Inspiring Innovation in Student Research

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Inspiring Innovation in Student Research
Welcome and Good Morning!

• Please sign in and grab a folder. The book and a
  binder to put it in are on the tables
• Enjoy networking time with your colleagues and
  help yourself to coffee and snacks
• Please copy the documents from the flash drive
  located on your table (DO NOT take them)
• Copy the 2014 NCSEF Workshop documents folder
  to your computer lots of helpful information
• Be ready to start at 900 AM

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Inspiring Innovation in Student Research!

• September 13, 2014
• SciWorks
• Winston-Salem, NC

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Who we are NC Science Fair Foundation (NCSFF)
Introductions

• Organizing body of the NC Science and Engineering
  Fair (NCSEF)
• 501c3 Non-Profit Organization
• Staffed only by volunteers and in-kind services
• The state affiliate of the INTEL International
  Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
• Sponsor of student competitions and awards
• Provider of teacher professional development
• Website http//ncsciencefair.org/

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Introductions, cont.

• Sponsored by Biogen Idec Foundation
• The Biogen Idec Foundations mission is to
  improve the quality of peoples lives and
  contribute to the vitality of the communities in
  which we operate. The Foundation puts special
  emphasis on innovative ways to promote science
  literacy and encourage young people to consider
  science careers. The Foundation focuses on STEM
  education initiatives and is committed to
  sparking a passion for science and discovery,
  supporting innovative initiatives, and
  strengthening efforts to make science accessible
  to diverse populations.
• Our host
• Participants tell us about you
• Name
• School
• Grade level
• What do you want to learn about today?

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Desired Outcomes
Guiding Student Research p 57

• By the end of this session, participants will
  have a(n)
• Understanding of the research process
• Understanding of effective strategies and
  processes to engage students in STEM related
  research
• Understanding of the process required to
  participate in the NC Science and Engineering
  Fair including forms and ISEF rules for the
  Regional and State fairs
• Understanding of the why and how ensuring
  adherence to safety and research standards
• Understanding of the NCSEF website resources for
  students, teachers, parents and community members

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Consensogram Questions

• Please go the charts and use one of your dots to
  respond to each question or statement
• Place your dot on a horizontal line

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What do you think of when you think of a Science
Fair?
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Todays students investigate NEW PROBLEMS and
New Solutions
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Why should students participate in an independent
research project?

• Experience the excitement of inquiry-based
  science
• Teaches a student how scientists approach a
  problem and seek answers
• Teaches lifelong learning skills, organization,
  and time management
• Allows personal development as students become
  experts in their field of investigation

• Encourages students to pursue their natural
  curiosity and questions that they are interested
  in answering!
• Helps you to comply with the Next Generation
  Science Standards

Video Science Fair A journey
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Why should teachers have this as part of their
curriculum?

• Allows students to INTEGRATE SCIENCE ACROSS
  CURRICULA and provides skills to students
• Reading writing in content areas
• Math analysis of data, graphing, charts
• Computer skills in presentation, graphs, text
• Interpretation of scientific data
• Increase science literacy, student interest in
  science, and motivation to pursue scientific
  careers
• Learn real world skills
• New K-12 Next Generation Science Standards states
  that science education should be built around
  Scientific and Engineering Practices

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Types of projectsScientific Thought vs
Engineering Goals
Guiding Student Research p 67
Engineering the application of science to the
optimum conversion of the resources of nature to
the uses of humankind. creative application of
scientific principles to design or develop
structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing
processes, or works utilizing them singly or in
combination or to construct or operate the same
with full cognizance of their design or to
forecast their behavior under specific operating
conditions all as respects an intended function,
economics of operation and safety to life and
property.
Science any system of knowledge that is
concerned with the physical world and its
phenomena and that entails unbiased observations
and systematic experimentation. In general, a
science involves a pursuit of knowledge covering
general truths or the operations of fundamental
laws.
Definitions provided by Encyclopedia Britannica
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How is Research Done?The Inquiry Cycle
4 Test Discover
3 Experimental Design
5 Student Analysis Dissemination
2 Develop Testable Question
1 Student Curiosity Interest
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Engineering Design Cycle
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Comparison of the Methods
The Scientific Method The Engineering Process
State your question Define a need
Do background research Do background research
Formulate your hypothesis, identify variables Establish design criteria
Design experiment, establish procedure Prepare preliminary designs
Test your hypothesis by doing an experiment Build and test a prototype
Analyze your results draw conclusions Test redesign as necessary
Present results Present results
Sciencebuddies.org
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The Process for Teachers
Guiding Student Research Ch 4 p 68-72

