Virginia Science Olympiad

1
Virginia Science Olympiad

• 2009 Coaches Clinic
• Division C
• Inquiry Events

Picture This
Technical Problem Solving
Experimental Design
Write It/ Do It
2
Write It/ Do It

• The purpose of this event is to test the ability
  of two team members to communicate instructions
  for building a device or structure.
• Model structures may use almost any regular
  everyday household/classroom items, from office
  supplies to legos or other blocks.

3
Write It/ Do It- the competition

• Each partner is isolated from the other generally
  in different rooms
• The role of partner 1 is to write clear and
  concise directions for building a structure or
  device that he/she is observing
• The writer has 25 minutes to write all necessary
  directions
• The role of the 2nd partner is to read the
  directions written by partner 1 and attempt to
  recreate the structure or device as described
• The builder has 20 minutes to build

4
Write It/ Do It- Writer Tips

• Bring a writing instrument
• Write the description as a series of numbered
  steps that the builder should take to build the
  structure or device
• Check to be sure that each step logically follows
  the next
• Use descriptors like color, shape, and
  orientation of pieces to assist the builder in
  putting the pieces together correctly
• Written description may only contain words and
  numerals, no symbols, drawings and diagrams are
  not allowed.
• Every few steps clearly note what the structure
  should look like at that point in building, to
  help the writer know he/she is on the right track

5
Write It/ Do It- Builder Tips

• Bring a writing instrument
• Briefly read through the entire description first
  
• If a materials list was provided by the writer
  then compare each of the materials on the list
  with those that are present at the station
• Begin building carefully, rechecking piece after
  piece
• Pace yourself..20 minutes goes quickly

6
Write It/ Do It- Scoring

• A point is earned for each piece(s) that have
  been properly connected and in the proper
  location as in the original model.
• The team who builds the structure or device
  closest to the original wins.
• Use of codes or symbols is not permitted, except
  for those that may be created by pressing any of
  the 101 standard keys on a keyboard the shift
  button. A 5 penalty is assessed.
• Tiebreaker- time for the construction phase

7
Experimental Design

• A group of up to 3 students per team are given a
  problem question around which they must design
  and carry out an experiment using only the
  materials that they have been provided. They
  then must analyze the data collected and draw up
  a summary of their findings.

8
Experimental Design-the competition

• Supervisor provides each team with a bag of
  identical materials or sets up a central supply
  area where each team can pick up their supplies.
• Supervisor will provide all teams with a problem
  question designed to narrow the scope of the
  experiments generated
• The experiment conducted MUST explore the
  relationship between an independent and dependent
  variable.
• Supervisor will provide students with an answer
  packet in which they will record their results
  and wright up their experiment.
• Teams must use at least 2 of the materials

9
Experimental Design-the DOs

• Students must bring goggles and a writing
  instrument
• Students should also bring a timer, ruler, and a
  non-programmable calculator
• Keep the experiment simple, elaboration invites
  difficulties to come up
• Split up the tasks, while some members of the
  group are running the experiment another member
  may begin writing up the beginning of the report
• The group needs to pace themselves carefully
  otherwise time may run out

10
Experimental Design-the Donts

• Do not leave out a section on the lab writeup
  unless you are completely unsure what belongs in
  that spot
• Dont write a half procedure or write only half
  the variable information etc.. Be clear so that
  anyone could replicate this experiment

11
Experimental Design-Scoring

• All experimental design writeups will be scored
  according to the same distribution of points as
  written at the bottom of the rules page
• The team with the highest total points wins
• Tiebreakers-total points for
• 1-variables
• 2-procedure
• 3-analysis of results
• 4-graph
• 5-data table

12
Experimental Design-Example

• Using the materials listed below design an
  experiment that explores rotational motion.
• Materials-
• 1 hula hoop
• 1 tennis ball
• 1 ping pong ball
• 30cm of masking tape
• 1 meter stick

13
Picture This

• Challenges students to be able to explain various
  concepts in science using clues in diagrams and
  pictures with no verbal or other visual clues.

