SCIENCE STAR SEARCH - A workshop for students grades 5 to 12 plus parents and teachers. Thursday, September 11, 2008 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library in downtown Toledo at 325 Michigan St. For information call 419-259-5209.
WHY SHOULD STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SCIENCE DAYS?
*Participation in science days helps students develop basic skills they will use daily throughout their life—to sense and clarify problems that exist, to conduct research, to find creative solutions to problems, and to communicate.
*Participation in science day gives students the opportunity to develop the skills, attitudes, and knowledge that will help them be comfortable and successful in an ever changing scientific, technological society.
*Preparing students for citizen participation in the development of science and technology policy and the utilization of science in everyday life are worthwhile goals often ignored in school curricula, that are achieved through a student research project.
*Science days offer students the opportunity to define a problem and to design an experiment that will attempt to solve or investigate that problem, thus enabling the student to learn through discovery a topic of their own interest.
*Students can win special recognition for achievement, certificates, cash awards and college scholarships.
*Top students can advance to State Science Day.
APPREHENSIVE ABOUT SCIENCE FAIRS?
If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Director, Mark J. Camp at 419-530-2398 or Mark.Camp@utoledo.edu
DO YOUR YOUNG SCIENTISTS NEED IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS?
Another source of Science Project Ideas.
Also use the resources of your local library. Ask a librarian.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
SUGGESTED CALENDAR
Sept-Oct Students do background work and decide on project. Attend Science Star Search at the downtown Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.
Fill out forms necessary for project that need to be approved before research begins . Approval Form (IB) needs your signature. Dependent on project content you may need to sign Risk Assessment Form (3) and/or Human Subjects and Informed Consent Form (4) Have students fill out forms online, print copies, and sign. Before entries are sent in in February you will also have to sign an individual/team registration and Consent and Release Agreement
Oct-Nov Project approved by teacher and/or Local Scientific Review Committee or Institutional Review Board. All forms signed by appropriate people before experimentation begins. Keep the original copies in your files and make two or three copies; one to be sent to NWDSD, one to have at your child's poster display on March 28, 2009, and one for his/her teacher to hold, if requested by the teacher. The only forms in which the original signed copy must be sent in are the Individual/Team Registration Form and the Consent and Release form; keep copies as above.
Oct-Dec After project is approved student should:
Dec-Feb Local fair at school, school district, county, etc.
Volunteer judges are needed for Northwest Ohio District Science Day. If you are interested contact your child's teacher or the Director of NWDSD or register on line by clicking here.
Make certain you sign Individual Registration and/or Team Registration forms and the Consent-Release Agreement. All forms are available here. Remember send copies and keep the originals except for the consent-release agreement; original signed consent-release agreement should be sent to NWDSD.
Make certain checks are made out to Northwest Ohio District Science Day. Fees are $20.00 per participant.
Feb 25, 2009 Deadline for receipt of registrants for NWDSD. These should be superior projects. Teachers must submit a list of judges representing your child's school.
Close to Science Day Students should bring home a flyer on Northwest Ohio District 2 Science Day that has a calendar of the day's events. A map will also be handed out by their teacher. There is also a map on the NWDSD website
Mar 28, 2009 NWDSD at UT
Students should:
Remove project from 1:30-2:30.
Parents should:
Directly after NWDSD
May 9, 2009 State Science Day at OSU
WHAT ABOUT REJUDGING?
A team of two judges will judge each project following Ohio Academy of Science standards. If each judge grants a total score within any one rating category (Superior, Excellent, Good, or Satisfactory), that specific rating (Superior, Excellent, Good, Satisfactory) will be granted to the student and no rejudging is permitted. Rejudging is automatic and is permissible only if all three of the following conditions apply:
a. the judges' final ratings are in different categories,
b. the average of the judges' scores is in the lower category, and
c. if the judges differ in their total points by more than five points.
HOW ARE STUDENTS CHOSEN TO ATTEND STATE SCIENCE DAY?
Each district in the state of Ohio has a quota for students who may participate in State Science Day at the Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. The quota for our district is 122. The procedure for choosing students to fill this quota is:
7. Alternates will be selected via random drawing following the same guidelines as above.
ALL STUDENTS INTENDING TO COMPETE AT STATE SCIENCE DAY MUST ATTEND THE AWARDS CEREMONY OR HAVE SOMEONE, REPRESENTING THEM, ATTEND IN THEIR PLACE. STATE QUALIFIERS WILL BE GIVEN AN ENTRY PACKET AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY AND MUST MAIL THIS IN WITH RESPECTIVE FEES AS INSTRUCTED IN THE PACKET, POSTMARKED BY TUESDAY, APRIL 1st. PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH EACH ENTRY PACKET IMMEDIATELY AS THERE ARE IMPORTANT DEADLINES GIVEN. These need to be filled out on-line, printed, and then sent to SSD. Note that you will need internet access to complete this registration. Contact Director Mark J. Camp at 419-530-2398 or Mark.Camp@utoledo.edu if you have problems.
State Science Day for 2009 will be held at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio on May 9th. For information on State Science Day go to http://statescienceday.osu.edu/ or http://www.ohiosci.org/ssd.htm.
Summary of Parent Responsibilities