COURSE DESCRIPTION

Welcome to the science research class. Choosing this class demonstrate your interest in pursuing an in depth scientific investigation in order to understand or explain some phenomena of the world around you.

In this research class you are required to:

Conduct thorough literature searches on a chosen topic.
Complete independent research projects which are worthy of competing in the county, state, or in other science competitions.
Maintain a laboratory notebook of all research experience; this must be a bound notebook (a typical research laboratory notebook is a bound notebook with numbered, pressure sensitive duplicate pages which can be removed).
Maintain a portfolio of all research associated work in a 1” to 1.5” three-ring binder. The portfolio must contain at least all of the following sections:

Records of all communications: telephone, face to face, e-mail, letters, faxes, etc.
Copied sheets from the lab notebook
Bi-weekly goal sheets
Bibliographic research searches and results
All journal articles that are read
One to one assessment sessions including bi-weekly assessment sheet
Copies of all research papers written
Semi-annual abstracts of the work to date

Create a poster presentation of the annual research work.
Participate in a bi-weekly presentation to report the research progress to their classmate
Write a scientific paper of the finish research.
Create a Power Point presentation of the research and the results.
Students may be asked at time to assist with science related activities around the building such as school science fair, solar celebration, or special projects.
Most students will spend at least sometime working on marine-related projects, such as the South Florida Student Shark Project, or the maintenance and the development of the aquaria at MAST.

Please be aware that you are expected to be on-task at all times during the course. Rules related to tardiness will be followed at least as strictly as for your other courses. You will have a great deal of freedom to use your time effectively, and consequently, you have a great deal of responsibility to maintain a professional demeanor and level of effort in the course. Any observations of “hall walking” and socializing will impact your grade at first, and may result in your removal from the course. The signature below indicates you understand the course requirements and agree to follow course guidelines as described.

The signatures below indicate that the student understands and accepts the terms of their participation in the science research course.

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Student Name (printed)

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Student Signature

Date

Parent Signature

Date