scifest – a blueprint for international science fairs intel international science and engineering...
TRANSCRIPT
SciFest – A Blueprint for International Science
Fairs Intel International Science and Engineering FairIntel International Science and Engineering Fair
10-16 May 2009, Reno, Nevada, USA10-16 May 2009, Reno, Nevada, USA
Sheila PorterSciFest National CoordinatorDublin, Ireland
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Educator Academy 2005
Phoenix, Arizona
Team Ireland Educator Academy 2005 – Action Plan
‘Use third-level colleges to host regional science fairs’
“The Intel Educator Academy sparks an idea that leads to the setting up of a network of science fairs in Ireland”
News Report
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Science Fairs – Ireland from 2005 to 2009
No. of science fairs
No. of
projects
No. of
students
2005Rep. of Ireland 1 500 ~ 1000
Northern Ireland
1100 ~ 200
2009Rep. of Ireland 15 ~ 1400 ~ 3000
Northern Ireland
2 ~ 120 ~ 240
From 2 to17 Science fairs
Total600
Total1200
Total1520
Total3240
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
How was this achieved?
A Blueprint for International Science Fairs
SciFest
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
SciFest Action Plan
Action Plan
• To set up local one-day science fairs to be hosted in third-level colleges
• The fairs would be open to all second level students (all entries accepted
and no entry fee)
• Each fair would include a competition and exhibition of projects, a
selection of science talks, science demonstrations in the college’s
laboratories and a prize-giving ceremony
Aims
• To encourage a love of science, technology, engineering and maths
through active, collaborative, inquiry-based learning
• To provide a forum for students at local/regional level to present and
display their scientific investigations
• To act as a feeder fair to national and ISEF affiliated fairs
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
SciFest – A Story of Success
• May 2005 – Educator Academy, Phoenix, Arizona – Team Ireland
Action Plan – ‘Use third-level colleges to host science fairs’
• May 2006 – First SciFest science fair piloted in a Dublin third-level
college
• April 2007 – Government funds full-time coordinator; SciFest launched
nationwide
• May 2007 – Second SciFest takes place in a third-level college in
Dublin
• April/May 2008 – SciFest takes place in 9 third-level colleges
• April/May 2009 – SciFest takes place in 15 third-level colleges
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Critical Success Factors
• Buy-in from Government, industry and education
• Locally based
• Centrally coordinated but workload divided
o One national coordinator
o Website www.scifest.ie
o Local coordinators in each third-level college
• Highly cost effective
o Each third-level college covers the cost of hosting the event in
their own college and canvasses for sponsorship to help cover
running costs
• Easily scalable
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
The SciFest Project
SciFest brings together
1. Students
2. Teachers
3. Third-level Colleges
4. Industry
5. Ministry of Education (MoE)
and Government
SciF
es
t
Knowledge
Economy
Students
Teachers
Third-level Colleges
MoE
Industry
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
1. Students
• develop an interest in science through inquiry and hands-on activities
• grow in confidence by exhibiting in a small student-friendly
environment
• of all abilities and backgrounds are encouraged to participate, lowering
barriers and bringing the talents of diverse populations into the
innovation pipeline
• engage in activities that link science, maths, engineering and
technology (STEM) to their everyday lives and to society
• visit their local third-level college and view the facilities available
(majority of students exhibiting are interested in STEM)
• are encouraged to develop their entry for the following year’s National
Science Fair (affiliated to ISEF)
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
2. Teachers
• online support for teachers – www.scifest.ie:
o science by inquiry module
o additional instructional materials to help teachers implement inquiry-based strategies
o contact database of experienced teachers
•professional development for teachers
O science-by-inquiry shoptalks
SciFest facilitates a community of educators with similar goals and ideals and provides:
Science by
Inquiry Module
•science fair venues where teachers can meet other
teachers and their students can display their investigations
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
3. Third-level Colleges
SciFest
• forms links between second- and third-level education institutions
• encourages students to visit their local third-level college and view the
facilities available
• increases the number taking science at third-level (majority of students
exhibiting are interested in science)
• spreads the cost and workload of organising science fairs
Once SciFest is established each third-level college will canvass
for sponsorship in their own area and be able to sustain their
own fair
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
4. Industry
SciFest• facilitates collaboration with local schools and provides an insight into
educational structures and student standards
• promotes corporate social responsibility and demonstrates leadership
and innovation in education
• enhances industry’s reputation with government and education providers
• demonstrates industry’s commitment to STEM
• strengthens industry’s links with third-level colleges promoting science
and engineering pipeline
• highlights applications of research to students
• promotes a company’s brand among young people / marketing
opportunity
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
5. Ministry of Education (MoE)
SciFest
• is aligned with MoE science curriculum for schools emphasising
hands-on activities and science by inquiry
• promotes research-based and experiential learning
• gets education out of the classroom and into the real world
• gives students different perspectives and understanding relevant to the
workforce – opportunities to develop other skills like time
management, team working, communications skills, project
management, etc.
