Frisco High School Independent Study and Mentorship (ISM) Class
About Independent Study and Mentorship (ISM)
What is ISM
What is ISM
What is ISM
Independent Study and Mentorship (ISM) is an exciting, rigorous elective offered at Frisco ISD high schools, designed for high-achieving juniors or seniors.
Students interested in taking ISM must complete the application and interview process to be considered for the course. Once selected, students conduct research and interviews through
Independent Study and Mentorship (ISM) is an exciting, rigorous elective offered at Frisco ISD high schools, designed for high-achieving juniors or seniors.
Students interested in taking ISM must complete the application and interview process to be considered for the course. Once selected, students conduct research and interviews throughout the year on their chosen topic of study in order to select a mentor and gain real-world experience.
The course includes research analysis, original idea generation, product design, and hands-on experiences in a professional environment. The ISM teacher works with the students to develop skills in the following areas:
- Professionalism
- Communication/Networking
- Interpersonal/Interviewing Skills
- Public Speaking
- Personal Branding
ISM receives weighted credit (5.5 points).
Topics
What is ISM
What is ISM
What is the ISM curriculum?
- Intense Research
- Topic-related Product Development
- Original Idea Generation and Product Design
- Public Speaking and Presentations
- Resume Writing
- Interviewing Skills
- Business and Social Etiquette
- Hands-on experiences in real work environments
- Participation in District Events
- Written assessments of research at highest leve
What is the ISM curriculum?
- Intense Research
- Topic-related Product Development
- Original Idea Generation and Product Design
- Public Speaking and Presentations
- Resume Writing
- Interviewing Skills
- Business and Social Etiquette
- Hands-on experiences in real work environments
- Participation in District Events
- Written assessments of research at highest levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy
What topics have students studied?
- Pediatric Oncology
- Entrepreneurship/ small business
- Computer Software Design
- Graphic Design
- Entrepreneurship/ small business
- Landscape Architecture
- Sports Photography
- Museum Curator
- Marketing
- Elementary Education
- Astronomy
- Marine Biology
- Writing
- Veterinary Science
- Constitutional Law
- Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
- Culinary Arts
- Criminal Law
- Cardiology
- Quantum Physics
- Ballet Company Administration
- Engineering
- Neo-natal nursing
- Archeology
- Optometry
- Green Energy
*Topics change every year based on what the ISM students choose to research.
Students
What is ISM
Students
What kind of student thrives in ISM?
Being a student in Frisco ISD’s ISM course is a privilege. ISM is a highly-visible program on campuses, in our district, and at mentors’ places of business in Frisco and other surrounding communities. Mentors give freely of their valuable time, expertise, and resources. Because of this, ISM students mu
What kind of student thrives in ISM?
Being a student in Frisco ISD’s ISM course is a privilege. ISM is a highly-visible program on campuses, in our district, and at mentors’ places of business in Frisco and other surrounding communities. Mentors give freely of their valuable time, expertise, and resources. Because of this, ISM students must be trusted to conduct themselves professionally and properly in many different situations both in and out of school. Students who thrive and are happiest in ISM embody the following characteristics:
- have integrity and can be trusted to leave campus to conduct interviews and visit mentors during the school day
- are highly intelligent and academically driven because the curriculum and schedule are demanding
- are responsible and meet deadlines
- can work independently
- have a strong worth ethic
- are committed to task completion
- already have a strong interest in a field and possibly have already done some preliminary research in that topic or done volunteer work in that area
- are mature
- make good choices