Re: A. Einstein and science-fairs

[Lois Breur Krause <krause@CLEMSON.EDU>]

> I think one of the reason science fair is not supported in the high
> school (and also why few students go on to district) is because
> students did not have an enjoyable experience in 8th grade.  However,
> it is difficult for me to decide if that's because they were forced to
> do it a certain way, or because they were forced to do it in any way.


Beyond what Michael says about hypotheses, etc, the reason many students
intensely dislike science fair projects, and any project, for that matter,
is the "long term" aspect.  For many learners, doing a project that large
and time consuming (over several weeks, typically) is over-whelming.

At the middle-to-high school age, students think in terms of, perhaps,
through next weekend. -indeed, most usually, through the next class period.
Adolescents don't develop an attitude or concept of caring about the longer
range because it just doesn't have relevance at that developmental stage.
Another instance is adults trying to get our kids to think in terms of
studying to get the grades to get into the college of choice.  The goal is
too far away for most teenagers for it to be relevant in their time frame.
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Dr. Lois Breur Krause
Department of Geological Sciences
442 Brackett Hall
Clemson University
Clemson SC  29634

teaching chemistry, physics, astronomy and geology to elementary education
majors.

How We Learn and Why We Don't: Student Survival Guide,
available from International Thompson Publishing, ISBN 0324-011970

http://home.earthlink.net/~breurkrause

krause@clemson.edu

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