14
Picture This- the competition

• Students work in a group of up to 3 students.
• Each member of the group takes a turn at being
  the concept sketcher (one who attempts to draw
  the science concept/word)
• The other two group members must try to guess the
  word/concept that is being drawn
• The team has a total of 4 minutes to try and work
  through and guess 25 different terms
• Each team will be given the same 25 terms in the
  same order
• Sketcher will usually draw on paper set on an
  easel (paper is kept for supervisor purposes)

15
Picture This- Dos

• Have all 3 students in the group regularly
  practice both roles throughout the year
• Sketcher should pass the term if he/she really
  has no clue or does not believe they can draw it
• The sketcher should only give visual clues of
  acceptance or rejection of guesses as directed by
  the supervisor
• The sketcher may use the (-) to indicate a word
  which needs to be shortened or a () to indicate
  a word that needs to be expanded
• Arrows are the only other symbols that may be
  used
• If the concept or science word is a phrase then
  the sketcher may write down on the paper if one
  of the words has been guessed correctly ONLY
  AFTER THE SUPERVISOR ACKNOWLEDGES IT
• During the four minutes each person rotates one
  at a time to be the sketcher

16
Picture This- Donts

• The sketcher should not use any additional
  symbols as well as no letters or numbers in the
  clue drawings
• Dont pass a word unless you are willing to give
  it up completely, once passed teams cannot go
  back to a word
• No variations of the clue word will be accepted
  unless it is the singular or plural form of the
  word

17
Picture This- Scoring

• 1 point is earned for each word guessed correctly
• Tiebreakers-
• 1-team that passes the fewest terms
• 2-shortest period of time to complete list (time
  begins when the first sketcher is shown the first
  word)
• 3-team with longest string of correct terms
• 4-team who correctly identifies the first term in
  a string of words not identfied by another team

18
Picture This- Suggestions for Practice

• This is a great event for the entire team to work
  on together
• Have students generate lists of common vocabulary
  using basic texts from the four core sciences
• Use whiteboards for drawing to save paper

19
Technical Problem Solving

• Students will visit a series of up to 5 lab
  stations that will require them to use
  mathematics, and science reasoning skills to
  solve a number of different problems that stem
  from all areas of science including biology,
  chemistry, physics, and earth science. In this
  event probes will be used at a minimum of 1
  station at the state level of competition.

20
Technical Problem Solving- the competition

• Students work as a pair
• Series of up to 5 lab stations will be set up
• Each station will require that students do the
  following
• Use mathematical expressions
• Apply statistical analysis
• Use correct metric units if making measurements
• Use correct significant figures
• At least one station at the state competition
  will use probeware. Possible probes include
• Temperature, voltage, light, gas pressure, pH,
  motion detector, photogate
• Data will be collected and analyzed

21
Technical Problem Solving- the Dos

• Bring a non-programmable, non-graphing calculator
  and chemical splash goggles
• Team members for this event should have completed
  up through physics
• Students should show all equations that they used
  to solve any of the problems on their answer sheet

22
Technical Problem Solving- the Donts

• Dont bring any additional resources, the
  supervisor will provide any lab equipment and in
  some cases a list of equations/formulas
• Dont put students on this event who have not
  completed at least 3 years of HS science, unless
  absolutely necessary

23
Technical Problem Solving- Scoring

• Each problem question will carry an assigned
  point value based on the level of difficulty
• Points are awarded based upon a correct response
• Points deducted for
• Improper metric units if measuring
• Improper sig figs
• No points given for answers not supported by the
  data and calculations
• Tiebreaker-will be selected problems determined
  by the supervisor in advance

24
Technical Problem Solving- Suggestions for
Practice

• Look online for old practical data gathering
  event tests, these questions could be examples of
  things students could see
• The sky is the limit