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THE PERSONAL PROJECT REPORT

Title of Personal Project
Global Context: _Scientific and Technical Innovation_ MYP
Personal Project 2024-2025

Name: ___Saif BinSabbar___________

Grade: 10._
Supervisor: Ms /Mr. ________
School Name: Ellesmere College Riyadh
Word Count: (excluding quotes, bibliography and Appendices)

Table of Content
Introduction 3

Context 3

Objective A: Investigating

Goal and global context

Prior Learning and subject-specific knowledge

Research skills

Objective B: Planning

Develop Criteria for the product/outcome

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Develop a plan and record the development process of the project

Demonstrate Self-Management Skills

Objective C: Taking Action

Create a product/outcome reflecting Goal, Context, & Criteria

Demonstrate thinking skills

Demonstrate communication and social skills

Objective D: Reflecting

Evaluate the quality of the product/outcome against Criteria

Reflect on how completing the Project has extended your knowledge and understanding of
the topic and Global Context

Reflections on Skills as an IB Learner

Objective A: Investigating
Goal and global context

- My goal is to improve the students’ academic performance by offering them

technological tools at a price point they can manage.
- The Global Context is Scientific and technological innovation. The project includes
how to understand people’s needs and what solutions can we offer.
- For my project, my goal is to provide high-quality notepads to students, while
offering them discounts to make the product more accessible.
What excites me most about what I’m doing is the opportunity to learn and grow
through hands-on experience in the business world. I am deeply invested in
understanding every aspect of running a business, from product development to
marketing and sales strategies. This project allows me to apply the skills I’ve learned
in school and life and see them in action.
By offering notepads with a discount, I am addressing a specific problem that many
students face – the financial burden of buying supplies. Additionally, I aim to create a
sustainable business model that can grow and reach more students over time. This
project not only helps me achieve my personal goals but also empowers me to
contribute positively to my community, supporting students in their academic
journeys.
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Prior Learning and subject-specific knowledge

- I have experience about online businesses and how to manage it. This
experience saved me time and effort
- Economics, I learnt about trade-offs and opportunity costs.

Research skills

- The main research skills I used were data collection; being able to gather information on
products that are high on demand for students. Critical thinking, analysis, and
Organization; organizing and comparing products (helped me in picking the product).
Adaptability; being aware of any downsides and upsides about products (trends and
competitors).

Objective B: Planning

Develop Criteria for the product/outcome

1. Affordability
- Target Price Range: Ensuring the notepads are priced less than 2800AR.
- Cost Efficiency: Production and distribution costs should
allow for a profit margin while maintaining affordability for students.
- Payment Flexibility: Offer payment plans or discounts for students to
make it even more accessible.

2. Functionality
Core Features:
- Seamless note-saving functionality.
- Lightweight and portable design.
- Long battery life to support all-day use.
- Student-Oriented Design: Include features like subject organization,
calendar integration, and easy sharing of notes.
- User-Friendliness: Ensure the interface is simple and intuitive for middle
school, high school, and college students.

Develop a plan and record the development process of the project

- I did a market research at first. I found the perfect product and I found what people
want.
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- The next step was to find a way on how and where to sell and connecting with a
shipping company.

- The third step was to open a social media account because that’s where all my target
audience are.

- The fourth step was sending emails to the companies whom I’m trying to have a
contract with.
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- (The final step depends on the companies of they reply). If my plan goes to work, I
will open a storage store in Saudi Arabia and get the business going.

Demonstrate Self-Management Skills

- I have managed my time and effort carefully.

- 1-2h every day, 30min 3x - 4x a day or 1h work 5min break.
- Every 30min I finish a certain part of the project (research, adding products, ect).
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Objective C: Taking Action

Create a product/outcome reflecting Goal, Context, & Criteria

Goal:
The goal of my project is to design and sell affordable, high-quality notepads to students,
offering special student discounts to make the products more accessible. The notepads will
serve as essential study tools for students, contributing to their academic success by
providing them with reliable, well-designed materials at a reduced price. This will encourage
students to stay organized and motivated, while also easing the financial strain of purchasing
supplies.

Context:
The global context of my project is rooted in the need for affordable school supplies,
specifically targeting students who often struggle with the cost of necessary materials. Many
students face financial challenges, and access to quality supplies can make a difference in
their productivity and overall academic performance. By offering notepads with discounts, I
am responding to the broader issue of financial accessibility in education, particularly in a
time when many students are balancing school costs with personal expenses.

Criteria:
The product will meet several key criteria to ensure its effectiveness and success:

1. Quality: The notepads will be made of durable, high-quality paper and sturdy
binding, ensuring they last throughout the semester.
2. Affordability: By providing student discounts, the notepads will be priced
competitively to remain accessible for students of varying financial backgrounds.
3. Design: The notepads will have a simple, functional design that is easy to use and
meets the organizational needs of students.
4. Sustainability: Consideration will be given to eco-friendly materials and packaging to
align with environmental sustainability goals.

Demonstrate thinking skills

Throughout my project, I have applied a combination of critical and creative thinking skills
to develop a student-friendly notepad business.