• Set a Time Line
• Plan time for each portion of the research
• Sample timeline on ScienceBuddies
• Set up schedule for review of research plans
  prior to experimentation
• Develop time line for designing experiment and
  methods, experimentation, and analysis.
• Reserve time for putting together paper or
  project board
• Look at schedule for school and higher level
  competitions
• Think backwards State Fair is the end of March,
  Regional Fairs are late January/February (Region
  7 is in December)

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Transferring Student Work to Graded Assessment
Guiding Student Research p 77 and 85-89

• Each portion is assessed separately, not looking
  at the final complete project for the next
  Einstein
• As we will model today, each portion is reviewed
  for how well students follow the science and
  engineering process
• Teachers can provide feedback throughout the
  process and encourage students critical and
  creative thinking
• Rubrics for grading each portion can be found in
  sciencebuddies.org

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The Process for Teachers
Guiding Student Research Ch 4 p 68-72

• Set a Time Line
• Get Parental Support
• Educate parents concerning students projects
• NOT parents projects!
• Provide information as to scientific
  investigation
• NOT cookbook lab
• Stress support roles of parents
• Request volunteers for mentoring and science
  competitions
• Guide students through the process
• Have students present work Science and
  Engineering Fair

What have you found to be most effective for
recruiting?
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The Process for Students
Guiding Student Research Ch 4 p 68-72

1. Think about what interests them, their own real
   world problems
2. Start Journal on Research
3. Topic Selection
4. Background Research
5. Develop Questions
6. Develop a Research Plan
7. Experiment
8. Write
9. Display
10. Present Research

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Developing the Project
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Resources for getting started

• Visit the NC Science and Engineering Fair Web
  Site
• http//www.ncsciencefair.org/
• Use online guides
• Intel ISEF Science Project Planner
• http//www.societyforscience.org/isef/participate
• Science Buddies (Project Ideas, Project Guide,
  Ask an Expert, and Resources)
• http//www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/science-pr
  ojects.shtml

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Getting Students onboard
Guiding Student Research Ch 3

• Use students interest
• Allow them to be the experts
• Dont be limited by your own knowledge and keep
  an open mind to their ideas

• Research is formalized curiosity, It is poking
  and prying with a purpose
• - Zora Neale Hurston, in Dust Tracks on a Road,
  1942

With your neighbors take 5 minutes to come up
with 3 strategies to engage your students
Developing embryo movie
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Picking the topic
the Most Difficult Part

• Topic (noun)
• a subject of conversation or discussion to
  provide a topic for discussion.
• the subject or theme of a discourse or of one of
  its parts.
• Rhetoric, Logic. a general field of
  considerations from which arguments can be drawn.
  
• Should come from something of great INTEREST
• Hobby or topic they know something about
• Encourage students to think about their
  environment/their life
• Real world applications/something in the news
• One to two words
• Begin keeping your journal/research log!
• Good resource is the Topic Wizard on
  www.sciencebuddies.org

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You get to design a project

• In groups of 3-4 you will come up with a TOPIC,
  develop a TESTABLE QUESTION, create a RESEARCH
  PLAN and determine how to PRESENT YOUR DATA
• First, explore your interests and pick a topic
• Each of you do the Topic Wizard on
  www.sciencebuddies.org
• This should give ideas, not a project (your
  students can use the project suggestions as
  background information

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Form your groups

• Based on the topic wizard go stand under the sign
  that best fits your discipline
• Break into groups of 3-4 with those of similar
  interest and pick a topic for your research
  (REMEMBER it should only be 1-2 words)

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Background Research

• General information about your problem that might
  include
• Definition and/or explanation of the topic or
  problem
• Definition and/or explanation of terms found in
  the problem
• Information about topics that relate to the
  problem
• Explanation of why it is important to know about
  this problem
• While students are doing their research they are
  looking for questions that they would like to
  answer

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Conducting background research

• Resources
• Use internet - but look at sites, should look
  for .edu or .gov
• NOT ALL INFORMATION ON THE WEB IS CORRECT!
• Try using Googlescholar.com for journals
• Use libraries local resources and at NC State
  (as well as community and other colleges and
  universities)
• Talk to experts in the field - local and distant
  (NC State, Science Buddies, etc.)
• Create a bibliography of your sources
• At least 3 for elementary and 5 for Junior and
  Senior

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Organize the information from the background
research

• Look at what you have learned
• Think of questions that were not answered
• Narrow your focus for your topic to a particular
  idea
• Develop the testable question!