• supports government strategy to build partnership and understanding
between education and enterprise
Sample SciFest
Programme 9.00 Registration and Set-up
9.45 Opening
10.00 Judging
12.15 Lunch for Competitors and Teachers
13.00 Science Talks – one of:
1. “CSI Dublin - Forensic Science in Ireland”
Liam Fleury, Forensic Science Laboratory
2. “The Origin and Fate of the Universe”
Noel Gorman, ITT Dublin
3. “Bugs – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”
Mary Costello, ITT Dublin
14.00 Science Demonstrations in Laboratories
15.00 Prize-giving Ceremony
15.40 Closing Address
15.40 Take Down Posters
The Website – www.scifest.ie
Links:
SciFest 2009 Media Centre Miscellaneous
Entry Forms National Award Winners 2008 Sponsors and Special Awards
Guidelines for Entrants Photographs and News Reports Project Ideas
Report Book and Presentation Resources
Exhibition Dates and Contacts Student Module Support for Teachers
Discover Sensors Award Science by Inquiry Project Blogger
Website: www.scifest.ie
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Who can enter SciFest?
Project Type• Individual• Group – max. 3 students per group
Project Category• Physical Sciences• Life Sciences• Technology
Age Category• Junior – 1st Year and 2nd Year• Intermediate – 3rd Year and 4th Year• Senior – 5th Year and 6th Year
SciFest is open to all second-level students
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
A Completed Project Must Contain
3. VISUAL DISPLAY
2. ABSTRACT
1. PROJECT REPORT BOOK
• Title Page • Introduction • Background Research• Experimental Methods• Results• Conclusions and Recommendations• Acknowledgements• Appendices• References
Project Report
Is the viscosity of oil affected by temperature?
Jessica DeeMary Jones
St Anne’s SchoolCo Limerick
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Components of a SciFest Science Fair
7. Event Promotion Workshops for teachers, newspaper reports, and event posted on websites, e.g. www.science.ie, www.ista.ie, SciFest website, etc.
1. Organising Committee Third-level college staff – academic, administrative, technical + ‘Active’
Teacher/s
4. JudgesIndustry and other third-level colleges
5. Guest Speaker/s
6. Exhibits and Hands-on ActivitiesVisits to Institute labs, demonstrations, ‘Science on Stage’……..
2. Funding and Sponsorship Many science-based industries are anxious to support science
3. Budget
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
SponsorsPlatinum Key stakeholders Intel Ireland
Irish Government
Level Cost Benefits
Gold €2500/
3,330 USD•Logo on website www.scifest.ie
•In each participating third-level college:oName of company included in the programme oTrophy presented engraved with company nameoCompany representative may present trophy oCompany may provide speaker
Silver €1000/
1,330 USD
• Name of the company in bold font on website
• Name of company included in programme of each participating third-level college
Bronze €200/
266 USD
• Name of the company on the SciFest website and in the programme of at least one third-level college
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
SciFest Expenditure
1. Best Project Award – Intel Ireland
2. Runner-Up Best Project Award – Abbott Ireland
3. Best Communicator Award – BT Ireland
4. Discover Sensors Award Trophy, €100 voucher (€150 for student
group). Laptop for mentoring teacher
2009 – Each third-level college supplied with 4 trophies
One trophy funded by the Discover Sensors Project
Three trophies funded by Nationwide SciFest
Total Cost ~ €3,500/4,670 USD
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Third-Level College Budget
• Exhibition stands:Main expense is hire of exhibition stands
70 stands approx €2,000/2,660 USD
• Prizes:Many prizes awarded – multiples of tokens worth €25/33 USD
Prizes, e.g. robots, donated
•Postage: Three mailings per school 1. Information about science fair 2. Acceptance of entry, display details and programme 3. Follow-up letter
•Lunch:For exhibitors, teachers and judges – optional
•Token thank-you gift for judges: e.g. pen with college logo
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Judging
September 2008
• Compiled database of volunteer judges
• 60 judges from academia and industry on database to date
To improve and standardise judging
• Compiled Judges’ Information Pack containingo Judging at SciFesto Marking Guidelineso Score Sheets
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
SciFest Links to Cool Technology
• Design and Discovery International – Project-based pre-
engineering module designed by Intel Ireland for 15 – 16
year old students
• Project Blogger - Web space for students to create their
own science blogs and share their experiences in science
with other students
• Discover Sensors – Project which supports the use of
sensor technology in hands-on scientific investigations by
Junior Science students.
