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SciFest@College – Teacher Presentation
SciFest Project Manager - Sheila Porter
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SciFest 2010 @AIT
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
What is SciFest@College?
SciFest@College is a series of local one-day science fairs
•hosted by the Institutes of Technology (ITs)
•open to all second-level students
Each SciFest@College fair includes
•a competition and exhibition of projects
•science talks and demonstrations in the IT’s laboratories
•information on STEM courses available in the IT
•a prize-giving ceremony
SciFest aims
to encourage a love of science through an investigative approach to learning
and to provide an opportunity for students to display their scientific
discoveries.
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
Third level Colleges are Nationwide
1. Athlone
2. Blanchardstown
3. Carlow
4. Cork
5. Derry
6. Dublin
7. Dundalk
8. Galway/Mayo
9. Letterkenny
10. Limerick
11. Sligo
12. Tallaght
13. Tipperary
14. Tralee
15. Waterford
SciFest @College Venues
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
SciFest@College - Sample Programme
Number of students and number of projects SciFest@College
2005 - 2011
Over 9000 second-level students have participated in SciFest
since 2006
Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Projects 0 67 73 680 836 1097 1243
Students 0 170 220 1612 1980 2649 2907
Number
Year 2005 - 2011
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
Selling the Idea to Students Participating in SciFest provides an opportunity for students to:
• investigate a topic of their choice
• investigate a topic that links to their everyday lives and society
• show off their work in a small student friendly environment
• visit a third-level college
• Use other skills that may not normally be recognised, e.g. presentation, ICT, design, PR, skills, etc.
• Enjoy a day out of school with like-minded students
Smiling faces of students having a good time at SciFest@College
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
The Teacher’s Role
The smiling faces of teachers having a good time at SciFest@College
• guide
• encourage
• ask questions
• listen to responses
• promote an effective learning environment
Enjoy a day out of school with like-minded teachers
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
SciFest – Science by inquiry in Action
State Problem
• Look around, ask questions, identify a problem, state a hypothesis
Research
• Gather as much information about the topic aspossible
Investigate
• Design and carry out experiments to test the hypothesis. Collect data
Analyse• Analyse the data, discuss the findings
Conclude
• Come up with a possible solution to the original problem
• Present findings at SciFest Present
The Website – www.scifest.ie
Links:
SciFest 2012 Media Centre Miscellaneous
Entry Forms National Award Winners 2011 Sponsors and Special Awards
Guidelines for Entrants Photographs and News Reports Project Ideas
Report Book and Presentation Resources
Exhibition Dates and Contacts Student Module Support for Teachers
Discover Sensors Award Science by Inquiry Project Blogger
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
How Does SciFest@College Fit into the School Year?
First Year and Second Year
•Excellent preparation for Junior Certificate Science
•The investigation if suitable could be submitted as the actual Coursework B Investigation
Transition Year
•End-of-year science activity for Transition Year students
•See Transition Year Module ‘Science by Inquiry’ downloadable from www.scifest.ie
Fifth Year •Extra-curricular activity for Fifth Yearss
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
SciFest@College Categories
Age Categories
•Junior: 1st Year and 2nd Year
•Intermediate: 3rd Year and 4th Year
•Senior: 5th Year and 6th Year
Project Type
• Individual• Group - (Max. 3 students per group – all group members must
be in attendance at the exhibition)
Project Categories
• Physical Sciences• Life Sciences• Technology
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
SciFest - Science by Inquiry Module
A Science by Inquiry module is downloadable
from the website www.scifest.ie
Other support materials include
• Guidelines for entrants
• Advice on project report book
Visual display & oral presentation
• Suggested awards
• Certificate templates
• Support panel of experienced teachers
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
SciFest @Intel– opportunity to celebrate excellence in STEM
• Each year in October the Best Project Award winners from the 15 venues
are invited to a ‘Celebration of Excellence in STEM’ in Intel’s Open
Innovation Lab in Leixlip
• All the award winners are presented with an Intel Excellence in Science
medal
• One project is selected by a team of judges to represent Ireland at the international Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May in the USA
• All the key stakeholders plus teachers, parents/guardians, regional
organisers, etc. are invited to the celebrations
Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager
SciFest@Intel Grand Award Winners 2011
Ruairi O’Neill and Eoghan Flynn, Blackwater Community School, Lismore,
Co. Waterford with Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon,
TD who presented the winners with their prize - a trip to International
Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May 2012,
where they will represent Ireland.
