IB Science Group Four Project 2011

Description:
The Group 4 project requires students to investigate a global problem or question using an interdisciplinary approach. Second Year IB science classes will be given a central theme and, working in teams of 3-4 students, will develop and carry out data-driven research projects based in multidisciplinary groups. Your collaboration will be recorded on a wiki in the IB Community and your group will produce a PowerPoint presentation.

Rationale:
This project is intended to provide all students with an opportunity to appreciate both the implications of using science and the limitations of scientific study. The main philosophy emphasizes interdisciplinary cooperation and the process involved in scientific investigation rather than the products of such investigations.

Timeline:
9/28 10/14 10/24 11/4 11/18 12/2 12/16

(All electronic submissions are due by 11:59pm of due date)

Groups and region of the world selected. Groups begin brainstorming possible research questions. (In Russell Theatre during RAISE) Work on your Group 4 project virtually & submit topic with supporting data for approval Check for approval and be prepared to make changes and re-submit Final plan due for approval and submission to Turnitin.com (revisions due 11/12) Data analysis due electronically on Blackboard Wiki PowerPoint presentations posted electronically. Assessments and evaluations due Electronic submission of self, & peer assessment (personal skills) and evaluations of projects from 3 other regions.

General Project Information:

The central theme is Environmental Disasters Each group of students will be assigned to one of the science teachers who will supervise projects from one of the regions in the world. At least one member of the group must have the supervisor as a current science teacher. The following represents the percentage of the project grade that each component represents. The project will be counted on the second quarter grade and will be the equivalent of a major lab report. Final Plan due on the wiki and to Turn-it-in.com 11/4 30% (descriptive feedback) Teacher Evaluation of PowerPoint Presentation due12/2 30% (see attached rubric) Group and Self-Assessment of Personal Skills due 12/16 20% (see attached) Evaluation of 3 projects from other regions due 12/16 20% (see below)

PowerPoint Presentation:
1. Students will not be presenting their PowerPoint slide show; it must stand on its own merits. 2. 3.
However, it is a summary of their project and should NOT just be the final plan on power point slides. A minimum of 24 point font may be used for the PowerPoint presentation. The only exception is the bibliography slide (MLA standards), which may be smaller in order to fit on one slide. A bibliographic citation (12 point font) must be included on any PowerPoint slide on which material (graph, figure, and text) has been taken directly from a source.

RAISE Periods: After forming groups on 9/28 during RAISE, students will use some RAISE periods to meet with their groups in their supervisors classrooms: Your entire group will be required to sign up for at least 2 other RAISE periods (as a complete group) with your sponsoring teacher before Dec 2nd.

Planning Stage
Students Name Member Information IB Science Teachers Name

Topic: _______________________________________________________________________________ Research Question:

_____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

Outline of Plan: Data Sources:

_____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

Data Analysis Plan:

_____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher Evaluation of Power Point

Group Members: Title of Project: ASPECT Complete Content (suggested number of slides) Title Slide (1) Background/ Terminology (1) Problem/ Question (1) Description of Data Collection (1-2)
Title of project, group members names and IB course are given. Terms and information unique to your topic are defined or explained well. Purpose or research question is stated and clearly explained Brief summary of relevant data in tables with units and uncertainties (as appropriate) is given Relevant data is processed correctly and presented clearly to help interpretation (includes graphs) Valid conclusion is explained and related to the central theme. Relationship between the project and the effect on the region and international community is explicitly stated At least 5 appropriately-cited reputable sources

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ LEVEL Partial

N/A Information is incomplete. Is stated but not clearly explained Incomplete data or information is missing. Irrelevant data is used OR data is processed incorrectly OR data is not presented clearly Conclusion is stated, but not explained. Relationship is implied 1-4 appropriatelycited sources

Not At All
Information is missing Information is missing Is not stated No data is given

Data Processing and Analysis (2-3)

No data analysis is presented

Conclusion and Evaluation (1-2)

Bibliography & Citations (1)*

Conclusion is not stated OR not related to the central theme. No relationship is mentioned No sources OR sources are inappropriately cited Many grammatical errors OR very confusing No graphics are used Presentation is choppy and is not visually interesting at all

Layout and Design Text

No grammatical errors and easy to understand Graphics enhance the text and are properly cited!!! Presentation has at least 24 point font and is seamless and eye-catching

Graphics

General Appearance

Few grammatical errors OR somewhat confusing Graphics distract from the text or are not properly cited Presentation has less than 24 point font* OR is of little visual interest

*Text font on the bibliography slide may be less than 24 point in order to fit on one slide

Self and Peer Assessment

You will complete one of these for yourself and one for EACH of your Group 4 partners.
Directions: A form of this assessment should be available electronically. If not, you should have/print out a separate copy of this form for each member in your group and yourself. (If there are 4 of you in the group then you should complete and turn in 4 separate sheets). Using the following rubric, assess yourself/your G4 members contribution to the project. Please be specific, include as many comments/details as possible. Evaluation OF Course Teacher _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Evaluation BY ____________________

Comments:

(Circle one in each column) Comments based on the chart above:

Group and Self-Assessment Self Assessment Only Please answer these additional questions:
A form of this assessment should be available electronically.

Name __________________________________ Return the completed evaluation form to your teacher electronically by 12/16.

What did you learn about the other disciplines?

What worked?

What didnt work?

How can we improve this project for next year?

Evaluation of Projects from Other Regions Each student must evaluate 3 other projects.
A form of this assessment should be available electronically.

Name __________________________________ Review a project from 3 different regions of the world and return the completed evaluation form to your teacher electronically by 12/16. Project Name: _________________________________________________ Project #: ________

1. Briefly summarize the results/findings of this project.

2. Explain the regional impact of this project.

3. This project may have a moral, ethical, social, economic or environmental implication that was overlooked. Choose one of those and discuss its implication below.