Independent Study Project

(ISP) 2021

Mr. Beals Honors Science Classes

Science is the process of discovery. Through the Independent Study Project, you will have the opportunity to discover new, exciting aspects of science. You will develop a question about something that interests you, formulate a hypothesis about your question, and ultimately, through experimentation, search for a scientific explanation to your question.

What is the goal?

To change the world!

The Project

The handout Intel ISEF Student Handbook has detailed information about how to develop your project. Choose a topic that aligns with your interests, you will enjoy the project much more if you chose something you like.

Some class time will be available for working on your ISP. Most work will be done outside of class.

Scholarship and Awards

MSUB Science Fair - Countless students have won awards and a few have won scholarships at the ISEF Science Fair at MSUB! Most awards are $20 up to $100 but some scholarships are worth thousands! You will have the opportunity to sign up and see if you can win!

Davidson Fellowship Scholarship- $10,000, $25,000, and $50,000 scholarships available! How to quality - "Do something amazing!" Learn more here: https://www.davidsongifted.org/fellows-scholarship/how-to-apply

Grading

See Science Research and the Process of Science in the student handbook for an explanation of the following requirements.

Testable Question

Think big!

Think of something that interests you! Think of something that you will be proud of when you've completed the study.

Change the world!

This is your chance to do something you never thought you could do! This is NOT a science fair project so don't Google ideas on what to do, this is a project that should be something that matters and interests you.

More data is more better!

As you plan your project, you must be able to gather a TON of data to come to a conclusion. Start early, work hard, don't wait until the last minute. You will need to verify your results with statistics. Take pictures of everything! You never know when you will need them!

Be Inspired!

Need inspiration? Visit TeachMeIn3.org, our website of the three-minute presentations where students showcase their Independent Study Projects.

Be Excited!

Choose something you can get excited about! Your project will be a million times better if you enjoy working on it!

Be Curious!

Choose a limited subject, ask a question; identify or originate/define a problem. It is important that this question be a ‘testable’ question – one in which data is taken and used to find the answer. A testable question can further be identified as one in which one or more variables can be identified and tested to see the impact of that variable on the original set of conditions. The question should not merely be an ‘information’ question where the answer is obtainable through literature research.

Be Original!

Your testable question should not be something that can be answered by a search on the internet - it should be novel and new. Likewise, you may not use any project that has already been outlined on the internet (sciencebuddies.org and similar sites). This is an Independent Study Project that should be specific to your interests and should challenge you to work through the scientific process.

Are you thinking of an engineering project or invention? Read this: **Scientific Method vs Engineering Design Process**

Example Reports from past students:

• Hydrogen Detection using Platinum Nanoparticles - Simonne Clay
• Methylotroph Magic: Bioremediation of Methane - Madisynn Weber
• Wax Worm Release of Ethylene Glycol Waste During Consumption of Polyethylene Plastic - Virginia Montague
• Prosthetic Plant Tissue - Cleo Schied
• Engineering example: The Flying Birdie - Hailey Smith (International Science and Engineering Fair Winner 2018!!)

To earn credit for your "Testable Question", complete the following by the due date:

1. Create a new Google Doc titled: "ISP Firstname Lastname Period? DRAFT"
2. Share the document with bealsc@billingsschools.org
3. Create a heading "Testable Question"
   • Read the "Hints, Tips and Tricks" before you start.
4. Brainstorm and write out a minimum of 5 "I Wonder...." questions.
5. Turn at least 3 of the 5 questions into one of the following
   • Testable Question or
   • Comparative Question or
   • Engineering Solution or
   • Invention
6. **Highlight the testable question you are choosing for this project**

Background Research

Background research is important for a couple of reasons: it allows you to learn about your ISP and it helps you determine if your ISP is creative enough to use as a project. For example, in your research, if you find the answer to your testable question then you will need to develop a new testable question

Research your testable question on the internet or in the library.

To earn credit for your "Background Research", complete the following by the due date:

Create a new heading titled "Background Research"

1. Need 5 sources minimum (MLA reference)

• You CANNOT cite Google as a source. You must cite the actual article or webpage where you found the information.
• One source must be a published scientific paper (minimum)

-How? Go to the library for help or visit https://scholar.google.com/ and search for scientific articles

2. Write a short description of the information you gained from each source directly underneath the MLC citation for that source.