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Creating a Testable Question

• Based on background research
• A scientific question usually starts with How,
  What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where
• Design a "fair test" that requires you to change
  only one factor (variable) and keep all other
  conditions the same
• If you cannot design a fair test, then you should
  change your question
• Your science fair project question should involve
  factors or traits that you can easily measure
  using a number. Or, factors or traits that are
  easily identified.

• Question must answer
• topic
• what is being changed/tested
• what is being measured

From Science Buddies
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Create your testable questions
Topic to Experiment worksheet (PDF in the files
provided)

• This worksheet allows you to use your background
  research to guide you in developing your question
• Remember your question must answer
• What is your topic
• What is being changed/tested
• What is being measured

plants
plants
Soil Food Light Temperature Water
plants
Grow Flower
types of water
Filtered Rain Tap
Take 15 minutes to develop your testable question
using this worksheet Once your group has your
question, write it on the big pieces of paper
flowering
Time it takes to flower
Does filtered water, tap water or rain water
help plants flower faster?
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• Developing the Research Plan

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Developing authentic Inquiry
Guiding Student Research Ch 3 p 58

• Generating research questions
• Selecting variables
• Developing simple controls
• Developing relatively complex controls
• Making multiple observations
• Observing intervening variables
• Using analog models

• Simple transformation of observations
• Complex transformation of observations
• Developing theories and mechanisms
• Multiple studies of the same type
• Multiple studies of different types
• Studying expert research reports

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Things to think about

• Is this original?
• Is this doable?
• Materials
• Location
• Home
• School
• University
• Laboratory
• Industrial Setting
• Medical Center
• Field
• Mentor
• Adult sponsor
• Scientist
• Local experts

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NCSEF website has a section on Doing a Science
Fair Project

• http//ncsciencefair.org/index.php/students-a-pare
  nts/doing-a-science-fair-project
• Includes
• Before you Start your Project
• Selecting a Science Project
• What is the Scientific Method?
• Planning and Conducting the Investigation
• Online Resources

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Developing a Research Plan

• Question being addressed the testable
  question
• Hypothesis/Problem/Goal
• Description in detail of method/procedures
• Written in future tense (BEFORE experimentation)
• Fluid process that may require rewriting
• What type of data you are planning to collect
  (what is being measured)
• Need to have controls and document factors that
  influence experiment
• Be sure to have large enough numbers to be valid
• Need to have limited variables so that you know
  what is changing and why
• How will you analyze the data that you collect

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Develop a research plan to investigate YOUR
testable question

• In groups create a basic research plan
• On your large paper write down
• Location of experimentation
• Materials needed (the main ones)
• Basic timeline (how long will you conduct the
  experiment)
• Do you need a mentor/scientist?
• Type of data you plan to collect

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Rules and Regulations

• We follow the rules put forth by ISEF
• Can find the complete rules as a PDF in your
  workshop folder
• Why?
• Protects students
• Protects you
• Raises the expectations for quality work
• Gets scientists involved in your school
• Allows students to compete at higher levels
• Develops understanding of how science is
  regulated in U.S.

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Does your project follow the rules?

• ISEF rules wizard can be useful to determine
  forms needed
• http//apps.societyforscience.org/isef/students/wi
  zard/index.asp

In your group, take 5 minutes to do the wizard
for your project
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The commonly missed form Form 3 (Risk
Assessment

• Any devices or compounds that are regulated by
  ANY agency (local, state, or federal) requiring
  the signature of a licensed individual (i.e.
  pharmacist, doctor) or introduce a risk above
  and beyond that encountered in the students
  everyday life.

If in doubt, fill it out!!!

• Radiation
• Hazardous Devices (dad may be a carpenter,
  student is not, therefore power tools are
  hazardous)
• Fire
• Boiling water

• DEA Controlled Substances
• Prescription Drugs
• Alcohol Tobacco
• Firearms (including bows) Explosives
• Hazardous Chemicals if label has a warning on
  the use, then consider it hazardous

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Who enforces these rules? Everyone!

