Transcript Click to add title - University of New Mexico

ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS
Why Encourage Students
to Participate?
Karen Kinsman, MS, Director
STEM Education Outreach Programs (UNM)
[email protected]
Agenda
1. So, Why Encourage Students to Participate?
2. Science Fair/Research Challenge
3. Science Olympiad
4. Other Academic Competitions
5. So, What’s Keeping Us From Participating?
6. Be Part of the Solutions!
7. WII-FM: What’s In It For ME??
8. Resources for Teachers
Why Encourage Participation?
• WII-FM
– Better known as “What’s In It For Me?” Students need to know…they
won’t get fully invested in something unless they believe there’s a payoff.
“As a young girl, being involved in Science Olympiad with other girls created an instant support group; together
we discovered that women can succeed in the fields of engineering, math, and science.”
-Vanessa Rogers
Management Consultant, IBM
“I started competing in the science and engineering fair when I was in kindergarten, and continued to
participate in it through my high school years. In high school, I earned the honor to attend and compete at the
International Science & Engineering Fair. Words cannot accurately describe how incredibly rewarding this
experience was for me, but it is definitely one that will forever remain in my memories. Among other things,
participating in the science fair helped build my character and raise my self-esteem, so that I could overcome
shyness and perfect my public speaking skills. (Doing inquiry-based research projects) promotes enthusiasm for
science, helps improve speaking and writing abilities, exposes students to new, fascinating innovations and
ideas in the scientific world, and introduces practical application of the scientific method. Whether students
experience it at the local, regional, state, or even international level, each and every participant gains
something more in his or her life.”
-Krystal Wood, APS Teacher
Monte Vista Elementary
UNM Graduate 2004
Research Challenge (aka…Science Fair)
• The Intel International Science and
Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is the world's
largest pre-college celebration of science.
• Held annually in May, the Intel ISEF brings
together over 1,400 students from 60+
nations to compete for scholarships,
tuition grants, internships, scientific field
trips.
• Grand Prizes: $50,000 college scholarships
and a high-performance computer as well
as a $75,000 grand prize.
• Society for Science & the Public founded
the ISEF in 1950 and is very proud to have
Intel as the title sponsor of this
prestigious, international competition.
Research Challenge (aka…Science Fair)
ISEF
State Research
Challenges
Regional Research
Challenges
Local/School Research Challenges
Regional/State
ISEF Affiliated
“Fairs” Send
Qualifying
Projects
Directly to ISEF
as Finalists.
Erika DeBenedictis
Albuquerque, NM
2009
ISEF Top
Winners Visit
CERN
Science Olympiad…
• The Science Olympiad mission is to improve the
quality of K-12 science education throughout the
region.
• The Science Olympiad Vision to accomplish this
mission is:
– To create a passion for learning science by supporting
elementary and secondary Science Olympiad
tournaments at building, district, county, and regional
levels with an emphasis on teamwork and a
commitment to excellence.
Science Olympiad…
– To improve the quality of K-12 science education throughout
the region to change the way science is perceived and the
way it is taught (with an emphasis on problem solving skills
and hand-on, minds-on constructivist learning practices).
– To celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievement of
both students and teachers in the areas of science and
technology by providing numerous awards during
competition.
– To promote partnerships among community, businesses,
industry, government and education.
– To improve and restructure the way science is taught and
learned by conducting staff development and curriculum
development workshops.
Science Olympiad…
• Team competition
• Many different events in which 1
or more team members compete
• 1st through 3rd place ribbons are
given to winners in each event
• All scores are totaled and the top 3
teams are given grand award
plaques
• About 75% of teams at regionals
will go on to compete at the State
Science Olympiad
• 1 team from each division at the
State Science Olympiad will go on
to compete at the National Science
Olympiad
Other Competitions…
• There are many, many other excellent STEM
related challenges & competitions available to
our students. Here is just a small sample…
• Academic Decathlon/Pentathlon, American
Mathematics Competitions, Destination
ImagiNation, Economics Challenge, FIRST LEGO
League, Junior Engineering Technical Society,
Knowledge Bowl, Math Olympiads, MathCounts,
DECA, FFA, Mathemathics League, Junior
Science/Humanities Symposium, Super Mileage
Challenge, National Science League, The Stock
Market Game, US National Chemistry Olympiad,
Youth Energy Summit, Future City Competition,
RoboRave International, World Scholars Cup…
So, What’s Getting In The Way?
In teams of 2 or 3, spend five minutes brainstorming a list of
barriers/obstacles that keep teachers from sponsoring or coaching
& students from participating in academic competitions.
Be Part of the Solution!
Now, spend a few minutes brainstorming possible solutions to
these barriers/obstacles! What are some potential ways to get
around the barriers?
What IS In It For Students?
•
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Scholarships
• What Can I Learn?
– LOTS of Science, Technology,
Awards
Engineering, Math, History,
Art, Music, Economics,
Recognition
Language & Literature, etc.