Example:

Staffell, Iain, et al. "The Role of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Global Energy

System." Energy and Environmental Science. Royal Society of Chemistry,

pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/ee/c8ee01157e#!divAbstract.

Accessed 22 Feb. 2019.

This source relates my project to real-world problems in Hydrogen fuel. It talks about the importance of Hydrogen as an energy source and a possible alternative to fossil fuels as energy. It talks about the use of Hydrogen fuel and the potential it has to be a green energy source that does not produce waste.

Hypothesis/Adult Mentor³

Formulate a hypothesis for the outcome of your Testable Question.

Choose an adult who can assist you in the project. This may be a teacher that you can confide in, one of your parents who is willing to assist you with the project, or an uncle who has a deep interest in science and discovery. It is up to you. To get credit for this portion you must bring in a signed note from your mentor stating that they are willing to assist you with this project as well as updating your D2 document:

To earn credit for your "Hypothesis and Adult Mentor", complete the following by the due date:

1. Create a new heading titled "Hypothesis"

• Restate your Testable Question
• Provide your hypothesis (explain)

2. Create a new heading titled "Adult Mentor"

• Adult mentor name
• Relation/Connection to adult mento
• Explain how / when your adult mentor will assist you

3. TURN IN TO TEACHER - On a piece of paper, include the following and turn it into your teacher

(NO CREDIT WILL BE EARNED FOR "ADULT MENTOR" IF THIS NOT TURNED IN ON DUE DATE!):

• Heading
• Your Testable Question
• Your Adult Mentor's Name
• Relation/Connection to Adult Mentor
• Signature from Adult Mentor

Experiment Design

This section describes and outlines the procedure you used to collect data and find an answer to your testable question. This should be a very detailed list of materials and methods. Just pretend that I want to redo this experiment exactly the same way you have performed it and write out every detail so that I could easily replicate it.

----------

From the ISEF Student Handbook: Plan Your Experiment: Give careful thought to experimental design. Once you have a feasible project idea, write a research plan. This plan should explain how you will do your experiments and exactly what will be involved. Remember you must design your experiment so that it is a ‘controlled’ experiment. This is one in which only one variable is changed at a time. The results are then compared to the ‘standard’ data you take originally before you change that one variable. Thus, you have designed an investigation with adequate control and limited variables to investigate a question. Also, in your experimental design, make sure you include sufficient numbers in both controls (if applicable) and experimental groups to be statistically valid. The experimental design should also include a list of materials. Once finished with the experimental design (called ‘procedure’) all students are required to fill out the appropriate forms.

Consult with Your Adult Sponsor and Get Approvals: You are required to discuss your research plan with an Adult Sponsor and obtain a signature of approval. In reviewing your research plan, you should determine if additional forms and prior approval are needed.

Conduct Your Experiment: During experimentation, keep detailed notes of each and every experiment, measurement, and observation in a logbook. Do not rely on memory. Besides, judges love logbooks! Use data tables or charts to record your quantitative data.

----------

To earn credit for your "Experiment Design", complete the following by the due date:

Create a new heading titled "Experiment Design"

• Restate your Testable Question
• List of materials needed to perform the experiment
• Detailed list of the procedure of experiment (this should have every detail so that I could replicate your project exactly by following your procedure; don’t leave anything out!)

Experiment Checkups

**Note: There are two Experiment Checkup DUE DATES, refer to schedule above**

**Your experiment should be well underway at each Checkup. Post the following to share your progress with the class.

To earn credit for your "Experiment Checkup(s)", complete the following by the due date:

Create a new heading "Experiment Checkup #1" (See due date above)

• Restate your Testable Question
• Post a minimum of 1 of multimedia showing your progress
  • This can be a picture, video or sound file
• Write a detailed explanation of your progress thus far.
• Write a detailed explanation outlining what you still need to complete and a timeline (including dates) showing when you will complete the unfinished portions of your experiment/engineering solution.