• Committees can be established at ALL levels to
  review projects
• Scientific Review Committee (SRC)
• Some before but ALL projects just prior to
  competition
• Membership must include
• a biomedical scientist (Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M.,
  D.D.S., D.O.)
• an educator
• one other member
• Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Must review all projects involving humans for
  physical and psychological risk BEFORE
  experimentation.
• Must have 3 people (one in each category)
• Educator
• School administrator
• Someone qualified to review physical and
  psychological risk nurse, doctor, licensed
  counselor, licensed social worker

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Questions?

• Email your Regional Director
• Email NC State level SRC through website
• src_at_ncsciencefair.org
• The question will be reviewed and answered by
  several SRC members
• We encourage questions even if this is PRIOR to
  experimentation
• ISEF SRC is helpful
• If we cant answer the question we will forward
  it to ISEF

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What do they check?

• No microorganisms for elementary students
• No home culturing of microorganisms
• Extra forms, if needed use checklist
• Research plan
• Does plan match checklist and abstract?
• Bibliographies 3 for elementary and 5 for
  Junior and Senior projects
• Acceptable risk differs better safe than sorry
• Disposal plan for chemicals and microorganisms
• Final project did it follow the research plan?
• Plan reviewed and approved before experimentation

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What are ISEF Forms

• Requiring ISEF Forms protects students and
  school.
• Forms must be reviewed BEFORE Experimentation
• http//ncsciencefair.org/index.php/students-a-pare
  nts/forms
• Local fairs can save paper by using an online
  system for Forms 1, 1A and 1B. Research plans,
  abstracts, and other forms need to be in hard
  copy.
• Students who win and go on to the next level will
  need hard copies of all forms.

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Forms required for all projects
A Research Plan is required that must incorporate
all of the relevant topics listed in the Research
Plan Instructions. An Abstract on the official
form must be submitted.
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Setting up an Online Research Documentation for
Schools

• Google doc http//tinyurl.com/pytm8ys
• Allows the teacher to have a spreadsheet with all
  student information with approvals from parents.
• Allows the documentation of approvals without
  blowing your paper budget!

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• Conducting Research, Writing the Results,
• and Presenting

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Begin the experiment
Guiding Student Research p 90-91 about notebook

• Keep detailed notes of every step and experiment
  in your journal/research log.
• Use data tables or charts as you proceed to help
  you see trends in data.
• Have quantitative data, but also record
  observational data.

Resource Guidelines for keeping a laboratory
notebook (http//www.ruf.rice.edu/bioslabs/tools/
notebook/notebook.html)
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Analyze Results

• After experiments, examine and organize findings
• Use graphs to show data
• Identify patterns in data
• Look for experimental error and where they could
  occur
• Look at statistical relationships in data

Bring in the MATH!!!
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Presenting Data

• Schematics, illustrations, and flow charts are
  effective means of explaining how an experiment
  was conducted or the design concepts for an
  engineering project.
• Tables are a format for presenting raw data or
  statistical summaries of data
• Graphs are used to visually represent data, be
  sure to choose the proper type of graph
• Photographs are particularly useful for depicting
  an experimental setup, or examples of what
  results actually looked like.

In your groups, take 2 minutes to determine how
you would present your findings
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Determining the best way

• In competitions students will be judged by
  scientists and engineers working in the field of
  study thus they will expect to see data displayed
  in an appropriate manner
• How to decide?
• Refer back to the background research and how
  that data was presented
• http//www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-project
  s/top_science-fair_data_presentation_tips.shtml
  gives a table of top journals in various fields
  and links to their style guides

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Draw Conclusions

• Did the variables that you tested show or cause a
  change?
• Were you able to see relationships?
• Did you collect enough data?
• Was your hypothesis supported?
• How did your data fit previous information that
  you found in your background research?
• What are practical applications or inferences
  that you can make?
• How would you change the experiment or future
  research area?

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Why have students present their findings?