– Teamwork
Money
– Public Speaking
Networking
– Problem Solving
– Communication Skills
Confidence
– Leadership Skills
Better Self-Esteem
– Higher Level Thinking
– Collaboration
Broader Skills Base
– Organization
College/Career Prep
– Goal Setting
– Time Management
Gaining a Sense of Direction
– Safe Risk Taking
Resources for Teachers
• Listing w/ contact information can
be found at…
• http://www.synergyexchange.org/Sy
nergy/media/Synergy/2011-2012Reach-for-the-Stars.pdf
• The above is a PDF copy of the Reach for the
Stars catalog of academic competitions/
challenges/programs – many are national and
accessible to schools outside of Minnesota
where the catalog is produced.
Resources for Teachers
• STEM Education Outreach Programs
– Central NM S&E Research Challenge, Central NM Science
Olympiad, Teacher/Student Workshops, Teacher Resource CD
(files available on our website)
– http://stemed.unm.edu (sign up for our Electronic Mailing List
on our homepage)
– (505) 277-4916
– Karen Kinsman, Director; Erin Garcia, Program Specialist Intern;
Liz Maher, Administrative Assistant
• NM Science & Engineering Fair & NM Science
Olympiad
–
–
–
–
(575) 835-5678
Rose Baca, Director
www.nmt.edu/~science/fair
www.nmt.edu/~science/olympiad
2011-2012 TEACHER RESOURCE CD CONTENTS
10 Reasons to Support Student Research
2009-2010 ISEF Forms Flowchart - Spanish
2009-2010 ISEF Rules Overview Handouts
2009-2010 SRC Flowchart
Abstracts - Spanish Explanation
Assignment Not Done FORM
Awesome Science Research Projects
Classroom Lab Safety - Elizabeth Griffin
Classroom Timesavers
Display Boards - Spanish Handout
Ethics in Research Agreement
Experimental Design Worksheets
Form 4 Requirements & Guidelines
Good Abstracts Handout
Gr. 5-8: Inquiry Based Student Research
Projects NM Standards Match
Human Subjects Checklist
2009-2010 ISEF Forms Flowchart - English
2009-2010 ISEF Rules & Forms
2009-2010 Periodic Table
2009-2010 SRC/IRB/IACUC Flowchart
Animal Research Plan Guidelines
Awesome Engineering Projects
Classroom ISEF Forms Checklist-Rubric
Classroom Lab Safety - Karen Wetterhahn
Data Mining Project Checklist
Dr. Foreman - ABQ Journal 5/20/08
Experiment With Science in Your PTA
Firearms, Air/CO2/Pellet/BB/Paint Guns,
Object Launching Devices, Archery
Equipment, Model Rockets, & R/C Aircraft
Project Guidelines
Forming a Local SRC/IRB
Good Abstracts PowerPoint
Gr. 9-12: Inquiry Based Student Research
Projects NM Standards Match
Human Subjects Guidelines
References
• Burke, Robert, “Science Fair Projects – 5 Valuable Benefits For Your Child,”
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Burke; November 8, 2007.
• Helmenstine, Ph.D., Anne Marie, “Why Do A Science Fair Project?”
http://chemistry.about.com/od/sciencefairprojects/f/whydosciproject.htm.
• Mercer Science and Engineering Club Kickoff Meeting, “Participating in a
Science Fair Benefits Students!” June 2004.
• Minnesota State University Mankato, “Benefits of Participating in Science
Fair,” http://www.mnsu.edu/sciencefair/studentparent/benefit.html.
• Ning, Lily T., “Middle School Science Fair,”
http://www.accessexcellence.org/LC/TL/scifair/sfintro.php.
• Ozturk, Mehmet A.; Debelak, Charles, Gifted Child Today, Volume 31 Issue 2
Publication Date: Spring 2008 Page Number(s): 48-53.
• “Report Summary: America’s Pressing Challenge – Building a Stronger
Foundation: A Companion to Science and Engineering Indicators 2006,”
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsb0602.
References
• Science Olympiad Brochure, 5955 Little Pine Lane; Rochester, Michigan
48306; www.soinc.org; 2005
• “Science Olympiad: The Role of Competition in Collaborative Science Inquiry,”
Based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant
No. 0196240; 2000-2003.
• Tieso, Carol L. (University of Connecticut), “Academic Decathlon and
Secondary Students,” NRC/GT 1998 Winter Newsletter.
– http://gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt/newsletter/winter98/wintr984.html
• Toomey, Angelina C.; Telg, Ph.D., Ricky, “Critiquing the Contest: Assessing the
Benefits of a Collegiate Academic Competition,” Research Paper Submission,
University of Florida, 2008.
• Yasar, Senay; Baker, Dale, “The Impact of Involvement in a Science Fair on
Seventh Grade Students,” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the National
Association for Research in Science Teaching, March 2003.