Students Practice Real Science at Radians School

Issue 14 March 2014

A A A

VirtuesVirtuesVirtues---Based Based Based

CommunityCommunityCommunity

Photo above, In 2009, our student Abdiel Ortiz won El Nuevo

Dia Educador “Los Duros en la Materia” in the category of

Science. Abdiel is currently studying at Cornell University.

Above, Christian Rivera giving his presentation on

renewable energy in Panama in January, 2014.

At left, Luis Ramos (2013 Radians School Graduate) who recently received

the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology CRC Freshman

Chemistry Achievement Award at Purdue University, Indiana. This

award is given to only one freshman per year!

In the photograph, Luis Ramos is presenting his project at ISEF 2012 (International Science and Engineering Research) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

W henever a school promotes research projects,

the projects assigned to a student should meet a

stringent test for usefulness. Surprising to some,

a science research project is one of the best learning

experiences a student can undertake.

Radians School, as a science-centered school, advocates

student-centered scientific research projects of many

kinds. We have students working with Agricultural

research in our ERCSA agricultural program.

Conceptually, a science project is very straightforward. A

student chooses a scientific question he or she would like

to answer. Research on the question give the student the

background information he or she needs to formulate a

hypothesis and design an experiment. After writing a report

to summarize this research, the student performs the

experiment, draws his or her conclusions, and presents the

results to teachers.

What makes a science research project such a great

learning experience is that it involves so much more

than science. If the student is in middle school, the

research report will most likely be the longest paper the

student has ever written. The bibliography for the report

will also be the first ever for some students. These reports

are a great way to hone computer research skills, as well as

to learn the ins and outs of common office programs, such

as word processors and spreadsheets. Most projects also

involve a good deal of math, and some students get an

opportunity to enhance their presentation skills when they

prepare their display boards and discuss their projects with

the judges.

A science research project will also have a longer

duration than any other assignment a student has done.

In contrast to the typical school homework due the next

day or perhaps a week hence, a science research project

requires a student to learn to plan over two or three

months, a skill of immense importance in adulthood.

Procrastination is definitely not rewarded.

Savvy students learn even more about communications

skills. They learn the importance of selecting topics and

fine-tuning their presentations in ways that will make them

most likely to impress science research judges.

Radians School

Promotes Scientific

Research by Students

A science research project even provides an opportunity

for the discussion of many ethical issues, such as

plagiarism and falsification of data. Indeed, such a

discussion is highly recommended. The ease of copying

information from the Internet is hard to resist, and many

students are far ahead of their teachers in understanding what

is possible.

Of course, learning about science is at the heart of a science

research project. Our society relies more on science every

day, and science projects are a great way for students to

become more knowledgeable about how the world around

them works. Every citizen needs sufficient science literacy to

make educated decisions about what he or she reads in the

media, about health care, and about other every-day problems.

Preparing a science project is an excellent example of what

education experts call active learning or inquiry (also

"hands-on" learning). It is a very effective instructional

method; indeed, it is recommended as a cornerstone of

successful science teaching. Yet, according to the National

Research Council, active learning is not employed often

enough in the classroom and its absence is seen as one of the

key factors behind kids losing interest in science and not

performing to their potential.

Colleges want to see what students have done with the

opportunities they had available to them, and science

competitions are a fantastic opportunity. Typically, 2–4

percent of science research entrants at the high school level

move on to the top level of science research competition, the

Intel International Science and Engineering Research (ISEF).

Photo above, ERCSA is one of the innovative programs at Radians

School. Students are encouraged to do viable scientific research at

these facilities. 11th Grade student Keishlyann Baez Cruz (not

pictured) is one such student from High School. She has been

involved in a multi-year research project on natural pesticides.

Why the Science Research

Projects Are Important

By Prof. Denisse Colon

Elementary Science Teacher

E ach day our children in Radians School reach goals and face

new challenges. One such challenge is making the science research project. These past few days, you, the parent, confronted the task of helping your children in the project and often asked yourselves why your child must do the science research project as all? You, as parents, and we, as educators, find ourselves with the task of motivating our future professionals. Our children, naturally curious, constantly bombard their teachers with thousands of questions, many of which could be answered by using the scientific method. The scientific method is a series of ordered steps leading to the answer to a question. For the Science Department at Radians School, the Science Research is something eagerly awaited. We long for that moment to see our students excited about their research. The

Science Research Project has many purposes. It is primarily the search for solutions to problems that arise daily by learning to apply the processes of science. It helps develop scientific thinking as well as argumentative and analytical skills. It also helps them to recognize the importance of science in the world. Our School of Math, Science, and Technology promotes and encourage our students to develop their abilities, prove their potential, and contribute to their learning process. The Science Research Project readily provides an opportunity to contribute and enrich the knowledge of our students. Several of our students have gone on to win awards in Puerto Rico and the United States. In Radians School, we emphasize the importance of understanding the use of the scientific method beyond the theoretical level, and helping our children learn to live better lives through its application.

"Great spirits have often encountered

violent opposition from weak minds."

Radians School SHPE Jr

with Deborah Martorell

Our SHPE Jr students won the Catapult Competition

in "Expo-Ciencia 2014" in Colegio Marista.

Cristian Rivera represents Radians School in Panamá

From January 31 to February 2, Cristian Rivera, 11th grader, represented

Radians School and Puerto Rico in Panama’s Science Research called

“Feria Científica del Ingenio Juvenil 2014” in Panamá. Cristian

presented his project titled “Large Scale Renewable Energy

Uninterruptable Power System”.

More than 100 scientific projects were presented. The research was

sponsored by “Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e

Innovación” and was convened at the Tryp Panamá Hotel Albrook. This

science research aims to promote cultural exchange in the interest of

science, technology, and innovation, from the investigation and

implementation of the scientific method, and encourages scientific

ingenuity in children, young people supported by their teachers. This

year's event featured the special participation of students from

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,

Ecuador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay,

Perú, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay, who presented their best projects.

During these three days, visitors to the exhibition viewed over 100

projects in the categories of biology, environmental science, computer

science, earth science and space, social and behavioral sciences, physics

and mathematics, engineering and technology, chemistry, health and

medicine.

Let your child experience the

RADIANS SCHOOL difference!

Photo below, On March 10, the 12th graders Estefania Guzmán, Alexandra Droz and Tanya Torres presented the conference "The Great Shakeoutout" for middle school students. It focused earthquake preparedness.

Demonstrations in the Science Lab by the

Chem Club students. Peer to peer educational

activity.