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science
May 31, 2008 22:10:59 GMT -5
Post by apple5 on May 31, 2008 22:10:59 GMT -5
Hi, I am new to this, but I have a question. Science projects, Do the kids ever do their own? I have friends in other school districts that have science fairs. Do we do that here??
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science
Jun 1, 2008 10:44:04 GMT -5
Post by forthekids on Jun 1, 2008 10:44:04 GMT -5
I don't know if you are talking about the elementary or upper schools. On the elementary level, Forest Lake doesn't have a Science Fair I'm not sure about the other elementary schools. I think it would be a great thing for the kids and one of those extras that doesn't cost alot of money.
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science
Jun 4, 2008 22:22:21 GMT -5
Post by hightax on Jun 4, 2008 22:22:21 GMT -5
That would be money well spent
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science
Jun 10, 2008 12:40:38 GMT -5
Post by ProudWP on Jun 10, 2008 12:40:38 GMT -5
Hi. I'm a parent of a WHS student, and I teach courses in research methods in psychology at one of the State Universities on the Island. For a long time, I've lamented two facts: one, that our district doesn't seem to have a forum for students to conduct and exhibit their own research (beyond the one research elective class that may or may not be offered); and two, the fact that kids, in general, often don't know what psychology is until they get to college. I think this lack of earl(ier) exposure to the discipline has promoted a very distorted view of what psychology really is, with the result being that most people think it's all about Freud and Dr. Phil). Psychology is actually the science of behavior, and many psychologists make their living by doing research in this fascinating -- and important, given the state of the world today -- field.
I would love to help develop a program in which faculty members from local colleges could mentor WHS students who would like to conduct a personal research project in some area of science (not just psychology). As a start, I would be happy to spend one morning a week with any students who wanted to do something on a topic in psychology. Importantly, I would do this on a pro bono basis, as it is something that I am expected to do as part of my contractual obligation to the University (and also happens to be something that I feel very strongly about).
I briefly mentioned this idea to Dr. Bonuso in an informal conversation I had with him last Fall, but I didn't pursue it further at the time. Then, in April, I read in Newsday that a Roslyn High School student won a $20,000 !!! scholarship for a piece of research in which she explored the psychological factors that are associated with the use of internet networking sites (like MySpace and FaceBook). The irony of it is that a student of mine had JUST completed a project on the very same topic!! That experience, combined with what the others posting to this board have said, has renewed my interest in the idea once again, and I'd love to know what other parents think about it. Any suggestions/feedback/thoughts/ideas as to whether (and, if so, how) to proceed would be much appreciated.
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science
Jun 10, 2008 23:04:22 GMT -5
Post by apple5 on Jun 10, 2008 23:04:22 GMT -5
ProudWP- Hi I think that you have a great idea. I would vote yes to a class or anything like that. I hope you do pursue it. I think a lot of children would benefit from a class like that.
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science
Jun 11, 2008 6:40:16 GMT -5
Post by ourkids on Jun 11, 2008 6:40:16 GMT -5
proudwp- It sounds like a really great idea. I would contact Dr. Bonuso or Dr. Begley and set up a meeting to discuss it and develop a plan. Good luck!
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science
Jun 11, 2008 6:52:34 GMT -5
Post by forthekids on Jun 11, 2008 6:52:34 GMT -5
Great idea Proudwp. That is a great example of what can be done when a community is willing to work together and think out of the box. As ourkids said, contact Dr. Begley and try and set something up. Thank you for your great idea.
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science
Jun 11, 2008 8:44:26 GMT -5
Post by lilly on Jun 11, 2008 8:44:26 GMT -5
I think it's a good idea also. I would contact Ms. Cathy Cahill (spelling for both?) who is the science department chair to be involved in all conversations.
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science
Jun 13, 2008 15:07:22 GMT -5
Post by ProudWP on Jun 13, 2008 15:07:22 GMT -5
Thanks to those who responded to my post. I'm encouraged by your positive reaction, and appreciate the info re: how to proceed. I will definitely contact Dr. Begley and Ms. Cahill (though I'm thinking it might be a good idea to wait until after the revote...). I'll let you know how it goes!
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science
Jun 13, 2008 21:11:59 GMT -5
Post by taxed2death on Jun 13, 2008 21:11:59 GMT -5
To ProudWP, I think its a great idea and think its inspirational to hear something so positive on this board. I think its very interesting to hear how the particular My Space project that you mentioned is so relatable to our students. It made me think about how so many other "behavioral" projects would be beneficial to not only the students directly involved, but the entire school and community. For instance a study focusing on some of the well known behavior of middle schoolers, and bullying issues, and having those HS students focusing on and addressing behavior that goes on right next door could be very eye opening and change the dynamics in a positive way. Similar to how Rachel's Challenge has touched so many people. Unfortunately the Rachels Challenge program that was available at our Parent Workshop was not implemented throughout the school as it had in other districts. Anyway, my point is that it has tremendous potential by being implemented by someone with your background and passion. I wish you success!
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science
Jun 16, 2008 12:46:13 GMT -5
Post by ProudWP on Jun 16, 2008 12:46:13 GMT -5
taxed2death, Thank you for your encouragement, and for seeing the many potential benefits of having students learn about the principles that guide their behavior and the behavior of those around them. In an earlier "draft" of my original post, I gave some examples of the kinds of things that fall within the domain of psychology that would be of great personal interest to teenagers (but I cut them out because it made my post sound too much like a "hard sell"). But, since you've brought it up... YES... there are many important topics for research in psychology, and bullying is a great example. Students in my classes have done research on "road rage"/aggressive driving, male vs. female perceptions of body image, competitiveness in recreational sports, the effects of multi-tasking on performance, how people with tattoos are perceived by others, and other topics that are not only personally relevant, but also have larger "societal" implications that are important for kids to think about (especially in the highly individualistic and materialistic culture in which we find ourselves today). And, regardless of topic, the research process itself is such an excellent teaching tool that fosters the development of a variety of important skills -- reading skills, communication skills (both written and oral), quantitative reasoning/numeracy skills, and general critical thinking skills, to name just a few. And, at the risk of belaboring the point, being responsible for conducting a long-term research project also helps students learn to be organized, to pay attention to detail, to work independently, to behave with integrity, and to follow through on a task until it's completed. Last, but certainly not least, the final product is a huge source of pride that provides students with tangible evidence of their accomplishment. Did I mention that they have fun doing it, too? I'll be quiet, now, as I see I've let my enthusiasm run a bit amok... but, you can be sure that I will pursue this, and do my best to make it a reality.
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