SCIENCE RESEARCH AND DESIGN

The fall semester of Science Research and Design requires students to use research skills and the scientific reasoning to complete an independent science project. Emphasis is placed heavily on critical thinking, problem solving, and independent work. Students will develop and give three distinct formal presentations of their work.

FALL SYLLABUS

The fall semester of Science Research and Design requires students to develop research skills and scientific reasoning to complete an independent science experiment. Emphasis is placed heavily on critical thinking, problem solving, and student interdependence. Students will ultimately produce and complete three distinct formal presentations of their work. Student work is evaluated using the principles of project based learning wherein student choice and flexibility is maximized. Students will have many and varied opportunities to submit projects and are responsible to maintain a portfolio of their work. Grades are based on the number high-quality projects students complete, not on the quality of a predetermined number of assignments. All work submitted must meet specific quality standards in order to receive credit. The detailed expectations are published in the Project Resource Manual on Mr. Sumpter’s web site prior to each grading period and are continuously accessible to both students and parents. Students are informed of the precise expectations of each project and can predetermine and attain the grade they desire. Please feel free to contact Mr. Sumpter at 397-3152 (school) or at 666-4931 (home) with any questions.

Initiating Scientific Research (1 st Six-Week Grading Period):

• Applying Basic Concepts of Scientific Research
• Generating Experimental Ideas
• Creating Hypothesis and Null Hypothesis
• Basic Experimental Design
• Principles of Scientific Writing
• Following Proper Scientific Protocols
• Describing Experimental Procedures
• Using Library Resources
• Synthesizing Popular and Peer-Reviewed Research

Active Experimentation (2 nd Six-Week Grading Period):

• Management of Independent Science Projects
• Independent Data Collection
• Drawing Conclusions and Inferences from Data
• Constructing Tables and Graphs
• Displaying Variation in Data
• Determining Statistical Significance
• Communicating Summary Statistics
• Statistical Analysis of Independent Science Projects

Formal Presentations of Scientific Research (3 rd Six-Week Grading Period):

• Written Summarization and Reporting of Findings
• Creating Quality Multimedia Presentations
• Professional Exhibition of Research
• Evaluation of Completed Independent Science Projects
• Peer-Review and Teacher Assessment of Bound Student Experimental Research
• Public Presentation of Completed Independent Science Projects
• Public Display of Student Projects at the Science and Engineering Academy Science Fair
• Determination of Potential Candidates for Regional Science Competitions