Captions on this video are YouTube's automatic ones and have not been corrected. The full written version is below, so nothing here depends on the video.
About Jacob: Jacob is a 15-year-old from Toronto who wants to create an after-school peer tutoring program at his school.
Here is how Jacob approached the Final Assignment:
"First, I thought about the initial questions to reflect on the project I was thinking about. Then I followed the steps to make sure my project addresses a significant problem.
Step 1 — Choosing Validation Methods
For this problem, I decided to look at additional sources — specifically what research says about best practices when implementing after-school programs. In addition, a survey asking students their opinions about the idea would also help.
Step 2 — Secondary Research
I did research and found academic articles on the subject:
Lauer, P. A., Akiba, M., Wilkerson, S. B., Apthorp, H. S., Snow, D., & Martin-Glenn, M. (2006). Out-of-school time programs: A meta-analysis of effects for at-risk students. Review of Educational Research, 76, 275–313.
This study found that test scores of low-income, at-risk youth improved significantly in math and reading after participating in after-school programs. This supports my idea that such a program could make a real difference at our school.
Student Survey
I also designed a survey for my colleagues with questions like:
- "Describe yourself: Age ___ Grade ___"
- "Are you currently involved in any activities after school? If so, describe them."
- "If an after-school program started at our school, would you be interested in participating (with your parents' permission)? Yes / No"
- "Which activities would you like to participate in at the club?"
Step 3 — Conclusion
After doing this investigation, I concluded that the problem I want to solve is genuinely important. Our school currently has no after-school programs — only intramurals during lunch. So this would influence a significant number of students, especially those who would benefit most from additional academic and social support."
What made Jacob's approach strong:
- He used academic research to support his case — giving it real credibility
- He gathered direct feedback from the community (his fellow students)
- His conclusion was specific: he identified a clear gap at his school (no after-school programs at all)