1

Science Success: Student Guide

Nicola Simmons©BASEF 2004

2

About This Presentation

Outlines the science fair project process Use it with the “Science Success: Student

Workbook” Further information is at http://basef.

mcmaster.ca

BASEF 2004

3

This presentation will introduce you to:

Choosing a topic and asking a good question Writing a hypothesis or problem statement Planning your procedure or prototype Conducting your experiment, innovation, or

study Organizing & analyzing your results Preparing your written report Presenting your completed work

BASEF 2004

4

In addition, you will get tips on:

Managing your resourcesSafety and ethics guidelinesManaging timelines

BASEF 2004

5

A Good Project!

Starts with a question or problem of interest to you!

Follows the steps as set out in the Student Workbook

BASEF 2004

6

3 Types of Science Fair Projects

Experiment – Start with a question, make a hypothesis, test controlled variables, record & analyze results

Innovation – Design a product or process to solve a particular problem, run trials, record & analyze results

Study – Start with a question, state a hypothesis, observe naturally occurring variables, record & analyze results

BASEF 2004

7

Award Winning Projects

Visit the BASEF site at http://basef.mcmaster.ca

Here you will find: Great photos of winning projects Tips for success Connections to great websites

BASEF 2004

8

Some Terms Subject – what/who is being studied Independent Variable – what you change in order to

measure the results Dependent Variable – what changes as a result of the

changes you impose on the independent variable Controls – conditions that do not change Control group – subjects not exposed to the independent

variable Quantitative observations – can be measured Qualitative observations – can be described

BASEF 2004

9

Choosing a Topic

Think about topics that really interest you – perhaps something you have read recently

Talk to friends about possible topics Check the books in your school library Go online to look at past years’ winning

projects at http://basef.mcmaster.ca

BASEF 2004

10

Asking the Right Question

Common (but not the only!) question formats:

Experiment: “How does _____ affect _____?”

Innovation: “In what way could _____ improve the performance of _____?”

Study: “What type of relationship exists between _____ and _____?”

BASEF 2004

11

Refining the Question

Is the question simple enough to solve? Can I complete the work in time? Can I get the resources and materials? Is the question complex enough to interest me?

BASEF 2004

12

Stating the Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a statement that is an informed guess about the outcome, based on prior knowledge

Hypothesis:“If my dog eats my homework, I will get a detention.”

The hypothesis may turn out to be untrue – but it provides a roadmap for your research and helps focus your thinking.

BASEF 2004

13

Keeping Track of Resources

The student guide gives you: A form to use for resource tracking Suggestions about formatting your reference list

Rule of thumb: At least as many resources as

your grade level From a variety of source typesBASEF 2004

14

Managing the Timelines

When planning, allow extra time for:

Everything! Things take longer than you think Getting materials and resources Things not going according to plan! Ethics approval, if you need it

BASEF 2004

15

Starting a Research Logbook Is considered a ‘must have’ by all scientists and

engineers (and judges!) Helps you keep track of all your ideas Include a summary of successes and failures Allows you to go back to earlier ideas when things

don’t work according to plan Provides a place to write down

your observations and opinions

BASEF 2004

16

Safety & Ethics Guidelines

Protect both you and anyone involved in your work Full guidelines at http://basef.mcmaster.ca List of prohibited substances

(no, you can’t blow things up ) All animal research requires prior approval No vertebrate research except as observations in a

natural setting Must get ethics approval for human subject research

BASEF 2004

17

Planning the Procedure or Building the Prototype

Your plan should be so detailed that another person could use it to repeat your work

Include a detailed materials list Think of your written procedure

as a recipe for your work Refer to page 15 in the Student Workbook

for specifics for each type of projectBASEF 2004

18

Conducting the Experiment or Study, or Building the Prototype

Follow your procedure exactly as written Make careful notes if you make

any changes Record both quantitative and qualitative

observations during the work Take photographs of each stage of work

BASEF 2004

19

Organizing & Analyzing Data

Record results in a chart to show patterns more clearly

Graphing may make trends more obvious Ask critical questions:

What do the results really mean?

What explanations exist for these results?

BASEF 2004

20

Conclusions & Applications

What did your work show? What would happen if you changed a part

of your process? How will this knowledge be useful?

Summarize your work clearly, and tie the conclusions directly to your original question and hypothesis.

BASEF 2004

21

Your Written Report

Communicates! Use it to tell a story about your work

Is clear and logical – someone else could use it to repeat your work

Follows the content list on page 21 of the Student Workbook

BASEF 2004

22

Displaying Your Work

Display should be sturdy and freestanding

Go for bold! 24pt or larger, bright colours

Use graphs and photos to illustrate process and results

Think of your display as a webpage, and your written report as the links

Go to http://basef.mcmaster.ca to view winning projects

BASEF 2004

23

Further information can be found at the BASEF website:

http://basef.mcmaster.caBASEF 2004

24

Good luck on your project!

Remember to go to the Science Success: Student Workbook for details of each stage

The workbook will help you create a winning and rewarding project!

BASEF 2004

25

Acknowledgements  BASEF gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario

Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. The Foundation receives annually $100 million in government funding through Ontario’s charity casino initiative. It provides grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts, culture, sports, recreation, environment and social service sectors.

In addition, BASEF would like to thank Dr. Joseph Engemann, Dr. Stacey Brydges, Dr. Pippa Lock, Angelo Brunetti, Rocco DiSabatino, Martine Fornoville, Gerry Fuchs, Gord Simmons, and Sandy Walker for their feedback during the development of this project.

Author: Nicola SimmonsDesign & Layout: Nicola SimmonsProject Director: Wuchow Than