• Good preparation for college and business
• Opportunity to compete
• Gives students insight into careers
• Builds confidence
• Increases organizational skills

• Enhances process skills
• Improves writing skills
• May be interdisciplinary
• Requires creativity
• Improves visual/spatial thinking skills
• Improves communication skills

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Ways to present findings
Guiding Student Research p 158-162 and 181

• Prepare an Abstract
• Written after experimentation and includes
• purpose of the experiment
• procedure
• data
• conclusions
• Ways to present findings
• Written paper
• Contains Title, Abstract, Introduction, Materials
  and Methods, Results, Discussion and Works Cited
• Resource http//umech.mit.edu/freeman/6.021J/2000
  /writing.pdf

Bring in the ENGLISH!!!
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Ways to present findings
Guiding Student Research p 158-162 and 181

• Ways to present findings (cont.)
• Oral presentation
• Prepare your material so that it tells a story
  logically
• Subject title, authors, acknowledgements
• Introduction/overview
• Method/approach
• Results/information/analysis
• Conclusion/summary
• Use examples, anecdotes, and significant details
• Create continuity so that your slides flow
  smoothly
• Guide the audience through your story

Resource http//www.ldeo.columbia.edu/martins/se
n_sem/sci_talk/Scientific_talk.ppt
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Ways to present findings
Guiding Student Research p 158-162 and 181

• Ways to present findings (cont.)
• Poster Presentation
• Review rules for display and safety
• Provide data notebook and research paper
• Board should have
• Title
• Background
• Hypothesis/Problem
• Experiment
• Results
• Conclusions
• Discussion/Future Directions
• Abstract (on table)
• Use more photographs instead of stuff!

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Break timeNext up Coordinating a Science
Fair and Science Competitions
We are done with research groups so feel free to
sit someplace new
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• Planning For and Organizing Your Fair
• Basic Overview and Tools

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Too big a job for one person
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You need a Team!

• Major tasks
• Scheduling/Facilities
• Website
• Guiding student research
• Outreach to feeder fairs
• Registration
• SRC/IRB
• Fair Finances

• Set-up/Display and Safety
• Judging
• Awards
• Refreshments
• Publicity
• Sponsors

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Your Team Needs Tools

• Many useful tools on NCSEF and ISEF websites.
• http//ncsciencefair.org/
• http//www.societyforscience.org/isef
• Science Buddies
• http//sciencebuddies.org
• Using the planning document
• Planning your science fair folder in the
  documents you downloaded has helpful documents

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Scheduling your Fair

• Plan backwards from ISEF which is always in May
• 2015 State Science and Engineering Fair will be
  March 27-28
• All paperwork from Regional Fair winners is a
  rolling deadline
• Watch our state web site for dates for regional
  fairs.
• Region 7 will be held in December
• All others held in late January or February
• Fairs feeding Regional fairs should take place 3
  weeks ahead of their regional fair to allow for
  regional fair registration and SRC review
• Check with your regional director and district
  fair coordinator to schedule your fair
  appropriately

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Scheduling your Fair

• Planning Grid Fair timeline it will calculate
  the dates to get things done, you may not need
  all of it depending on your fair and the dates
  are generous to decrease your work
• There is also a word document Checklist for
  local and regional fairs that gives you a
  breakdown of what is needed and descriptions with
  helpful hints

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Venue Set-up

• Rooms needed
• Check in area or table
• Display rooms
• Each student needs a space or table to display
  their project
• should allow projects up to 48 inches wide and 30
  inches deep and 108 inches high (floor to top)
• One room for elementary and split by discipline
  for junior and senior
• Projects need to be protected from unsupervised
  student access
• Judges need a private room for to confer
• Awards ceremony
• Volunteer space

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Display and Safety Check

• These regulations protect your fair
• You may set up different rules for a
  non-competitive category e.g. Demonstrations
• ISEF Rules strictly enforced at Regional and
  State Competitions
• http//www.societyforscience.org/document.doc?id3
  98 p 21
• Display and Safety checklist in folder

Lets practice. Around the room are pictures of
posters. Be the Display and Safety Check
committee and evaluate these projects
Display and Safety checklist
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Judging issues to consider

• Opportunities
• Student interviews are an educational opportunity
  for students.
• Feedback is an educational opportunity for
  students and teachers.
• Constraints
• Number of projects
• Projects in categories
• Number of judges
• Time
• Space

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Recruit Judges

• Need a variety of scientific backgrounds. Be sure
  to look for engineers.
• Sources Parents, Teachers, Community College, Ag
  Extension, Medical/ Veterinary, Professional
  Societies, Military, Award Sponsors

• In groups discuss
• Who could you recruit?
• How have you found judges in the past?
• What are some concerns?