• Cutting Edge Technology - lab demonstrations in third
level colleges introduce second level students to cutting
edge technology, research and development
The SciFest Project – A Blueprint for International Science Fairs
Note: Interest from many countries in
adopting the SciFest model
Science by Inquiry
The Classroom
National Science
FairIRELAND
ISEF
Discover Sensors Project
Project Blogger
SCIFESTT
H
I
R
D
L
E
V
E
L
C
O
L
L
E
G
E
S
ROMANIA
EGYPTFRANCE
ITALYETC
SciFest
Highly cost effective and internationally scalable model
Design
&
Discovery
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Does the model work? YesScience Fairs in Ireland 2005 – 2009
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Year
Nu
mb
er
No. of Projects
No. of Students
2005 – 2 Fairs
2009 – 17 Fairs
GO RAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAIBH
THANK YOU!
For further information contact: [email protected]/[email protected]
www.scifest.ie
SciFest
www.scifest.ie
Background material
Abbreviations and website addresses
• SciFest – One-day festival of science hosted in a third-level college (www.scifest.ie)
• BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition – Ireland’s National Science Fair
(www.btyoungscientist.ie)
• Design and Discovery – Project based pre-engineering module designed by Intel
Ireland for 15 – 16 year old students (www.skoool.ie ). Click on Teachers’ tab and then
Engineering
• DSE – Discover Science and Engineering – an integrated national science awareness
programme developed in association with DES, FÁS and Engineers Ireland. Operated by
Forfás (www.discover-science.ie)
• Discover Sensors – DSE project to promote investigations using sensors
(www.discoversensors.ie)
• Project Blogger – A DSE project providing a web space for students to create their own
science blogs (www.projectblogger.ie)
• Department of Education & Science (Ministry of Education (MoE) – (www.education.ie)
Abbreviations and website addresses 2
• SLSS – Second Level Support Service – Department of Education & Science-
supports the professional development of teachers in second level schools
(www.slss.ie)
JSSS – Junior Science Support Service – Department of Education &
Science – offers school based support, staff development programmes,
regional cluster based support and modular courses (www.juniorscience.ie)
• Forfás -National policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology
and innovation. (www.forfas.ie)
• HETAC - Higher Education and Training Award Council – qualifications awarding body
for third-level educational and training institutions outside the university sector. HETAC
also sets and monitors standards at all levels of higher education and training up to
PhD level (www.hetac.ie)
• ISTA – Irish Science Teachers’ Association (www.ista.ie)
• STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Educational Environment – Republic of Ireland3 levels:
Primary: 480,000 pupils
Age level: 5 – 12 years
Duration: Junior infants
8 years Senior infants
Classes 1 – 6
Secondary (Post-primary): 340,000 students
Age level: 12 – 18 years
Duration: Years 1 – 3
6 years Transition Year
Years 5 – 6
Third Level: 138,000 students
2.
3.
1.
Science Fairs – Ireland 2005
• Held in Dublin in January each year. 44 years in existence. Standard very high. ISEF affiliated
• Number of projects entered for preliminary judging
• Maximum of 500 projects accepted each year for exhibition
• Nearly 2/3 of projects not accepted due to lack of exhibition space
• Financial support from MoE and substantial commercial sponsorship
Year
No. of Projects entered for preliminary judging No. of projects accepted for fair
2007
2008
2009
1278
1416
1615
500
500
500
1. Republic of Ireland – BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
Two science fairs – no local or regional fairs
2. Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland Young Scientist Competition/ Seagate Young Innovators (Young Engineers for Britain)
• Held in Belfast in June each year. Standard very high. ISEF affiliated
• Entries, mainly from Northern Ireland but an increasing number of students entering from the Republic
• 2008 Number of entries – 34 science + 65 engineering projects
• Mainly supported commercially
• Regional fair for the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA) CREST (Creativity in
Science and Technology) Awards held in London in February
Third level Colleges are Nationwide
Blanchardstown
Republic of Ireland
Tipperary
Letterkenny
Tralee
Cork
Waterford
Limerick
Galway/Mayo
Sligo
Carlow
Dundalk
Athlone
Northern Ireland
Dublin Tallaght
1. Athlone
2. Belfast
3. Blanchardstown
4. Carlow
5. Cork
6. Derry
7. Dublin
8. Dundalk
9. Galway/Mayo
10. Letterkenny
11. Limerick
12. Sligo
13. Tallaght
14. Tipperary
15. Tralee
16. Waterford
Belfast
DerrySciFest Nationwide 2009
Map of Ireland