Independent work is our way of preparing our students for a world without roadmaps, without operating instructions. At Putney, you will learn to be self-motivated and discover issues, actions and concepts that you care about. You will have ideas and you will want to share them with your community (and beyond). You will be inspired by your friends’ reactions and by conversations with your teachers. By designing and executing your own projects, you will strengthen your organizational skills, and learn to apply what you have learned.
The Putney Difference
Independent work is a pillar of Putney. Opportunities are deliberately scaffolded to provide students with a strong foundation of guidance and support as they develop the knowledge and skills to tackle their individual educational interests with a level of autonomy that will benefit them for life.
It gives students a level of depth they otherwise wouldn’t have. The real goal is if a student has a particular interest, they can pursue it with an adult who is willing to explore the topic with them.
— Kevin Champney, Co-Academic Dean and Director of Technology & Library Services
From Project Weeks to Senior Exhibitions, independent work adheres to a highly structured process, and at the same time is freeing for students as they develop an expertise in anything from Roman history or American folklore, to the art of archiving or how to play the cello.
Project Weeks
A cornerstone of our curriculum, Project Weeks are intensive, one-week periods occurring twice a year where students carry out independent projects that are inspired by curiosity and tied to their academic work. Students develop critical time and task management skills as they learn how to design, propose, implement and reflect on projects. They are challenged to research deeply, forge connections between disciplines, and communicate their work in compelling ways. As a student’s first foray into independent work, Projects Weeks are designed to easily scale to individual needs, and serve as a model for project-based learning throughout their time at Putney.
Independent Topics
Independent topics are designed for highly motivated students who want to pursue a specific topic in math, science, music, or theater. The curriculum is responsive to student’s interests, allowing for the study of topics not typically covered in a traditional setting. Examples include participation in a science contest, focused practice of an instrument coupled with public performances, or writing a play. Students also have the option to take a regularly offered course on their own, allowing them to put a unique spin on it. In all cases, students work closely with a teacher to ensure rigorous academic standards are being met.
Independent Studies
Advanced students may design an independent course of study during the fall or winter trimesters. Students go through a proposal process in which their course must be reviewed and approved by an Educational Program Committee composed of deans, faculty members, and fellow students. Working closely with a teacher sponsor, students are required to write their own curriculum, which includes tasks such as identifying readings and course materials, calendaring out their work, creating a syllabus, and determining how to present their learning.
Work Terms
Students may apply for an off-camps apprenticeship to gain hands-on experience from a professional. Work Terms are intended to provide students with the chance to explore an area that might be of future career interest, and usually take place during or around a school recess such as winter or spring breaks. Examples include working with a large-animal veterinarian, a metal worker, or on a horse farm. Work Term is considered a full-time, not-for-profit opportunity.
Senior Exhibitions
Considered the capstone of our independent curriculum, Senior Exhibitions are an opportunity for seniors in good standing to design and complete a Spring trimester independent project, ideally interdisciplinary, and culminating in a body of work that will be exhibited. Students are expected to create a project that draws upon the breadth and depth of their educational experience at Putney.