Create a new heading "Experiment Checkup #2" (See due date above)

• Restate your Testable Question
• Post a minimum of 1 of multimedia showing your progress
  • This can be a picture, video, or sound file
• Write a detailed explanation of your progress thus far.
• Write a detailed explanation outlining what you still need to complete and a timeline (including dates) showing when you will complete the unfinished portions of your experiment/engineering solution.
• Statistical Analysis of Data (or an explanation of what statistical analyses you will use)
• Need help with Stats? Check with your math teacher or start with the resources below:
  • Using Excel (or Google Sheets) for Average, Median, Mode
  • T-Test: Calculating averages of different groups then comparing the averages of those groups
  • Chi-Square Test: Is there a relationship between two variable (does hair color affect GPA?)

ISP Report

Your report will be graded using this rubric: Rubric for grading

1. Start a new Google doc titled "Firstname Lastname ISP Report FINAL"
2. Share it with bealsc@billingsschools.org (can edit). You will submit a digital copy (by sharing it in Google docs) and a printed copy.
3. Final report must be printed and turned in at the beginning of class on the due date
4. MLA Format. In-text citations.
5. Include a heading for each section (ex. "Introduction" with your intro written below the heading.)
6. The format for your report is shown below - complete all parts by the due date.

Title Page

• Title of your Independent Study Project
• Name / Class Period
• Table of Contents

Introduction

• The introduction sets the scene for your report. The introduction includes the purpose, your hypothesis, problem, or engineering goals. Include an explanation of what prompted your research and what you hoped to achieve by choosing the project.

Materials and Methods

• Describe, in detail, the methodology you used to collect data, make observations, build your design apparatus, etc. Your materials and methods should be detailed enough that someone would be able to repeat your experiment from the information in this section. Include detailed photographs or drawings of self-designed equipment.

Results

• The results section is for data. This should include statistics, graphs, and/or pages with your data. You may need to put raw data (your large data sets), extra pictures, or other extensive information in your "Appendix" (see below).
• You must include a statistical analysis of your data to confirm whether or not it is valid or conclusive.
• You must include the sample size in this section - without it, your results are inconclusive (remember, "More data is more better!").

Discussion:

• This is the essence of your paper and is your "Data Analysis" section. Compare your results with theoretical values, published data, commonly held beliefs, and/or expected results that you found in your research. Include a discussion of possible errors. Below are some examples of things you might want to address in this section:
  • How did the data vary between repeated observations of similar events? How were your results affected by uncontrolled events? What would you do differently if you repeated this project? What other experiments should be conducted? Discuss your sample size and how it relates to your statistical analysis.

Conclusions

• Briefly summarize your results. State your findings in relationships of one variable with the other. Support those statements with empirical data (one average compared to the other average, for example). Be specific, do not generalize. Never introduce anything in the conclusion that has not already been discussed. Mention practical, everyday applications.
• Give credit to all those who assisted you.

References/Bibliography

• MLA
• www.mla.org/style
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resources/557/01/

Appendix

• Include any raw data, photos, etc in an appendix
• Refer to the appendix in the report if needed. (ex...the water levels continued to decline in samples #12 and #13 [see Appendix 3]...)

Example Reports from past students

• Hydrogen Detection using Platinum Nanoparticles - Simonne Clay
• Methylotroph Magic: Bioremediation of Methane - Madisynn Weber
• Wax Worm Release of Ethylene Glycol Waste During Consumption of Polyethylene Plastic - Virginia Montague
• Prosthetic Plant Tissue - Cleo Schied
• Engineering example: The Flying Birdie - Hailey Smith (International Science and Engineering Fair Winner 2018!!)

Presentation/Exhibits

• Presentation: Verbal presentation - Teach Me In 3 ~ Three Minutes to Change the World! (click link for explanation)
• Create one Google Slide. Title the slide "Firstname Lastname ISP Presentation". Share it with bealsc@billingsschools.org (can edit)

---------------

Descriptions of Assignments

We will use the INTEL ISEF Student Handbook as a guide for this project. ISEF is the governing body for the International Science Fair. We are using their protocol and your project will be every bit as good as those presented at Science Fairs across the world. Descriptions of the assignments listed above can be found in the student handbook. You may download a student handbook at https://student.societyforscience.org/forms

Acceptable Use Policy for Electronics

You must accept the terms outlined in the District Student Handbook (http://billingsschools.org/docs/pdf/Parent%20Student%20Handbook.pdf pages 5, 6 & 7). Any violation to this agreement will result in a zero for the project and possible disciplinary action from Senior High School and School District #2.