What is the impact of screen time on children\u2019s social-emotional abilities? How have regulatory changes in the food industry affected small businesses? Are Bay Area teachers receiving enough mental-health support? These are just a few of the questions that arise in Advanced Authentic Research, a yearlong course in which students pursue research on a topic of interest. From posing a research question to writing a literature review to collecting and analyzing data, the course takes students through all steps of the research process, culminating in a final research paper and presentation at Foothill College. Students in Gunn\u2019s three-year Social Justice Pathway, which requires AAR as a part of its curriculum, conduct research with a social-action focus.<\/p>\n
A key component of the course is mentorship: Each AAR class is assigned two to three mentors \u2014 ranging from district parents to local professors to business owners \u2014 who regularly check in on students\u2019 progress. According to AAR teacher Rachael Kaci, this model of mentorship has evolved since the course\u2019s development nine years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost students, prior to Covid, were assigned to a mentor one-on-one, but we saw such a variance in how the students relied upon the mentors,\u201d she said. \u201cNow that the mentors come into the classroom, they have the opportunity to watch the progress throughout the year and the student growth.\u201d Under these mentors, students learn critical research skills, such as professionalism and writing. Kaci appreciates how the course challenges students to strengthen their soft skills of time management, communication and adaptability.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery single year, every student runs into a hiccup,\u201d she said. \u201cIt could be a major one \u2014 like last year, I had two students who completely pivoted second semester and redid their project. Or, it could be a minor one, like not having enough respondents on a survey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite these challenges, AAR students finish the school year with newfound answers to their research questions or having made an impact on an aspect of their community.<\/p>\n
For instance, while walking around campus, students might notice green and blue posters with \u201cDon\u2019t Trash Your Planet\u201d in bolded text plastered on any empty wall.<\/p>\n
These posters are part of the Sustainability Campaign to Raise Awareness of Plastic Pollution initiative, begun by Social Justice Pathway juniors Phoebe Mota-Judges, Floyd Neesen and Talya Schube this year. SCRAPP\u2019s goal is to motivate Gunn students to clean up trash from school lunches.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just saw the problem was so bad,\u201d Neesen said. \u201cIf you take a look at the senior and sophomore (quads after lunch), there\u2019s so much (trash). If you\u2019re walking by, you can\u2019t not notice it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group hopes to combat littering by raising awareness. As part of the sensibility campaign, they have created an Instagram account to post videos and infographics about the detriments of non-reusable plastic and the impact of trash on campus.<\/p>\n
Although existing posters in each classroom highlight the different materials that go in compost, landfill and recycling, they don\u2019t include all of the wrappings used by the school cafeteria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are reminders to throw away your trash and waste sorting guides that include the (packaging) that is used in the cafeteria,\u201d Neesen said. \u201cThe (existing posters) don\u2019t have the things that they use to wrap sandwiches and burgers. We have those.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fueled by their determination to improve Gunn\u2019s sustainability, the SCRAPP team has learned valuable skills, such as networking, adaptability and teamwork. According to Schube, there were challenges when working with a lot of people.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrying to work on other people\u2019s time, as well as going through a lot of people, was difficult,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
AAR projects also extend beyond Gunn\u2019s boundaries. For instance, juniors Namya Kasturi, Samhita Krishnan and Lia O\u2019Donovan have worked to combat elders\u2019 loneliness in Palo Alto through pen pal assignments this year. In collaboration with Palo Alto Commons, a retirement community, they sent a sign-up form to the home\u2019s residents and are currently waiting to hear back.<\/p>\n
From the beginning of the brainstorming process, O\u2019Donovan and her team knew their main goal was to build community.<\/p>\n