Introduction
The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) Personal Project is a student-driven experience — but behind every successful project stands a supportive, reflective supervisor. For teachers, supervising these projects is both rewarding and challenging. It requires balancing guidance with independence, ensuring students stay motivated, ethical, and aligned with IB expectations.
This guide provides practical tips and best practices for MYP supervisors, helping teachers facilitate meaningful learning while maintaining IB standards of academic rigor and reflection.
The Role of the Personal Project Supervisor
A supervisor’s job goes far beyond checking progress. They act as:
- Mentor: Encouraging curiosity, goal setting, and confidence.
- Guide: Helping students navigate the MYP project cycle.
- Evaluator: Providing formative feedback aligned with IB criteria.
- Ethical Advisor: Ensuring academic honesty and responsible research.
Supervisors help students transform their passions into structured, purposeful learning experiences — a central aim of the IB philosophy.
The MYP Project Cycle
To supervise effectively, teachers must understand the four stages of the MYP project cycle:
- Investigating: Students define a goal and connect it to a Global Context.
- Planning: They design a timeline, identify resources, and develop ATL skills.
- Taking Action: Students create the product or outcome, documenting their process.
- Reflecting: They evaluate their work, growth, and impact in their final report.
Supervisors should ensure students engage thoughtfully in each stage and document evidence of their progress in their .