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Train and Orient Judges

• Provide Judges with training materials in
  advance.
• Website Resources
• http//www.ncsciencefair.org/index.php/judges
• http//www.societyforscience.org/page.aspx?pid284
  
• Orient judges day of the fair
• Why and how of judging
• Logistics!!!!
• Provide
• Scoring rubric (s) may be different for
  different awards
• Scoring form
• List of project titles and numbers
• Feedback form

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Judging

• View posters without students
• Read the poster
• Get a feel for their project
• Think about questions you want to ask the student
• Interview students in front of their posters
• They present their project
• Ask probing questions concerning project
• Determine their level of understanding about the
  project
• Help the student learn something from their
  experience
• Rubric
• Decide on award winners

Rubric for scoring
Be an educator and a mentor!
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Sending winners to the next level

• Good Communication is essential!!!!
• With parents
• With next level fair director
• Paperwork needs to be legible and complete to
  avoid delays and possible disqualification.
• Review rules for project and display before
  attending next level of fair.
• Students keep originals of paperwork send
  copies!

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Science and Engineering Regional Fairs Across NC

• NC has 9 regional fairs feeding into the State
  Science and Engineering Fair
• Different local feeder patterns in different
  regions
• Region 3 has two 3A and 3B

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Science Competitions

• Local, Regional, State, and International Science
  Fairs
• Middle School
• Broadcom MASTERS
• 3E Sustainable Future Challenge
• Junior Science Humanities Symposium
• High School
• I-SWEEEP (International Energy, Environment, and
  Engineering)
• GENIUS Olympiad
• Student Academy of Science Competition
• Intel Young Scientists Award (Senior Year)
• NC International Science Challenge
• Siemens Competition

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2014 students

• ISEF
• ADA Foundation
• GoDaddy
• 3 2nd place Grand Awards
• 1 3rd place Grand Awards
• 1 4th place Grand Awards
• Genius Olympiad, Oswego, NY
• 1 Silver Metal
• 1 Bronze Metals

• ISWEEEP
• Gold and Silver in Environment
• Silver and Bronze in Energy
• Broadcom MASTERS (Middle)
• TBD

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NC has attended Intel ISEF since 2004. Our
students have received numerous ISEF Awards

• Two First Place Grand Award winners (2006, 2008)
• Seven Second Place Grand Award winners - 1,500
  (2005, 2009, 2011, 2014)
• Eleven Third Place Grand Award winners - 1,000
  (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)
• Sixteen Fourth Place Grand Award winners - 500
  (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013,
  2014)
• Two 3000 Army Savings Bond Awards and an
  all-expense paid trip to London for the
  International Student Science Summit (2006)
• American Veterinary Award - 1,000
• GE Energy Award - 1st Place - 2,500 (2009)
• American Society for Microbiology 1st Place -
  2,500, 3rd Place - 400

Andrew Miller (now in medical school at UNC
Chapel Hill) after winning an award from GE
And More..
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More ISEF Awards

• ADA Foundation (Dentist) 2nd Award - 1,000
  (2014)
• GoDaddy 1,500 Mobile Application Award (2014)
• Bruno Kessler Award 3 week research trip in
  Italy (2012)
• NASA 3rd Award - 1,000 (2012)
• K. T. Li Foundation Award Participate in the
  Taiwan International Fair (2012)
• Ricoh Sustainable Development Award - 12,500
  (2009)
• Four 3000 Air Force Scholarships (2006, 2008,
  2009, 2011)
• A 300 Scholarship from Sigma Xi for
  Interdisciplinary Team Research (2006)
• An eight week student internship with NOAA (2005)
• Two AVASC Foundation 1st award - 1,000 (2007,
  2008)
• Society for Technical Communication Merit Team
  Award of 100 (2007)
• United Technologies Awards - shares of common
  stock (2009)
• American Geological Society 2nd place - 750
  (2009)
• Association for Women Geoscientists 2nd place -
  150 (2009)

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ISWEEEP International Sustainable World of
Energy, Environment, and Engineering Project
Olympiad (2008 - 2014)