First, I used critical thinking to analyze the challenges students face when purchasing school
supplies. I considered factors such as cost, availability, and convenience. By conducting
market research, I identified a gap where students struggle with expensive or inefficient
notetaking solutions. This led me to explore ways to provide affordable, high-quality
notepads while integrating a student discount system.
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then, I applied creative thinking to design a unique business model. Instead of simply
reselling notepads, I focused on building an experience tailored to students, ensuring the
website is user-friendly and efficient. I also brainstormed different ways to verify student
status securely, making sure that only eligible students receive discounts. Additionally, I
explored sustainable materials to align my business with eco-conscious values.

Demonstrate communication and social skills

Throughout my project, I have applied social and communication skills to connect with
suppliers, engage with students, and effectively present my business idea.

A key part of my communication efforts involved emailing notepad companies to request

approval for purchasing notepads at lower prices. This required professional and persuasive
writing, where I clearly explained my business model, the student discount system, and how
partnering with them could be mutually beneficial. Crafting these emails helped me refine
my ability to negotiate and advocate for my business needs in a professional setting.

Additionally, I used social skills to interact with students and understand their preferences
regarding school supplies. Through informal discussions and instagram polls, I gathered
insights into what students look for in a notepad—whether it’s affordability, durability, or
sustainability. This direct engagement allowed me to adjust my business approach to better
meet their needs.

Objective D: Reflecting

Evaluate the quality of the product/outcome against Criteria

To assess the quality of my student-friendly notepad business, I will evaluate it based on

three key criteria: affordability and accessibility.

1. Affordability – One of my main goals was to make notepads more affordable for
students by offering exclusive student discounts. I worked towards this by emailing
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notepad companies to negotiate lower prices, ensuring that I could pass these
savings on to students. While I am still in the process of securing supplier
agreements, the concept itself meets the affordability criterion, as it directly
addresses the financial burden students face when purchasing school supplies.
However, I will need to continue refining my pricing model to ensure maximum
affordability while maintaining a sustainable business.
2. Accessibility – The ease of access to the notepads is another crucial factor. I
designed the business to have a simple online store, allowing students to verify their
status and purchase notepads with minimal effort.

Overall Evaluation

The product successfully meets the affordability and accessibility criteria, as it provides
students with discounted notepads through a simple online store. Moving forward, I will
continue refining my supplier agreements, enhancing partnerships, and ensuring that my
notepad business remains student-centered and efficient.

Reflect on how completing the Project has extended your knowledge and understanding of
the topic and Global Context
Completing this project has greatly expanded my understanding of business operations,
technological solutions in e-commerce, and the role of scientific and technical innovation in
improving accessibility for students. Initially, I thought of this project as simply selling
notepads with student discounts, but as I progressed, I realized the importance of technology-
driven solutions in making the buying process more efficient and accessible. Additionally, my
experience with email negotiations with notepad companies taught me how businesses
leverage technology to communicate, negotiate, and secure better deals.
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Reflections on Skills as an IB Learner

Completing this project has helped me grow as an IB learner, particularly in the areas of
thinking, communication, and self-management skills. This experience allowed me to
apply my learning in a real-world context, reinforcing key IB attributes such as being a
thinker, communicator, and reflective learner.

I developed my thinking skills by analyzing the challenges students face when purchasing
school supplies and finding innovative solutions to make notepads more affordable. I
applied critical thinking when evaluating pricing models and negotiating with notepad
companies to secure discounts. Additionally, creative thinking played a role in designing a
student-friendly online system that ensures accessibility while maintaining efficiency.

My communication skills improved significantly throughout this project. Writing persuasive

emails to suppliersrequired me to articulate my business concept professionally and
negotiate deals effectively. Additionally, engaging with students to understand their needs
helped me tailor my messaging and marketing strategies to create a more impactful
business approach.

I also demonstrated risk-taking by stepping out of my comfort zone and taking on real
business challenges. Sending emails to suppliers, negotiating pricing, and setting up a
student discount system all required me to take bold actions without knowing the outcome.
This experience taught me that taking risks is essential for growth and that even setbacks
provide valuable learning opportunities.

Finally, this project strengthened my self-management skills as I had to balance school

responsibilities with running a business. Setting deadlines, staying organized, and adapting to
challenges were crucial in ensuring steady progress. Through reflection, I continuously
evaluated my strategies, adjusting my approach based on new insights and challenges.

Bibliography

Books:
Dorling, Kindersley. How to start your own business...and make it work

Websites:

Boox. Boox.com. 24/12/2024

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Remarkable. Remarkable.com. 24/12/2024

Boox. boox.com. 24/12/24

Supernote. Supernote.com. 24/12/2024

Shopify. shopify.com. 23/12/2024

Godaddy. Godaddy.com. 25/12/24

Amazon. Amazon.com. 26/12/24

Wired. Wired.com 22/12/24

ZDNet. Zdnet.com 22/12/24

Appendix
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Appendix A: company emails

Emailing remarkable and Boox Date: 23/12/24 Conducted via: email

Appendix B: Instagram poll

Student questions:
Do you prefer digital notebooks or paper notebooks?
How much should a digital notepad cost?

Number of students expected with answer: 100 students

Expected results: 90% - 100% yes / 1000 SAR+

Actual results:
85% yes / less than 600 SAR / 5 students

Appendix C: website development

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https://unissential.store