“What Makes a Good Science/Technology Project”

1. “What Makes a Good Science/Technology Project” Derresa Davis-Tobin Ddavis3@schools.nyc.gov 718-935-3694

2. Inquiry Projects • A good science research project is a journey of investigations, discoveries experimentations driven by curiosity. • New knowledge is created or discovered • Students design projects that provide quantitative data that is analyzed and applied • Students are advised that getting the right answer is not the purpose of the project

3. Non- Inquiry Projects • Projects not served by the scientific method • Objectives are different • Criteria to arrive at an answer/solution is different

4. Engineering Projects • Engineers create things that never were - First identify the goals - then the developmental process - evaluate the improvements

5. Engineering projects • Define a need or how can I make this better • Develop or establish the design criteria • Do background research • Prepare preliminary design • Build a test prototype • Retest and redesign • Present results (Taken from INTEL)

6. Computer Science Projects • Involves creating and writing new algorithms to solve a problem or improve an existing algorithm

7. Mathematical Projects • These involve proofs, solving problems or to explain scientific concepts and ideas

8. Theoretical Projects • Involves a thought experiment, development of new theories, and explanations or the design of a mathematical model

9. Inquiry Based Projects • Does not necessarily start with a question but an observation • Information Gathering - read books , magazines or seek professionals in the field - Look for unexplained or unexpected results - keep track of where you get the info ( a notebook is very impt to have)

10. Form a Hypothesis • This should be an if… then…. Statement • Best explained through a controlled experiment - allows the setting of a standard and the changing of only one variable at a time to see how the variable might affect the original condition(standard)

11. Formulate a question • Ask Why,or What if.. • This should form the basis of the title which should be short and summarize what the investigation is all about • It is impt that this question be testable-data can be obtained to find an answer • Answer should not obtained from research

12. Identify the Variables • Based on your gathered information make a guess what types of things affect the study • Dependent and independent variables • --- dependent variable is ---Independent variable

13. Design experiments to test your hypothesis • The control is a neutral “reference point” • Experiments are often done many times to guarantee that what you observe is reproducible or to obtain an average result (data collection)

14. Materials and Procedure • Make a list of materials, cost and prepare them • Do the experiment and record data • If you are not making any measurements you are probably not doing a science project • Record your observation • Keep careful notes and recordings • Analyze data to see if there are patterns in the data • Arrive at conclusions based on empirical evidence from the experiment • Prepare report and exhibit • Review and discuss the findings with peer group • Record new questions that arise

15. Conclusions • Do any calculations from your raw data • Using the trends in your data and observations to come to a conclusion. • If your hypothesis is incorrect what could be the possible answer/problem • Summarize any difficulties or problems you had doing the experiment • Do you need to change the procedure and repeat the expt? • What would you do differently next time • List other things you learned

16. Getting Started • Students need to develop a genuine interest in the topics selected • Research topics. Organize every thing around the topic • Make a time table • Plan,Plan, • Review data