• Gold Award in Senior Energy (2)
• Silver Award in Senior Energy (4)
• Bronze Award in Senior Energy
• Silver Award in Junior Energy (2)
• Gold Award in Senior Environment
• Silver Award in Senior Environment (6)
• Bronze Award in Senior Environment (3)
• Honorable Mention in Senior Environment
• Silver Award in Senior Engineering (2)
• Bronze Award in Senior Engineering
• Honorable Mention in Senior Engineering (2)
• Naval Science Award
• Special Award Infrastructure Corporation
• Special Award Univ. of TX in Molecular Cell
  Biology

• ISWEEEP in Houston, TX

76
Additional Awards

• NC Student is Winner of the U.S. Stockholm Junior
  Water Prize in 2009
• NC Student wins the INTEL Young Scientist Talent
  Search in 2008 for 100,000

77
Share your experiences
78

• Please put a dot on the consensogram for the
  afternoon and
• fill out the Survey and Evaluation on-line
  before you leave today

http//tinyurl.com/obshnte
79
Top Resources

• NC Science and Engineering Fair
  www.ncsciencefair.org
• Science Buddies www.sciencebuddies.org,
  information for students, teachers, and parents
• ISEF Get Started
• http//www.societyforscience.org/isef/participate
• ISEF Rules and Guidelines
• http//www.societyforscience.org/isef/rulesandguid
  elines
• ISEF Rules Wizard http//apps.societyforscience.
  org/isef/students/wizard/index.asp

80
Resources for Science Projects
Guiding Student Research p 147 Grant writing

• Science Buddies www.sciencebuddies.org,
  information for students, teachers, and parents
• Science Project Ideas, information and support
  for Science Fair www.scienceproject.com/
• Science Fair Projects - Project Ideas
  Demonstrations and Instructions
• chemistry.about.com/od/sciencefairprojects/Scienc
  e_Fair_Projects.htm
• ISEF Science Primer http//www.societyforscience
  .org/isef/primer/index.asp
• Agricultural Ideas for Science Fair Projects
• www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideas.htm
• Cool Science Fair Project Ideas and Science Fair
  Projects
• www.sciencepage.org/scifair.htm
• Nexus Research Group - Science Fair Main page
• www.nexusresearchgroup.com/science_fair/sci_fair.
  htm
• Science Projects
• www.infoplease.com/homework/sciprojectsfaq.html
• Research Project Ideas Applying Science to
  Sustainablity
• www.ithaca.edu/faculty/sallen/Sustainability/rese
  arch.html
• Neuroscience For Kids - science fairs
  faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html

81
Extra information
82
Adult roles and Responsibilities
Guiding Student Research p 122-125

• Designated Supervisor
• Important for projects involving vertebrate
  animal hazardous chemicals, activities or
  devices or when a qualified scientist is
  required but cannot directly supervise

• Adult Sponsor
• Oversees project
• Parent, teacher, youth leader, scientist
• Qualified Scientist
• Required for some projects
• Projects involving
• BSL-2 biological agents
• DEA-controlled substances
• human participants (dependent on project) 
• vertebrate animal studies

83
More on Planning the fair
84
Variation in Fair Organization

• State Fair

• Local Fairs

• Only 3rd 12th grades
• Elementary projects not in categories
• Do not allow collections or demonstrations must
  have a research or engineering design goal.
• Individuals or Teams of up to 3 students

• May allow K-2
• May use categories for elementary
• May allow different types of projects but only
  research and engineering projects may compete at
  state level
• May have different rules for number of team
  members but only projects with 1-3 people are
  eligible for state competition

85
NOT Allowed at Project or Booth

• 1) Living organisms, including plants
• 2) Soil, sand, rock, and/or waste samples, even
  if permanently encased in a slab of acrylic
• 3) Taxidermy specimens or parts
• 4) Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals
• 5) Human or animal food
• 6) Human/animal parts or body fluids (for
  example, blood, urine)
• 7) Plant materials (living, dead, or preserved)
  that are in their raw, unprocessed, or
  non-manufactured state (Exception manufactured
  construction materials used in building the
  project or display)
• 8) All chemicals including water (Projects may
  not use water in any form in a demonstration .)
• 9) All hazardous substances or devices for
  example, poisons, drugs, firearms, weapons,
  ammunition, reloading devices, and lasers
• 10-15 see more rules.

