ISTF Partnership Presentation

1997-2005 Internet Science and

Technology Fair (ISTF) Program

ISTF Partnership Presentation

To the Citrus County TeachersI apologize for not being able to meet with you

this day, but am committed to supporting any teacher interested in participating in

this year’s competition. Bruce Furino

“It (the ISTF) truly represented doing and learning through

inquiry. The parameters of the investigation narrowed while at the same time great depth of

understanding emerged about technology, engineering, science

concepts, and research.”

(9th grade science teacher)

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF)

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF)

A problem-based, on-line science and technology competition that challenges elementary, middle and high school students to learn how to :

– work as a team to research solutions to problems,

– locate, maintain and analyze information using IT tools,

– adhere to content guidelines based on AAAS standards,

– communicate via e-mail to request technical information

and guidance from scientists and engineers, and

– present research findings using web-based applications.

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF)

The ISTF Competition is entirely web based.

– Students must use the Internet as their primary means to

locate appropriate data, tables, graphs and images.

– They document information obtained using hyperlinks.

– E-mail is the primary means of communication between

students, teachers, parents, technical advisors and

judges.

– Teachers, technical advisors and judges create “My ISTF

Accounts” to track student teams, conduct their activities

and evaluate the program.

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF)

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF) *

The Goals of the ISTF are to:

• inspire students to consider science and engineering

careers and better understand the innovation process, 

• help students develop critical thinking skills and learn to

use information technology tools,

• provide teachers with a tool to incorporate science and

engineering into their classroom, and

• provide practicing professionals at corporations and

federal/state agencies with the means to volunteer their

time and talents on-line.

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF)

The ISTF program schedule is:

• From September until November, students identify local and/or

national problems of interest, form teams to develop their problem

and research solution statements (based on National Critical

Technologies) and are officially enrolled by their teachers.

• From December through February, students locate and begin

communicating with a team technical advisor, conduct research

while adhering to ISTF content guidelines, file “Mid-term” progress

reports and their teacher submits their final project url for judging.

• From March through April, all team members complete final

process evaluations, project websites are judged and awards are

made by the National Medal of Technology at UC Commerce.

EnergyEnergy

Environmental QualityEnvironmental Quality

Information & Information & CommunicationsCommunications

Living SystemsLiving Systems

ManufacturingManufacturing

MaterialsMaterials

TransportationTransportation

National Critical Technology Categories

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF)

Sample NCT Categories and sub-categories:

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY : Student topics will focus on environmental monitoring sensors, biomarkers, waste elimination, soil washing, composting, recovery of spilled oil (or other hazardous substances) or nuclear waste storage or treatment.

MATERIALS: Student topics will focus on light weight structural alloys, ceramic coatings, polymer composites, thin-film materials, semiconductor lasers, road paving, radar-absorbing materials and coatings or high temperature semi-conductors..

LIVING SYSTEMS: Student topics will focus on drug development, mineral extraction, protein sequencing, molecular electronics, bimolecular materials, gene mapping/sequencing, agricultural species modification, AIDS vaccine or tissue engineering.

ISTF: National Critical Technology Categories *

ISTF Content and Format Guidelines

Content Guidelines have been developed for elementary (grades 3-5), middle (grades 6-9) and high (grades 10-12) school teams using national science content standards. Below is the second of three components from the middle school content guidelines.

ISTF Content and Format Guidelines

Format Guidelines have been developed for all student teams.

ISTF Content and Format Guidelines

This is the second year for our ISTF Design Requirement.

ISTF – Re: Sunshine State Standards

Grades 3-5 SC.H.1.2 (3,4,5)

SC.H.3.2 (1,2,3,4)

Grades 6-9 SC.H.1.3 (1,2,6)

SC.H.3.3 (4,5,6,7)

Grades 10-12 SC.H.1.4 (1,2)

SC.H.3.4 (2,3,4,6)

NETS-S 3,4,5,6

• Research if a skin cancer vaccine could be incorporated in sunscreen products.

