEED guidelines; Anne-Marie Dion, Stéphanie Quintin, and Chloe Lerman are continuing language studies beyond the AP language level. Long Tran (Advanced Latin II) and Kevin Chung (Linear
Algebra) are also in advanced courses unavailable within the standard
curriculum. Special projects at an advanced level include digital music
studies by Scot McMillan (composition in various formats) and Luke Johnson (composition and DJ-ing), focus on photographic portraiture by Theo Friedman, and history projects about the Holocaust by Emily Bernstein and the effect of media on politics by Joseph Levine. Martha Hagerty
is learning the equivalent of two years of Swedish language in order to
connect with her family’s heritage. Motivated by his experience in his
family’s business in Spain, Jorge Bordas is exploring business and the stock market in the U.S.. Joseph Lin builds on his previous college-level work in computer creation by studying Advanced Macromedia Flash. Kevin Chung’s second Independent Study involves both music composition and setting up a recording studio in Berkshire’s new Music Center.
If past experience is an indicator, these ambitious students will be
joined by half a dozen others seeking independent work for second
semester. Their proposals will be reviewed in January. Then in May, the
Berkshire community will celebrate their work, through displays and
presentations, on Independent Study Night.
In the meantime, over the course of the year, each student's independent study will be profiled here on the web.
Eric Zahn ’11
LEED Building Operation
Faculty advisor: Frank Barros
Andrew Walther ’11
Yingmang Kou ’13
AP Micro & Macroeconomics
Faculty advisor: Jasper Turner
Long Tran ’11
Advanced Latin II
Faculty advisor: Norm Merrill
Stéphanie Quintin ’11
Anne-Marie Dion ’11
19th Century French Literature
Faculty advisor: Jean-Erick Joassaint
Scot McMillan ’11
Luke Johnson ’11
Advanced Digital Music
Faculty advisor: Clive Davis
Joseph Lin ’11
Advanced Macromedia Flash
Faculty advisor: Jasper Turner
Joseph Levine ’11
Modern Media and Politics
Faculty advisor: Jason Gappa
Chloe Lerman ’11
Advanced Spanish Literature: Márquez
Faculty advisor: Carlos Berrendero
Seyoon Lee ’12
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Faculty advisor: Kurt Schleunes
Martha Hagerty ’11
Swedish Language
Faculty advisor: Martina Moodey
Theo Friedman ’11
Advanced Photography: Portraiture
Faculty advisor: Paul Banevicius
Kevin Chung ’11
Linear Algebra
Faculty advisor: Kurt Schleunes
Advanced Music Composition and Sound Recording
Faculty advisor: Clive Davis
Jorge Bordas ’11
Business and Stock Market
Faculty advisor: John Alden
Emily Bernstein ’11
Holocaust Survivors
Faculty advisor: Bill Gulotta
and all-boys prep school outside of Boston, for a 1-day mini-symposium on Student Biomedical Research. The goal was to foster collaboration, communication and community outreach with our students. AMSR students Liza Bernstein '13, Sissi Wang '13, Lars Robinson '13, Elsie Guevara '13, Ernest Yue '13, and Nate MacKenzie '14, gave short talks about their work in the new Bellas/Dixon Math and Science lecture hall. The talks were followed up by break-out sessions where Belmont Hill students described their research projects and students discussed commonalities between the projects and future goals.
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