Science Fair Teacher Workshop

1. Science Fair Teacher Workshop July 30 and July 31 2009 – 2010 WELCOME!

2. Leadership Committee & Partners Corporate Sponsors 08-09 Grades 9-12 / 09-10 Grades 6-12 Statistics / Winners Who are we?What happened in 08-09?

3. Why is research (GRSEF) important? • Opportunity to DO science • Interest in integrated study and research • Strengthen skills • Use of inquiry-based scientific process • NCSCOS • Community connections • Educational opportunities beyond school • Global competitiveness and exposure

4. Role of the Schiele Museum in GRSEF!

5. Fair Orientation: Calendar • Sunday, January 17 - Project check-in and set-up - Judges training and static judging • Monday, January 18 - Student judging and interviews - Awards ceremony • January 19 – January 29 - Student Choice Award and Public Viewing • Friday, January 29 - Project removal

6. Fair Orientation: Research Completion Checklist • Middle School, Grades 6-8 - September 25, Entry form and Research Plan due • High School, Grades 9-12 - September 11, Entry form due - September 25, Required forms due (1, 1A, 1B, and Research Plan) • SRC / IRB Review - September 28 – October 2

7. Fair Orientation: Student Clinics

8. Fair Orientation: Project Approval • Display and Safety • Judging • SRC / IRB Preview • Types of Projects - Observational - Experimental - Engineering

9. Fair Orientation: Student Self-Check and Parental Involvement • Student Checklist of Judging Criteria • Sample Interview Questions • Parent Letter Template • Parent Meeting Presentation

10. Do It Yourself! • Using the Scoring Sheet, choose at least one project to judge. • Obvious: You will not be able to do the student interview 

11. Teacher Background: NCSCOS • Inquiry and Critical Thinking • Investigations, Research and Scientific Methods • Independent vs. Collaborative Skills • Safety Practices • Manipulation of Apparatus • Integration of Content and Skills

12. Teacher Background: Parts of a STEM Project • Question (related to Purpose / Problem) • Research Plan • Hypothesis • Materials • Procedure (includes Variables) • Data / Results • Conclusion • Bibliography

13. Additional Parts of a STEM Project • Log Book • Research Report - Scientific Paper Evaluative Criteria • Display - Science Fair Project Display Model • Teacher / Mentor Supervision - Grading Sheets

14. Generating STEM Ideas • What materials are easy to find for conducting experiments on ---? • How do / does --- act? • How can I change the set of --- materials to affect the way --- act(s)? (independent variable) • How can I measure or describe the response of --- to the change I made? (dependent variable)

15. Forming a Hypothesis • Students are expected to be able to write their own hypothesis using the if / then format: • If I change (indepent variable) then (dependent variable) will change.

16. Identifying a SMART Question • Part of Research Plan • S – specific focus • M – measureable (collect data – NOT opinions) • A – attainable materials (easy to find) • R – realistic investigation (NOT a report, demonstration, or model) • T – timely (the effect of one thing upon another)

17. Understanding Variables • Part of Research Plan • Any factor that can affect what happens in the experiment. - Independent Variable (manipulated) - Dependent Variable (responding) - Controlled Variables (no change) • Only ONE variable at a time should be changed by the investigator during an experiment!

18. Forming a Hypothesis • Part of Research Plan • An informed statement that is … - made about the outcome of the experiment - based on some knowledge or background research - a relationship between the independent and dependent variables (cause / effect) - if / then format

19. Writing a Procedure • Part of Research Plan • Exact amount of each material (SI / metric) • Exact sequence of steps • Control all variables except the one being manipulated • Repeat experiment more than one time OR more than one test object

20. Designing a Data Table • Part of Research Plan • Need table to record and collect data during experiment • Data should be measured, counted, or directly observed (not opinions, or book-given)

21. The Effect of Adding Glycerin to a Bubble Solution(Title)

22. Making a Bar / Line Graph • Not a Part of Research Plan • Bar Graph = Amounts - same width and separated by spaces • Line Graph = Relationships, Trends • X Axis = Independent Variable • Y Axis = Dependent Variable

23. Solubility of Potassium Chlorate with Increasing Temperature (Title)

24. Drawing a Conclusion • Reflects back to original hypothesis - supported or not supported • Answers the original question - includes reference to results • Inferences from results • Additional questions to research

25. Mini Experiments • Model components of a STEM project • “practice” experiment • Mirrors layout of project display • Ideal – provide support reading material before doing experiment

26. Foldable / Folder Strategy • Manipulate components of STEM project • Visual “display” of “practice” experiment • Miniature display of actual project • Space-saver option

27. Forms • GRSEF Forms • ISEF Forms (most necessary only for specific circumstances) • Competitor Roles and Responsibilities • Risk Assessment • APA / MLA Cheat Sheets • Review Calendar and Checklist

28. Networking • As a classroom teacher, how do you intend to implement research opportunities for your students? • How will you motivate / approach students to create STEM projects and submit for science fair competition? • How will a research approach influence your students’ attainment of skills and concepts? • How can the leadership committee assist you with implementing a research focus and/or production of a STEM project?