Presentation for Department Retreat Aug. 10, 2023

1. CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
CAPSTONE RESEARCH PROJECT
Greg Hardin
Library Learning Services and/or
Undergraduate Student Engagement & Research
Department Retreat Thursday, August 10, 2023

2. HIGH-IMPACT
EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES
High-
Impact
Practices
First-Year
Seminars
and
Experiences Common
Intellectual
Experiences
Learning
Communities
Writing-
Intensive
Courses
Collaborative
Assignments
and Projects
Undergrad
Research
Diversity/
Global
Learning
ePortfolios
Service
Learning,
Community-
Based
Learning
Internships
Capstone
Courses and
Projects
Kuh, G. D. 2008. High-impact practices: What they are, who has access to them, and why
they matter. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.

3. CAPSTONE
Whether they’re called “senior capstones” or some other name, these
culminating experiences require students nearing the end of their
college years to create a project of some sort that integrates and
applies what they’ve learned. The project might be a research paper, a
performance, a portfolio of “best work,” or an exhibit of artwork.
Capstones are offered both in departmental programs and,
increasingly, in general education as well.
https://www.aacu.org/trending-topics/high-impact

4. CAPSTONE COURSES
AND PROJECTS
Capstone
Courses
and
Projects
Research
Paper / Major
Project
Course
Internship or
Field Program
Portfolio
Building
Course
Group Project
Course
Kuh, G. D. 2008. High-impact practices: What they are, who has access to them, and why
they matter. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.

5. CAPSTONE –
WHAT MAKES IT A HIGH IMPACT PRACTICE?
• Performance expectations set at appropriately high levels.
• Significant investment of concentrated effort by students over an
extended period of time.
• Interactions with faculty and peers about substantive matters.
• Experiences with diversity; wherein students are exposed to and must contend
with people and circumstances that differ from those with which the students are
familiar.
• Opportunities to discover relevance of learning to real-world applications.
• Public demonstration of competence.
• Periodic, structured opportunities to reflect and integrate learning.
https://www.centerforengagedlearning.org/resources/capstone-experiences/

6. BENEFITS OF A CAPSTONE COURSE
• Increases Confidence
• Develops Skills
• Prepares for Graduation
• Builds Resume

7. HONORS COLLEGE CAPSTONE THESIS
Honors College Capstone Thesis, 4951, allows a student in the
Honors College to complete an honors thesis as a course within the
student’s major. The Honors College Capstone Thesis is a major
research project prepared by the student with the mentorship of a
faculty member in the student’s major department. An oral defense
is required for successful completion of the thesis.
UG Catalog Academics Section: http://catalog.unt.edu/content.php?catoid=32&navoid=3551

8. UNT ALL UG COURSES
MyUNT
https://my.unt.edu/psc/ps/EMPLOYEE/SA/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL

9. UNT FALL 20223 UG COURSES
MyUNT
https://my.unt.edu/psc/ps/EMPLOYEE/SA/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL

10. THE ACRL INFORMATION
LITERACY FRAMEWORK
Explore Create
Inquire
Value
Converse
Construct
FRAMES

11. CAPSTONE – TO THINK ABOUT
• Does your subject area / department have a capstone?
• The capstone is a culmination of an academic career
bringing together the student’s previous learning, projects,
and experience.
• Think scaffolding across the student’s academic
experience and how the information literacy framework
can be interwoven throughout.
• What ways can you participate, instruct, or help faculty
and students not only with capstones but in all steps along
the way towards the capstone?

12. REFERENCES
Elon University. Center for Engaged Learning. Bibliography Category: Capstone Experiences
https://www.centerforengagedlearning.org/bibliography/category/capstone-experiences/
(Twenty-six references in this annotated bibliography)
Ketcham, Caroline J., Anthony G. Weaver, Jessie L. Moore, and Peter Felten. “Living Up to the
Capstone Promise: Improving Quality, Equity, and Outcomes in Culminating Experiences. In
(2022) Promise of High Impact Practices, edited by John Zilvinskis, Jillian Kinzie, Jerry Daday, Ken
O’Donnell, and Carleen Vande Zande. Stylus Publishing.
https://discover.library.unt.edu/catalog/b7530065
Kirkscey, R., Vale, J., Weiss, J. M., & Hill, J. (2021). Capstone Experience Purposes: An International,
Multidisciplinary Study. Teaching & Learning Inquiry, 9(2), 1–21. https://doi-
org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/10.20343/teachlearninqu.9.2.19
Kuh G. D. Schneider C. G. & Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2008). High-impact
educational practices : what they are who has access to them and why they matter. Association of
American Colleges and Universities.