Presented by Bill Rigney

1. Marlborough High School Marlborough, Massachusetts Embedding Student Research Science & Engineering Projects in the Science & Technology/Engineering Curriculum Intel ISEF Educator Academy Los Angeles, California May 11, 2011 Presented by Bill Rigney

2. 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

3. 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

4. Science & Engineering Fair Participation Grades 10-12, (9-12 since 2009) 120209 118200 117 197 123178 126178 116 184 103149 115 146 111 143 2000 104126 No. of Projects And Students 5794 5575 3559 3141 No Record Year

5. 8th & 9th Grade Science Fair Participation, 8th Grade only since 2010 121...97 96 No. of Projects & Students 86 89 7467 80 66 66 68 68 6262 60 60 49 No Record No Fair Year

6. The Marlborough Way • Nearly every student completes an independent project every year they are enrolled in a science course (T/E future) How and Why do we do this? • 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…

7. 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

8. 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

9. 21st Century Skills Communication Creativity Cross-Cultural Leadership Innovation Environmental Literacy Flexibility Collaboration Critical Thinking Problem Solving Information Literacy Global Awareness

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Confucius ~451 BC • I hear and I forget • I see and I remember • I do and I understand

14. 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.

15. Inquiry Model http://inquiry.uiuc.edu/

16. Osmosis Activity Converting the “typical” textbook lab into an inquiry lab activity

17. 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.

18. Conversion to Inquiry • There is a need for prior information in order for students to determine how to proceed using the inquiry method • 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!

19. 8th Grade Overview Students are given a 29 page packet explaining what needs to be done. Topic Selection Problem Statement Research Summary Hypothesis Experiment: Materials Procedure

20. 8th Grade Overview Record and Analyze Data: Data Table Graph Conclusion Creativity Poster Oral Presentation

21. Grades 9-12 Overview 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

22. 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 Be the Tortoise! You may not get it right the first time, but…

23. Success follows with persistence AND assistance!!

24. 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! Please visit our website http://www.mps-edu.org/High My email: wrigney@mps-edu.org