Independent Study

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 year’s study. Independent Studies may combine academic work on campus with shadowing area professionals or volunteer internships at local organizations.

 
Nineteen students are undertaking Independent Study projects in 2011-12:

• Thomas Harrigan ’12, working with Michael Dalton, is studying the architecture and engineering in the design and construction of Berkshire’s new Math/Science Facility.
• Simon Jia ’12 assists French teacher Elizabeth Renehan in her French I class and offers extra help to students taking French language courses.
• Three students are studying with Berkshire’s Athletic Training staff. Kelsey West ’12 and Alex English ’12 meet with Marc Wysocki, and Kelly Dempsey ’12 with Brian Lewton. All of the students are exploring the profession of athletic training, with an eye to future study at the college level.
• Samuel Cabot ’13 is working with various equipment and software in Berkshire’s Dixon Observatory in a project on Advanced Astro-Imaging. His teaching mentor is Dan Spear.
• Akash Bharwani ’12, with Jesús Ibáñez, is reading and writing about Spanish and Latin American literature in his Advanced Spanish Literature project.
• Michelle Jung ’14 is pursuing Advanced Music Theory, including ear training, with Tasia Wu.
• Niklas Rhodes ’12 and Elias Krause ’12 are adapting a stage play, The Intruder, for film in their Advanced Film Production project with Jesse Howard.
• Hayden Provost ’12 works with Anita Loose-Brown to study Zebra Mussel Biology, primarily in Lake Champlain near his home but also in lakes near Berkshire School.
• Bradley Keum ’12 is researching educational changes in his home country of Korea in the last hundred years. His history mentor is Bill Bullock.
• Eli Merritt ’12 is working with Linda D’Arco on the first phase of a project to install a permanent piece of sculpture on Berkshire’s campus. In first semester, he is creating maquettes and working with a foundry, hoping to create a large bronze bear in the spring.
• Taylor Sorensen ’13 extended her first-semester study of psychology with Sylvia Gappa into a second-semester independent project on developmental psychology, focusing on the infants and preschoolers at Undermountain Child Care on the Berkshire School campus.
• Jae Seung Lee ’13, mentored by Wil Smith, is exploring ethnic stratification in the multicultural American society. He is also examining experiences of international students at Berkshire.
• Charlotte Weil ’13 is researching women’s fashion design. With the guidance of Linda D’Arco, she is developing a portfolio of original designs and creating garments for peers to model in a springtime show.
• The Pacific Theater in World War II is the focus of study for Charles Yorke ’13. Working with Wil Smith, he is researching military strategies and tactics in the major battles of that part of the war.
• Ximena Lascuarin ’13 is interviewing professionals who work in the culinary field and writing profiles of their experiences. Her mentor is Linda Bellizzi.
• Juan Escobar ’13 is completing the introductory French I course with Elizabeth Renehan, working independently with the plan of further study in the language.

After presenting their written proposals to a panel of faculty members for approval, students 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.

The Independent Study Program is directed by Linda Bellizzi, a member of the English faculty.  For more information, please email her at lbellizzi@berkshireschool.org .

Click here for the list of 2010-11 projects.