New school year, new science fair adventures!

With Fall in the air, students and teachers going back to school, you can bet that the first grumblings about science fair projects will be not far behind! Unfortunately, that is the initial reception that students and teachers give for one of the hallmarks of science education. Granted, there are frustrations that accompany this undertaking, but if it was too easy, everybody could do it!

Science fair projects have been an interest of mine since the early part of my teaching career. Working with students in authentic research led me to pursue and complete (thankfully!) a doctoral program where I explored the students' perspectives of doing a research project. As a result of one of my courses, I developed a web site http://scied.gsu.edu/Students/Bernard/ to assist students and teachers in negotiating through the process of a self-directed research project. And of course this blog is linked to the web site for students to engage each other or teachers to engage each other or students to engage teachers for the purpose of making the experience that much richer and more beneficial to all involved.

I welcome your comments, criticisms, suggestions, frustrations, and questions. I will do my best to assist any of you who may need help. Bon voyage!

Did you 'grow' into your project?

I'm curious about whether or not you all found that you got more into your project as the research went on? For those of you who have been advancing, you're time on the project is getting much longer and, possibly with more things to do (adjustments based on judges comments, your own adjustments you feel make it stronger, etc).

Regardless of whether or not you advanced or not, did the interest on the topic grow, did it stay relatively constant, or did you find that you tired of the topic?

Different things?

Now that the project is behind you, what things would you do differently if you had to do the project over again? For those of you that are continuing with your project at the next level of competition, this might be some of the things that you are adjusting; then again, it just may be something that you'd do entirely differently.

Unique aspects to project work

Ok, most of you know that Kanad's project involved someone (a research scientist) that assisted in the project. Ryan S.'s project involved an area of interest with the Airsoft groups. Trevor's project with the trebuchet hit on a project in which something seems to have been overlooked by the groups who are interested in these medievel weapons.

I've encouraged Trevor and Ryan to 'publish' some of their results, not so much publish the research paper, but a synopsis of what their research found out. There seem to be some ideas that are of interest to the groups that no ones touched on.

Kanad had the unique experience of having a real scientist at his side through this project to bounce ideas off of, get advice, have access to equipment that he might not have been able to secure.

I'd like those guys to comment on that aspect of their projects and I'd like the rest of you to ask question of them, comment back and forth dealing with the publishing of results, mentors, etc.

Scientific method?

Now that you are on the downhill side of this project (the fair is Dec 3/4, right?!), how does this process compare to the standard model of the 'scientific method'? Do you think your project is within those guidelines, do you think that you're approaching things differently, do you even think about that research model as you've been involved in your own projects?

Benefits?

In what way will this research experience benefit you? If there are multiple benefits, list them all. Please mention WHY you find it beneficial.

Most interesting thing I've learned/experienced

What has been the most interesting thing that you've encountered so far in your research? It might have to do with your project, it might have to do with the research process, but whatever it is, explain why it captured your interest.