Celebrating+Student+Work+with+a+Virtual+Science+Fair

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=**Celebrating Student Work with a Virtual Science Fair**= //Elementary Sample Unit// toc



Supporting Wiki - http://virtualsciencefair.wikispaces.com

=Class Components=

1 – ** What Makes a Strong Virtual Science Fair Project? **

 * Authors: Benjy Blatman and Kathy Tonnies **
 * Content Teaching Points: Participants will review virtual science fair projects using a sample rubric and notice what makes a strong or weak project and share their findings.
 * Technology Teaching Points: Participants will create a rubric specifically geared toward a virtual science fair project using RubiStar.



Resources: [|RubiStar] [|Timber Ridge School On-line Science Fair] [|Virtual Science Fair] [|Internet Science and Technology Fair]

Authors: Benjy Blatman and Lisa Nielsen
 * Content Teaching Points: Participants will identify the components of the scientific method (Question, Background, Hypothesis, Materials, Plan/Procedure/Method, Observation, Analysis, Conclusion/Results) and discuss how a science notebook might be organized to support a science fair project.
 * Technology Teaching Points: Participants will set up a sample Electronic Science notebook to support their virtual science fair projects. Each notebook will have electronic drawings, diagrams and imported pictures.



Resources: http://sciencenotebooks.org/

This science notebook site provides how tos, real student notebook pages and more. The site is fabulous and the materials are assesible to teachers regardless of which science program they choose though they do have some Foss materials on the site. It also has lessons on developing the notebooks, assessment, templates, etc. etc. This is a great and free site that will be a wonderful resource for the digital/electronic science notebook section.


 * Authors: Christine Mazza, Dona Salvatto, and Dara Sullivan **
 * Content Teaching Points: Participants will look at and analize a variety of relevant and useful information for students to support their research for Science Fair Project topics
 * Technology Teaching Points: Participants will learn how to effectively research and explore online resources that will support students science fair projects throughout their investigation.



Resources: [|Science Fair Project Resource Guide] [|Science Fair Project Ideas,resources and tools] Supporting Wiki -http://virtualsciencefair.wikispaces.com

** Author: Robert McDougall ** > (Note: directions at: http://www.wikispaces.com/help+teachers)
 * Content Teaching Points: Participants will be able to explain and describe the benefit of authentic audience (i.e. students, judges, teachers, parents, and an online community) viewing and discussing one another’s work.
 * Technology Teaching Points: Participants will create a Wikispace account to share science projects, create a class page, and set up accounts for all of their students.



Resources:

** 5-Creating a Virtual Science Fair Project On Your Wiki **
** Author: Robert McDougall **
 * Content Teaching Points: Participants will review the components of a science fair projects and discuss how a science notebook is used to support a science fair project.
 * Technology Teaching Points: Participants will use their Electronic Science notebook entries to create their virtual science fair projects on their Wikis.

Resources

** 6-Enhancing Virtual Science Fair Projects with Wikispaces Widgets **
** Author: Robert McDougall **
 * Content Teaching Points: Participants will discuss and identify ways science fair projects can be enhanced using Widgits.
 * Technology Teaching Points: Participants will look at and use different Widgets that can support and enhance virtual science projects.

Resources:

**7-**** Using Wiki Management Tools to Assess Students Virtual Science Fair Projects **

 * Authors: Benjy Blatman and Christine Mazza **
 * Content Teaching Points: Participants will discuss and identify effective ways to assess and manage classes working on Science Fair Projects. Participants will think about how they can use rubrics to enhance this work.
 * Technology Teaching Points: Participants will discover and use online tools available on wikis including monitoring, discussion, history, notify me, recent changes, and usage statistics.



Resources: [|Wikispaces for teachers]

** Authors: Dona Salvatto and Dara Sullivan **
 * Content Teaching Points: Participants will discuss and identify how to effectively discuss, comment, and judge one another’s Science Fair Projects. Participants will also discuss the appropriate audience to invite to a science fair.
 * Technology Teaching Points: Participants will learn to use the discussion board of the Wikispaces to post comments and feedback. Participants will draft an invitation to an appropriate audience inviting them to view and discuss the virtual science fair either on line or in person.

Resources:

//**Facilitator Notes:**// //You are encouraged to customize the materials to your teaching style.// //Please add your own contact information in the last slide of your PowerPoints before presenting.//