Title: Online Resources to Help You and Your Students Achieve Science Fair Success
1Online Resources to Help You and Your Students
Achieve Science Fair Success
The Presenting Sponsor of Science Buddies is
Seagate Technology.
2Overview
- Science Buddies (www.sciencebuddies.org) provides
free online resources for K-12 students and
teachers doing science fair projects. - We have resources for fair administrators,
teachers, parents, and students. - Resources are designed not only to help you and
your students have a successful science fair
experience, but also to improve project quality.
3Overview (contd)
- Science Buddies is recommended by and linked to
by many partners and advocates, such as the
SciLinks program of the National Science Teachers
Association. - All of our resources and programs are free.
- We are a 501(c)3 non-profit, supported mainly by
corporate grants. Seagate Technology is the
Presenting Sponsor of Science Buddies.
4The Home Page
5Finding a Topic
- Finding a topic is often the biggest hurdle for
students. - The Topic Selection Wizard asks students
questions about their everyday interests and
activities, and then recommends an area of
science and science fair project ideas matched to
their specific interests.
6The Topic Selection Wizard
7Topic Selection Wizard (contd)
8Finding a Topic (contd)
- We have a library of over 900 Project Ideas,
graded by difficulty, in more than 30 areas of
science. - Project Ideas can be used as is, or they can
serve as examples that students can creatively
and uniquely modify to make their own.
9Project Ideas
10Project Ideas (contd)
11Project Ideas (contd)
12Project Ideas (contd)
13Project Ideas (contd)
14Tools and Techniques
- Detailed guides to specific areas of science
provide basic tools and methods that can be
utilized to complete a project. - They allow teachers greater ability to help
students with projects outside their immediate
subject area. - Combined with Project Ideas, Tools and Techniques
become powerful, modular components that can be
combined to help students develop unique and
original projects.
15Tools and Techniques (contd)
16Doing the Project
- The Project Guide outlines the scientific method
and steps of the science fair process, and
contains information about doing engineering,
math, and computer programming projects, too. - Printable versions of the Project Guide are
invaluable as classroom handouts. - Advanced topics (e.g. writing an abstract) are
included, in addition to more basic topics (e.g.
formulating a question).
17The Project Guide
18The Project Guide (contd)
19The Project Guide (contd)
- Articles explain key concepts in language that
students can understand.
20The Project Guide (contd)
- Examples help students understand what makes a
quality assignment.
21The Project Guide (contd)
22The Project Guide (contd)
23The Project Guide (contd)
- Checklists allow students to self-evaluate their
own work.
24The Project Guide (contd)
- Printable worksheets guide students through
critical steps of the science fair process.
25Ask an Expert
- Ask an Expert is an online mentoring program that
allows students who are working on science fair
projects to get individual support from talented
high school students and science professionals
from industry and academia. - It provides a safe forum for finding answers to
those tough questions that go beyond a teachers
expertise. - Forums are arranged by grade level to offer
grade- and age-appropriate support to students.
26Ask an Expert (contd)
- Students can ask questions throughout the entire
project or just about a specific problem. - Questions range from parents asking how to help
their 3rd graders do their first science fair
project, to students preparing for the Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair
(ISEF). - Mentoring by science professionals dramatically
improves project quality.
27Ask an Expert (contd)
28Science Fair Time
- A variety of resources are designed specifically
to prepare students for a science fair. - We have tricks for preparing display boards, tips
to help students prepare for judging, and advice
for preparing for top competitions. - Resources are available through the Project
Guide and the Competitions tabs on the Science
Buddies homepage.
29Prep for Top Competitions
- Resources are designed specifically to help
students prepare to compete at ISEF, the Intel
Science Talent Search (STS), the Junior Science
and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), and Siemens
Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. - Resources include
- Guide to working within ISEF rules
- Tips on finding a mentor
- Ask an Expert ISEF Preparation Forum
- Advanced board design and construction tips
30Prep for Top Competitions (contd)
31Teacher Resources
- Resources were created to support teachers who
have their students participate in science fairs. - Resources include
- Teachers Guide to Science Projects
- Guide to Planning a Science Fair
- Grading Rubrics
- Teacher and student timelines
- Scientific Method Classroom Poster
- Science Project Enrichment Tools
32Teacher Resources (contd)
33Parent Resources
- These resources will increase parents' confidence
and motivation to help their children with
science fair projects. - Topics include
- Why Are Science Fairs Important?
- Science Fair Project Overview
- Explaining Plagiarism
- Internet Safety Tips
34Parent Resources (contd)
35Careers in Science
- Working with our partners in industry and
academia, we profile real-life scientists and
engineers. - The Career Profiles feature
- Details about the nature of the work,
- Mini case studies and/or video interviews of
professionals in the area, - Advice on what students interested in the
field should study in high school, and in junior
college or college, - Salaries, potential employers, and more!
- By the end of 2009, science career
information will be featured on most of our
900 Project Ideas.
36Careers in Science (contd)
37Engineering Projects
- Engineering and computer science projects dont
follow the scientific methodthey follow the
engineering design processbut they are still
valid science fair projects. - Engineering and Programming Project Tips explain
the steps of the engineering process and how the
engineering design process differs from the
scientific method.
38Engineering Projects (contd)
39Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and Rules Advice
- Science Buddies offers an easy-to-understand
outline of the international rules for
pre-college science competitions, as well as
general safety guidelines. - Always check with your local fairs SRC or fair
director with questions about any rules. - An overview helps students, parents, and teachers
understand why compliance is so important.
40SRC and Rules Advice (contd)
41Extra Help
- Additional resources include
- Guide to science fair project photography
- Guide to keeping a lab notebook
- Listing of supplies and materials sources
- Student blogs
- And much more
42www.sciencebuddies.org