Science, Technology and Reasoning Skills

month day, year

2010 KSTA ConferenceLisa DevillezMarshall County High School

COURSE TITLE: S.T.A.R.S. (Science, Technology, And Reasoning Skills)

• GRADE LEVEL: 9• PRE-REQUISITE: None• ELECTIVE• COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to

provide students with opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in all areas of science. Activities range from research of science-related topics to hands-on inquiry labs to design and building of mechanical/electrical devices. A primary goal of the course is to provide foundational knowledge and skills for students considering careers in science-related fields (for example, research, engineering, medicine, veterinary, and technology).

What that really means…

Our freshmen needed exposure to:• more rigorous coursework• real science

Why would I agree to do this…

• Ulterior motives• Belief in the cause

Unexpected benefits…

• Planning from a new perspective: my basic mandate– ACT Science Reasoning skills– Maintain / motivate an interest in

STEM related careers– Prepare for success in honors and

AP science and math• Greater opportunity to make a

difference

Planning Resources…

• Science Olympiad Events• Young Epidemiology Scholars• High School Courses Developed

by MIT

• Case Studies• PLTW materials• ACT Science Prep materials

In the beginning…• Write It Do It (observation and

data recording skills)• Density (measurement, math,

creativity, teamwork)• Recipe for Invention (research,

reflective writing, presention skills, creativity)

Upping the ante…• Epidemiology (data collection and analysis,

statistics, percents, ratios)– Frequency (Measures in Epidemiology)– Association (TV and Aggressive Acts)– Causation (Disease Outbreak Investigation)

• Long Term Research Project

Upping the ante…• Wind Power(experiment design, data collection

and analysis, electricity and magnetism)

• Long Term Design Project

Making it through the long winter…

• Continuation of epidemiology and wind power projects

• Electric Guitar Building (electricity, sound, design and building skills)

The rewards of Spring…

• Continuation of epidemiology and wind power projects

• Programming robots (digital electronics, computer programming, experiment design)

All along the way…

• ACT Science and Reasoning practice

• Identifying and “filling the gaps”– What I assumed freshmen knew– Using Science Olympiad Events

Looking to the future…

• There’s only one of me.

• Increasing AP Chemistry enrollment

• Improving math performance

Questions &

Discussion