Embedding Student Research Embedding Student Research Science & Engineering Science & Engineering

Projects in the Science & Projects in the Science & Technology/Engineering Technology/Engineering

CurriculumCurriculum

Presented by Bill RigneyPresented by Bill Rigney

Marlborough High SchoolMarlborough High SchoolMarlborough, MassachusettsMarlborough, Massachusetts

Intel ISEF Intel ISEF Educator Educator AcademyAcademy

Los Los Angeles, Angeles, California California May 11, May 11,

20112011

Shop Talk Overview

• School District Information• Science and Engineering Fair

Participation at Marlborough• Marlborough Way & Teacher

Commitment• Osmosis Lab - Typical Lab/Inquiry

Activity• Overview of 8th Grade Packet• Overview of 9th - 12th Grade Packet

Marlborough Public Schools

• Approximately 4,700 students in the district

• Pre-K program• 3 Elementary Schools, Grades K-3

– 2011-2012 configuration will be K-4

• 1 Grades 4-7 School– 2011-2012 configuration will be 5-8

• 1 High School, Grades 8-12– 2011-2012 configuration will be 9-12

Science & Engineering Fair Participation Grades 10-12, (9-12

since 2009)

No. of

Projects

And

Students

Year

No Record

3141

3559

5575

103149

123178

126 178

117 197

120209

118200

57 94

116184

104126

2000

115146

111143

8th & 9th Grade Science Fair Participation, 8th Grade only since

2010

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

# Projects

# Students

No

Record

Year

No. of

Projects

& Students 60

49

60

807467

86 8996

121...97

No

Fair

6262

6666

6868

The Marlborough Way• Nearly every student completes an

independent project every year they are enrolled in a science course (T/E future)

• Gaining the support of key stakeholders• Answers the question: What should students know and be able to do?• Proving the importance of project work by students–Use the obvious…

Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering High School Standards

• Earth and Space Science, Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, Technology/Engineering–Content Standards–Scientific Inquiry Skills Standards–Steps of the Engineering Design

Process (T/E)

–Mathematical Skills

Scientific Inquiry Skills Standards

• Make observations, raise questions, and formulate hypotheses

• Design and conduct scientific investigations

• Analyze and interpret results of scientific investigations

• Communicate and apply the results of scientific investigations

• http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/scitech/0106standards.doc

21st Century Skills

Global

Awareness

Critical Thinking

Collaboration

Creativity

Communicatio

n

Flexib

ility

Cross-Cultural

Problem Solvi

ng

Problem Solvi

ng

Environmental

Literacy

Innovation

Information Literacy

Lead

ershi

p

Teacher Commitment• Hiring Teachers– Must be committed to project

based work–Hiring recent college graduates

are very knowledgeable about Science Standards

• Supporting the Teachers–Standard format on which to

work–Professional Development–Spread out the Grading

Teacher Commitment (continued)

• Supporting the Teachers (continued)–Working Collegially–Sharing of Best Practices–Finding Mentors–Student Feedback•Likes and dislikes•Time commitment•Access needed materials

–We are ALL in this together

STEM Academy• Marlborough Public Schools will

begin to form a grades 6-12 STEM Academy for the 2011-2012 school year

• A solid 6-9 program that fosters inquiry and project and problem solving curricula with an integrated approach in engineering, science, math, English, and history

• The 10-12 program will feature a number of potential STEM pathways

Confucius ~451 BC

• I hear and I forget

• I see and I remember

• I do and I understand

What is Inquiry?• The student is the center of the

learning.• "Inquiry is an approach to learning

that involves a process of exploring the natural or material world, that leads to asking questions and making discoveries in the search for new understandings."

(http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/inquirydesc.html)

• Inquiry education is where structure meets fluidity, where we can create opportunities for students to be engaged in active learning based on their own questions.The Inquiry Page Workshop on Feb 21, 2001.

http://inquiry.uiuc.edu/

Inquiry Model

Osmosis Activity

Converting the “typical” textbook lab into an inquiry lab activity

Osmosis Activity

• There is lab sheet located in your packet at the end of the PowerPoint slides.

• Please read through the lab and notice the exact directions given. I copied this directly from a biology lab manual.

• Write down two or three observations regarding this lab.

Conversion to Inquiry• There is a need for prior information There is a need for prior information

in order for students to determine in order for students to determine how to proceed using the inquiry how to proceed using the inquiry methodmethod

• Discuss at your table how this lab can become more inquiry based. What can be done?

• Students develop their own procedure• Students create their own table or

sketches for data• Students draw their own conclusions• Other ideas!

Topic SelectionProblem StatementResearch SummaryHypothesisExperiment:

MaterialsProcedure

8th Grade OverviewStudents are given a 29 page packet explaining what needs to be done.

8th Grade Overview

Record and Analyze Data:Data TableGraph

ConclusionCreativityPoster

Oral Presentation

Guidelines for Final Report Notebook Topic Selection Help

Promoting Project Continuation Issues Related to Research

Proper Documentation Organizing and Planning Your Project Statistical Analysis Poster Design Grading and Due Dates

Grades 9-12 Overview

Science & T/E Project Mantra

Remember, this is a process that takes time to develop in a school or district. This is not a sprint! Quick is not always the best way to get things done

You may not get it right the first time, but…

Success follows with persistence AND

assistance!!

I would like to thank the talented & dedicated teachers

of the Marlborough High School

Science Department and Technology/Engineering

Department…who actually do all this stuff!

http://www.mps-edu.org/High

Please visit our website

My email: wrigney@mps-edu.org