86
Display

• Photo/Image credits must be displayed
• Display of photographs other than that of the
  finalist must have a photo release signed by the
  subject, and if under 18 years of age, also by
  the guardian of the subject. Sample consent text
  I consent to the use of visual images (photos,
  videos, etc.) involving my participation/my
  childs participation in this research.

87
More on Judging
88
The Display

• Major purpose is to effectively communicate
• Hypothesis
• Purpose
• Methodology
• Experimental outcomes
• Conclusions
• Clarity and neatness are considered, do not judge
  on artistic presentation and ability

89
Interviewing the student

• One or two judges at a time
• Try to visit every poster but at least 3 judges
  should visit each poster (sticky note system)
• Introduce yourself and put student at ease and
  ask them to explain their project

90
Ask Questions

• Clarify a point
• Determine students understanding of project and
  underlying science
• Why they chose particular procedures, sample
• What might they do differently if they were to
  redo it?
• If continuing, what would be the next step?
• How student learned about procedures, use of
  equipment, concepts involved.

91
Questions to ask

• How did you get interested in this topic?
• What background reading did you do on your topic?
• What challenges did you encounter in designing
  the experiment?
• What did you compare in the experiment?
• How did X and Y compare?

92
Questions to ask

• How did you care for your X?
• What questions do you have now?
• How could you extend your project next year?
• If you could do it over, how would you change
  your project?

93
Make it a positive experience

• Avoid critical remarks.
• Spend 3-5 minutes with every project.
• Avoid discussion with other judges that students
  or parents may overhear.
• Encourage further interest in scientific
  research.

94
Scoring

• In your folder is this sheet as a reference
• Scoring helps you keep track of projects but
  should be used only as a guide to determine
  winners
• Keep track of your top 4-5 projects for
  discussion.

95
Scientific Thought vs Engineering Goals

• Scientific is hypothesis driven and includes
  experimental design and execution to test
  hypothesis
• Engineering involves addressing a
  problem/objective by designing, constructing and
  testing a solution.

96
Individual vs. Team Projects

• The best project should win, whether individual
  or team.
• All members of the team fully involved and
  familiar with all aspects of the project
• Tasks and contributions of each member clearly
  defined
• Final work reflects the coordinated efforts of
  all team members

97
Comparing Projects

• Projects can vary widely in level of complexity
  and sophistication.
• Use of sophisticated equipment, techniques, and
  knowledge should not be given extra credit nor
  should the student be penalized for access to it
• Issue is not tools used but what is done with
  resources available the better science should
  be given the higher rating!
• Students knowledge should be consistent with a
  project and its goals.
• If the project is a Continuation Project, it
  should demonstrate how differs from previous year.

98
YOUR Main Purpose Today

• Encourage student interest in science and
  engineering.
• Deepen student thinking
• Recognize all students
• Choose winners

99
Awards and Awards Ceremony

• Good opportunity for local sponsors
• Cash, trophies, plaques, certificates
• Make sure accounting is transparent and district
  procedures for handling money are followed.
• Awards are done differently at every fair.

100
More SRC/IRB
101
Variation and Safety Standards

• Lots of local and regional variation in how fairs
  work
• Some requirements to increase safety, reduce
  potential liability, and ensure eligibility
• Beyond these requirements variation allows
  flexibility to meet local needs and leads to
  innovation and improvement

102
Recruiting your local SRC

• Educate yourself read the rules
• http//www.societyforscience.org/page.aspx?pid312
  
• Recruit parents, community college, university,
  ag extension, professional society, retired
  professionals.
• Train the team

103
Organize SRC Tasks

• Triage the projects in advance.
• Sort projects by extra forms required.
• Quick review of projects with no extra forms
• Form committees by form
• Become expert in a section of rules
• Use specialists as needed
• IRB for all human subjects projects
• a veterinarian and/or an animal care
  provider/expert with training and/or experience
  in the species being studied for all vertebrate
  animals projects

104
Forms
105

• Studies conducted at a research institution,
  industrial setting or any work site other than
  home, school or field require Form 1C

106
HUMAN SUBJECTS
107
VERTEBRATE ANIMALS
108
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
109
Continuation studies

• Project based on prior research in the same field
  of study
• The continuation aspect should be pointed out in
  the abstract
• Longitudinal studies are permitted
• Multi-year study
• Studies time-based change
• Requires form 7
• Requires submission of previous years abstract
  and research plan