Encouraging Your Encouraging Your Students to Do Students to Do Independent Independent

ResearchResearch

Presentation Made ByPresentation Made By

Janice G. KaliskiJanice G. KaliskiPresidentPresident

New Hampshire Science and New Hampshire Science and Engineering Exposition AssociationEngineering Exposition Association

Why Get Students Why Get Students Involved in Research? Involved in Research?

What is the solution to the energy crisis? What is the solution to the energy crisis?

The food crisis? The food crisis?

The AIDS crisis?The AIDS crisis?

Research Can Help to Solve Real Research Can Help to Solve Real World ProblemsWorld Problems

Sajed Kamel, a lecturer on sustainability at Sajed Kamel, a lecturer on sustainability at

Brandeis University has developed a solution to Brandeis University has developed a solution to

avoid having to go to war for oil: renewable energy avoid having to go to war for oil: renewable energy

as found in solar electric systems. as found in solar electric systems.

Research Can Help to Solve Real Research Can Help to Solve Real World ProblemsWorld Problems

David Berry saw the potential of ethanol as a possible David Berry saw the potential of ethanol as a possible

solution to the oil crisis but recognized the negative factors solution to the oil crisis but recognized the negative factors

of this choice. He wondered if fermenting corn would lead of this choice. He wondered if fermenting corn would lead

to a byproduct that could be directly converted into fuel? to a byproduct that could be directly converted into fuel?

To determine the answer to his question he created a start-To determine the answer to his question he created a start-

up company, LSup company, LS99

Research Can Help to Solve Real Research Can Help to Solve Real World ProblemsWorld Problems

Is it possible that one of your students may potentially Is it possible that one of your students may potentially

have have anotheranother solution to one of these questions? solution to one of these questions?

If so, what are If so, what are youyou going to do to develop this going to do to develop this

possibility?possibility?

Do the images suggest …Do the images suggest …

Interest? Interest?

Curiosity? Curiosity?

Motivation? Motivation?

““Science is about something other than Science is about something other than

just science. It’s about finding out how just science. It’s about finding out how

things work; why things work the way things work; why things work the way

they do, and why some things stop they do, and why some things stop

working.” working.”

William David Burns, professor

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Harrisburg, PA

Ask Yourself …Ask Yourself …

Do your students use process skills to solve real Do your students use process skills to solve real

world science and engineering problems? world science and engineering problems?

Do they have a chance to test out ideas or to Do they have a chance to test out ideas or to

think outside of the box?think outside of the box?

Ask Yourself …Ask Yourself …

Do your students possess a curiosity? Do your students possess a curiosity?

Is there a question in their minds desiring Is there a question in their minds desiring

an answer? an answer?

The role of the teacher is to provide the The role of the teacher is to provide the

tools needed to carry out the task of tools needed to carry out the task of

independent scientific research. Train independent scientific research. Train

your students to become successful your students to become successful

independent users of the skills taught by independent users of the skills taught by

you.you.

Five Step Plan for Developing Five Step Plan for Developing IIndependent Researchersndependent Researchers

Instructnstruct

Illustratellustrate

Involvenvolve

Improvemprove

Inspire nspire Source: ”The 7 Laws of the Learner,” Bruce

Wilkinson,

Multnomah Press, 1992.

What’s the Process?What’s the Process?

Determine the problem or question they want to answer

Develop a hypothesis - Make an educated guess of the answer

Develop a plan. What steps are needed?

Gather information/do a library/internet search

Develop the experiment. Test the hypothesis/solution

Collect data, make observations, summarize findings

Make presentation of research to class

Save research in electronic portfolio

Move your students in stages from …Move your students in stages from …

““I understand”I understand”

““I’ll keep I’ll keep

going”going”

““I see”I see”

““I’m doing it”I’m doing it”

““I am getting much I am getting much

better at it”better at it”

Questions ??Questions ??