• Explore the design of an electric aircraft that does not use conventional fuel products.

• Research the potential of a two-chamber engine for helicopters to enable them to reach higher altitudes.

• Explore development of a textile composite using carbon fibers that bullets would not penetrate.

• Research the possible development of a diabetic patch that might replace low dose insulin injections.

• Explore if a underwater turbine could be developed as an alternative energy source.

ISTF - Sample Student Team Project Descriptions

ISTF – 2003-2004 Technical Advisor Participation *

Some Organizations:

Bureau of Land ManagementAgri Business GroupMcCrory Williams Inc

Advanced Transit AssociationNebraska Educational Telecommunications

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

NOAA Office of Global ProgramsCity of Coconut Creek, Florida

Columbus Urban LeagueNASA/MSFC

Southern Illinois University CarbondaleNAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

VEEPL

FSU Geography Education and Technology Program

Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory

The University of the West IndiesH Lee Moffitt Cancer Center

NASA Langley Research CenterGeorgia Tech Research InstituteCalifornia Energy Commission

AgereReliabotics

Curant communicationsTennessee Valley Authority

University of Arizona LearnOnLine, Inc.

City of Oldsmar Fire-Rescue Department

Sample ISTF Final Project

Each final project is presented in a web

site format with facts, figures, graphs

and pictures. All content sources used are documented by

hyperlinks to the

original sources.

Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF)

Critical Thinking Skills Developed by Students(Per their teachers’ evaluations)

Improved Communication Skills 94.4%

Improved Internet Research Skills

72.2%

Improved Problem Solving Skills 77.8%

Developed Science Inquiry Skills 61.1%

Developed Teaming Skills 94.4%

Made aware of the importance of a particular technical field

83.3%

ISTF – HS Final Projects & Skills Developed

The HS student teams analyze

significant amounts of data pertaining to the history, research and scientific impact

of a technology.

They use hyperlinks to

document data obtained from web sources.

They synthesize data and publish their finding for

technical review.

The MS student teams use data from multiple web sources to develop a history of

the technical application, significant

discoveries and milestones.

They too use hyperlinks to

document data obtained from web sources.

They use maps, graphs, pictures and illustrations to present their

findings.

ISTF – Middle Final Projects & Skills Developed

ISTF – Elementary Final Projects & Skills Developed

Elementary student teams incorporate

quotes, data and pictures from news articles,

governmental web sites and from communication

with their technical advisors.

They too use hyperlinks to

document data obtained from web sources.

In the last component, elementary teams are

required to communicate with another expert to evaluate the research they have completed.

Teacher Comments Student Comments

I think it allows students to experience how involved

research is.

Allows students to research and receive a greater understanding

on topics that interest them.

This project allows students to experience science and

technology in a different way than is normally found in the

classroom.

It builds on strong leadership and friendship. It shows

teamwork and how to extend our thinking to a new level.

This project gives my students an excellent opportunity to research world problems,

communicate with experts, and use the internet for presenting

their research.

The overall experience not only gets students more involved

within the scientific community, but it helps them get used to

using the Internet to do research.

ISTF – Developing students’ skills

Teacher Thank You to the ISTF

I thought you would like to know that today our ISTF team is riding in a caravan of seven vehicles to the state capitol to be honored by the governor! In the caravan will be our eight student participants, our principal, our Board of Education president, and our superintendent of schools. The governor is reading a proclamation at 4:30 PM honoring our team. Tonight at 7:30PM the eight fifth graders will present their ISTF entry to the Haddonfield community at our Board of Education meeting. Thank you for creating such a wonderful science-engineering-technology experience and celebration for my students. They are being given the glory that usually only is given to sports teams!

(Elementary Teacher)

Contact InfoInternet Science and Technology Fair

(http://istf.ucf.edu)

Mr. Bruce Furino – (407) 249-7141bfurino@mail.ucf.edu

Office of Special ProgramsUniversity of Central Florida

College of Engineering & Computer Science

ISTF: Partnership Contact Info