SCIENCE FAIRBrian Beaty Thomasville City Schools

WHY SCIENCE FAIR?•What is the purpose in teaching science in school?

• “Real life” science skills• Teaches the skills that students really

need to be successful thinkers and problem solvers

• Makes learning more concrete for the struggling students

• Provides an outlet for gifted learners

ONE OF BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCES A STUDENT CAN UNDERTAKE• Problem Solving• Learning to plan• Research Skills• Writing Skills• Communication Skills• Interpret and Analyze Data• In depth content knowledge

Bad Science Fair

Projects!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=JMF_Bg61T-QblM&tbnid=DWc9YXJQrabu8M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=https://www.facebook.com/LarryTheCableGuy&ei=llKpUfi9I5bb4AOelICoCA&bvm=bv.47244034,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNG3V_JKbiqWXNXbPa1b3NePqUsp0Q&ust=1370137318313223

GOOD SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS

BUGS AND DRUGS

MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS

•Organizing the assignment •Navigating the forms •Organizing the local fair •Q and A

Today’s Agenda

ORGANIZING THE ASSIGNMENT• Choose a topic• Research and write a

background research report

• Develop a research plan that includes the question/engineering goal and research hypothesis.

• Turn in applicable forms• Begin experimentation

once forms are approved

ORGANIZING THE ASSIGNMENT• Collect and

analyze data• Write Research

Paper and Abstract

• Design backboard and prepare for presentation

CHOOSING A TOPIC• Often the most difficult step.

Students need to Keep the following ideas in mind:• Choose a topic you like and your

parents approve• Narrow topic to a single aspect

and plan your time wisely• Projects need to be as original as

possible

BACKGROUND RESEARCH • Background

information on the topic should be recorded in log books—periodic log checks).• Minimum of 5

sources• Students often

need a handout with examples of proper citations• Background

Research Paper

FORMSMust be

completed before students begin projects.

• 1• 1A and Research

Plan• 1B• Abstract

• Any projects involving humans must be approved by an IRB committee

FORMING AN IRB COMMITTEE• An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a

committee that must evaluate the potential physical and/or psychological risk of research involving humans.

Who makes up the IRB?-consists of a minimum of three members:• an educator, a school administrator, and a

medical expert (often the school nurse)• The student’s adult sponsor or designated

supervisor may not serve on the committee.

USING HUMANS• All projects involving humans must fill out

the human subjects form and get IRB approval.

• Minimal risk does not need test subject parent approval (taking a test, filling out a survey, walking and chewing gum etc.)

• No more than minimal risk exists when the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater than those ordinarily encountered in everyday life or during performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.

MICROBES OR FUNGUS• Need form 6A - Will be filled out by

designated supervisor and signed by SRC chair.

• Any research involving bacteria or fungus must be conducted in a lab with a dedicated supervisor.

VERTEBRATES• Studies using behavioral observations are exempt from

SRC Review.• Scientific Review Committee - include a minimum of

three persons: (1) a biomedical scientist (earned doctoral degree, such as Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., PharmD., or D.O.) , (2) an educator, (3) at least one additional member

• A Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor must directly supervise all research involving vertebrate animals, except for observational studies.

• Additional Forms Required:-Vertebrate Animal Form (5A) -Qualified Scientist Form (2)

APPROVED OR NOT?

FINALLY, STUDENTS MAY BEGIN THEIR RESEARCH• Try to have them ready to experiment by

they end of the fist 9wks• Students growing plants will need to

start earlier• Students will need to keep a bound

journal to record their data

ABSTRACT• Should be completed after

the experiment and on the official abstract forms.

• Make sure students are using the GSEF abstract and not the ISEF.

RESEARCH REPORT – USUALLY DUE BEFORE WINTER BREAK• Culminating project• Use a rubric• Background Research Paper will become

the introduction to the Research Report.• Research Plan will become the

procedures• Presentation of Data (Tables and Graphs)• Discussion• Conclusion• Acknowlegements• Abstract Form

DISPLAY• Log Book• Research

Report• Display• Presentation of Project to

Class

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENTS• Topic• Log Book Check #1• Bibliography• Log Book Check #2• Background

