District Administration - October 2011 - (Page 62)

How Are Science Fairs Faring? opportunities that can be transformational for kids.’” A Continuing Tradition in Ohio Administrators at the Hamilton City (Ohio) School District, meanwhile, tell a different story when it comes to school science fairs. Such local competitions have long been built into the formal curriculum for the district’s schools. “It’s a district expectation, and when you set that expectation, you’re going to get results,” says Terry White, Hamilton City’s instructional specialist in science, who adds that required fairs predate his arrival 35 years ago. “We believe it has high value,” says Hamilton City Superintendent Janet Baker, while also acknowledging, “Teachers are pulled in a lot of different directions, but I’m not willing to give up everything to narrowly focus on tests.” The district’s sixth-graders must submit individual projects, as well as a related research paper. Fifth-graders build toward that task by working in teams of four to create their projects, and fourth-graders submit a single entry as an entire class. Honor students at the eighth- and 10thgrade levels—about a third of the population in those classes—also are required to come up with science fair entries. “Part of Last May, students at Malcolm X Elementary School in Washington, D.C., had a hands-on discovery during Siemens Science Day, which partners with Discovery Education. Above, the students and a scientist study the properties of Oobleck, a slimy cross between a liquid and a solid. At the first annual Google Global Science Fair in California, Fort Worth (Texas) student Shree Bose, who was the grand prize winner, is describing her project, AMPK and Cisplatin Resistance, in which she discovered a way to improve ovarian cancer treatment for certain patients. what we like about our science fair is that students need to have discipline to do the projects,” observes Baker. White points out that the curriculum pacing guide for Hamilton City teachers includes a detailed example of an experimental project. He has also created a resource manual and provides mentoring Tips for a Successful Science Fair K12 administrators, looking to encourage quality student projects, can follow these suggestions from various experts: • Lead from the top, suggests Hamilton City (Ohio) School District Superintendent Janet Baker, who continues the tradition of holding district science fairs. “I think the expectations for anything you want done have to start at the board and superintendent level,” Baker suggests. • Look for ways that the skills involved in creating science projects match state standards in science, math and even language arts. (With language arts standards in mind, Hamilton City requires sixth-graders to include a research paper with their mandatory science exhibits.) • Take advantage of the recent push for 21st-century skills, especially critical thinking, collaboration and creativity. “These Cs are embedded in science fair research,” says Dean Gilbert, president of the Los Angeles County regional science fair. • Find local or online volunteer mentors—from companies to higher education institutions—to work with students on their projects, an approach that adds expertise and helps take the entire load off already busy teachers. • Take advantage of free lesson plans available for creating science projects. For example, Disney’s Planet Challenge—for grades 3-8—provides an eight-lesson package aligned with the standards in all 50 states. • Partner with local organizations—from Rotary Clubs and Boys and Girls Clubs to community colleges and hospitals—to exhibit students’ projects as a way of giving their work a higher profile. 62 October 2011 District Administration

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - October 2011

District Administration - October 2011
Contents
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
Transportation Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Building a Blended Learning Program
How Are Science Fairs Fairing?
A New Age for Algebra
Early College High Schools
Changing of the Guard in Florida
CIO News
How Much Computing Power Do You Need?
An Unconventional Approach to 1:1
New Books
Problem/ Solution
Research Center
Product Focus
New Products
Professional Opinion
Going Mobile
Online Edge

District Administration - October 2011