Last week our district was proud to share the announcement that one of our students, Victoria Platzer, was returning from the Taiwan International Science Fair, held February 4th to 10th in Taipei, Taiwan with a gold medal earned in the Environmental Sciences category for her project, Hay Aliens. Victoria, is the most recent winner in a long line of science far success stories for SD 60. Every year, the keen interests of our students combine with the dedicated support of many great teachers, to generate tremendous science fairs at our schools. And if your recollection of science fairs is cardboard back boards fronted with papier mache volcanoes spewing baking soda and vinegar, its time to look again. Science Fairs have done more than keep up with the times. Today's science fairs display 21st Century Learning at its best.
The new BC Ed plan
talks about moving education to a place where every student enjoys
personalized learning, powered by technology with flexibility and
choice, quality teaching displaying high standards of learning. Science
Fairs is are already there. Allowing students to follow
their passions into projects of their own choosing, science fairs
impart a process of learning and presentation that serves students well
beyond their projects. It connects them with mentor teachers who often give freely of
their time both in, and out, of school hours. It can also connect
students to community mentors with experience and knowledge about their projects. Such relationships often have two way benefits. Over time student connections can help secure part time or future
employment and mentoring businesses see students as skilled and motivated future
There is no doubt the
work is being done to a high standard. As for employing technology, in
science that's a given. The STEM disciplines - science technology engineering and Mathematics provide students with ample opportunities seek out and use, what ever they
need to form their hypotheses, carryout their research and experiments,
record and present their data, and determine where their efforts can
take them next.
While its sometimes said that knowledge is its
own reward, Science fairs can bring
participants other prizes too. Fairs are judged events.
Starting even in the younger divisions, projects earn their creators
recognition both in the form of feedback from knowledgeable judges, as well as certificates and medals. At regionals supportive volunteers and sponsors ensure that many prizes are available, and,
as the students progress to older divisions, scholarships and
opportunities for travel to national and international competitions can be won. Our district not only has a long proud
tradition of sending students to such events, but also of having
them win major honors up to and including university scholarships worth
thousands of dollars.
your child asks about going into this year's science fair, its
definitely worth following up. Chances are there's a teacher at your
school involved with the Science Fair committee. If you're not sure a
call to the district office can quickly connect you to someone only too happy to help, or check out the Science Fair web page at nbcrsf.wordpress.com. Many schools will welcome your participation as a judge or volunteer as well. This year the Regional Science Fair returns south of the Peace to Dawson Creek, scheduled to take place April 16th at Central and DCSS, and efforts towards school fairs are already underway at many district site. Combining
learning with fun and possibly further rewards - sounds like a winning
combination doesn't it?