This research aims to determine which types of instructional technology teachers should use to drive student learning. Over 90% of schools provide access to computers and internet access, but many teachers either choose not to use instructional technology or use technology ineffectively. This study aims to produce results that can assist teachers in choosing the most effective and efficient types of instructional technology to modernize their classrooms to reflect the digital age.

This research project will examine if and how toxicity and gender change the way people play video games before they pick up the controller. The medium for this project will be the online game Overwatch and—within the game—how players' choice of game character changes depending on whether or not they are exposed to toxicity. The aim is to see the impact of toxicity on stereotypes within gaming.

This research project will be taking a case study inquiry approach to investigate the causes behind the lack of underrepresented minorities in honors and AP STEM classes at Palo Alto High School. Minorities make up a disproportionately small fraction of the greater STEM workforce, which may be attributed to a lacking high school curriculum. Through the coding of interviews, this project hopes to turn the input of the community into a proposal for possible solutions.

Prior research has shown that unstable housing leads to significantly worse health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS. However, current housing programs for HIV/AIDS patients who experience housing insecurity have not been effective in promoting better health outcomes for these patients. Perhaps our measurement of homelessness is imprecise and overlooks a diversity of unstable housing arrangements, each of which may have their own needs for intervention. This research project will use patient interviews to aid in the creation of an accurate measurement tool will allow medical professionals to better understand their HIV patients’ housing situations and therefore create a plan of treatment that will best suit their lifestyle and lead them to a life of viral suppression.

Young children assigning meaning to their perceptions of people different than themselves is an indicator of developing judgements. Understanding this shift from perception to judgement may shed light on why people become less inclusive as they grow older. This project will study patterns of inclusivity in maturing children to determine if it is possible to reverse misinformed negative perceptions of students with disabilities.

This research project will examine the accesibility and effectiveness of equine-assisted therapy in the Bay Area. Case studies and interviews with therapists will be used to develop materials (specifically, a pamphlet) to increase access and outreach. This pamphlet will be developed as a tool to educate the public on what equine-assisted therapy is and what current resources exist in the Bay Area.

Mainstream culture in the United States tends to promote hyper-masculinity, which rewards the rejection of emotion ("real men don't cry") and embraces sexual conquest ("sleep with as many women as possible, treat them poorly"). By being encouraged to reject emotion, men are discouraged from developing deep friendships or connections. This can also lead to mental health issues. This project will examine how boys are reaised in America and what changes can be made to encourage boys to embrace their emotions in a healthy way.

The goal of this project is to determine whether or not the government of Indonesia is aware of how severe “Pasung” shackling a mentally ill person is in rural and poorer parts of the country. The project is targeting those specific areas because they are far from hospitals, and most people there can’t afford proper medication or treatment. The project will consist of personal interviews from organization leaders located in smaller cities of Indonesia, as well as private doctors/faith healers through Skype. The interviewees will be the ones who have past and present knowledge on the issue, and are working towards decreasing cases of shackling a mentally ill person.

This project focuses on bettering Paly students' health through a community garden. The intent is to show how a community garden can improve both physical and mental health. Students will be able to learn hard work and dedication while at the same time learning what its like to nurture something. Students' confidence will increase, and they will spend more time outside.