Research Report• Forms• Log Book Check #3• Abstract• Research Report• Display

}}

Due first grading period

Due second grading period

} Due early in the third grading period

NAVIGATING THE FORMSAll Projects• Form 1: Checklist for

Adult Sponsor/Safety Assessment Form

• Form 1A: Student Checklist/Research Plan

• Form 1B: Approval Form

• Abstract

Additional Forms that may be required• Form 1C: Regulated Research

Institutional/Industrial Setting Form• Form 2: Qualified Scientist Form• Form 3: Risk Assessment Form• Form 4: Human Subjects and

Informed Consent Form• Form 5: Vertebrate Animal Form

(5A and 5B)• Form 6A: Potentially Hazardous

Biological Agents Form• Form 6B: Human and Vertebrate

Animal Tissue Form• Form 7: Continuation Projects Form

NAVIGATING THE FORMS• Adult Sponsor (required)– teacher, parent, university professor, or

scientist in whose lab the student is working—must have a solid background in science

– responsible for reviewing research plan for safety issues; must be familiar with rules

• Qualified Scientist (not required)– should possess an earned

doctoral/professional degree in the biological or medical sciences as it relates to the student’s area of research

– can be the adult sponsor

NAVIGATING THE FORMS• The Institutional Review Board (IRB)– Evaluates the potential physical and/or psychological

risk of research involving human subjects. – Required for all projects involving human subjects,

even if only surveys are used.– Composed of

• an educator,• a school administrator (preferably, a principal or vice principal),• and one of the following who is knowledgeable and capable of

evaluating the physical and/or psychological risk involved in a given study: a medical doctor, physician’s assistant, registered nurse, a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed social worker or licensed clinical professional counselor.

NAVIGATING THE FORMS• Be familiar with the rules and refer to

often! – Georgia Science & Engineering Fair (GSEF)

http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/oasp/ga_science_fair/pdfs/GSEF_ISEF_rulebook.pdf)

– International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)

http://www.societyforscience.org/Page.aspx?pid=282

COMMON ISSUES• All approval dates must be before the

date that experimentation begins• No bacteria cultures can be grown at

home (review other special rules)• Any projects that involve tasting

something must have informed consent (signed by parents)

• Research plans must be complete• Incomplete or missing forms

ORGANIZING YOUR LOCAL SCIENCE FAIR

SET A DATE • Check the school calendar and set a date

for the fair. • Be sure the date of your local fair is at

least a week or two before the regional fair deadlines.

• Friday science fairs often work best for judges coming from local technical schools and colleges.

SET A LOCATION• Great spots for science fairs: media

center, gym, cafeteria• Need 1 to 2 days for setting up the

projects, a day for judging and a day for breaking the projects down.

• Make sure space is big enough and safe enough for all of your projects.

• Meet with the school principal for final say on the dates and location of the fair.

ORDERING RIBBONS AND TROPHIES• An often overlooked item• Ribbons are relatively cheap way for

rewarding students for all of their hard work.

• Prepare extra gifts for the top finishers.

GET JUDGES• Letters need to be mailed out

several weeks ahead of time.• Contact local hospitals,

colleges, schools• Make a list of email addresses

and phone numbers for future references.

• Try to avoid using teachers from your school.

LOGISTICS FOR JUDGING PROJECTS

• Develop a rubric that judges will use for the projects.

• How many projects will be judged?

• How many time will the projects be judged?

• Will the projects be set up in categories or grade levels?

• Try not to overload the judges. They may not want to come back!

• Have refreshments and party favors!

INVOLVE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY• Host an open house after the judging• Ask school newspaper and TV

production class to cover the event.• Announce winners at the end of the

judging day and post all ribbon winners in the halls.

• Send in a picture and article for the paper

BENEFITS• GPS, GPS, GPS—Characteristics of Science!• Students will develop skills they will use the rest

of their lives– Research skills– Communication skills– Organization & time management– Creativity

• Students will learn to “talk science” with peers and with other adults (judges)

• Students will have the opportunity to connect with students from across the state

BENEFITS• Opportunities for students– Recognition at local, region, and state fair– Cash, savings bonds, and other prizes– Make connections with university professors

and other professionals from across the state– Free trips (ISEF, National Junior Science &

Humanities Symposium, Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and more)—some include the teacher!

– National Youth Science Camp

BENEFITS• Positives far

outweigh the negatives

• It is OK for students to get help from their teachers, parents, and other professionals– Students who get

“too much” help will be caught at region competition when they are interviewed by the judges

LEARN FROM YESTERDAY, LIVE FOR TODAY, HOPE FOR TOMORROW. THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT TO STOP QUESTIONING.

-Albert Einstein