Students who have received advice in statistical design and data analysis BEFORE STARTING science fair projects have been recognized not only for SPECIAL AWARDS IN STATISTICS, but also have placed very high in their special science fair category. In the 1997 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF97) in Louisville, KY, the project that received the FIRST PLACE award in STATISTICS also received FIRST GRAND PRIZE in BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. In the 1998 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF98) in Ft. Worth, the project that received the SECOND PLACE award in STATISTICS also won the SECOND GRAND PRIZE in BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. The THIRD PLACE winner in STATISTICS also received THIRD GRAND PRIZE in TEAM PROJECTS.

Members of the San Antonio Chapter of the American Statistical Association have volunteered to assist students in the San Antonio area with the statistical aspects of their science projects. IT IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE TO ASK THESE VOLUNTEER STATISTICIANS FOR ASSISTANCE VERY EARLY IN THE RESEARCH PROJECT.

Students and teachers should contact ARASE board member Dr. Joe Ward to locate statisticians who can provide assistance.

Call (210) 433-6575 or Email to joeward@tenet.edu. Fax: (210) 433-2828

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ANNOUNCING:
 
 

(STCP2000)

From:  Joe Ward
            167 East Arrowhead Dr., San Antonio, TX 78228-2402
            (210) 433-6575 FAX: (210) 433-2828
            Email: joeward@tenet.edu
 

** Have you ever had students enter research projects into competition and

-- be marked down because of

-- insufficient data?

-- student's inability to explain the data analysis?

** Have you had students doing research projects come to you with a "pile" of

-- data and not know what to do with it?

** Have you had a problem finding statistical computer programs to support

-- data analysis for research projects?

** Have you had a problem locating someone to help with the statistical

-- aspects of student research projects?

This program provides an unusual opportunity for teachers (and their students) to acquire capabilities for data analysis using statistical software not available elsewhere. A tenth-grade participant in this program won first place in the 1999 American Statistical Association (ASA) Project Competition.

This project is designed to strengthen the skills of students who are about to begin independent science research initiatives. In the past, students who work on science fair or research projects have had a difficult time collecting, sorting, analyzing and interpreting numerical data. Few students or teachers have experienced real-world problem solving using modern computer-based data analysis procedures.

This project will empower students to: (1) Identify and express real-world problems in natural language in preparation for creating formal mathematical/statistical models, (2) Translate the natural language problem statement into a mathematical model appropriate for analysis using a statistical software package, and (3) Interpret and present the results in both written and verbal form appropriate to assist in real-world decisions.

Student participants will be selected by their mentor teachers and will be those who have been identified by their teachers as students who are committed to conducting a research project to completion. Monitoring and evaluation of the project will consist of testing of skill acquisition during the formal learning sessions; but, of most importance, are the students' performances in the successful conduct and completion of research projects. The focus of evaluation in this project is the short-term performance of the students who apply their new skills in research projects. The teachers' success will be indicated by the quality of their students' research project analysis. All participants should have previous computer experience using a word processor.
 

Students who have participated in this program in past years have received special awards in Alamo Regional Science Fairs for the best application of statistics in their projects. In 1996, a project submitted by graduates of this program received the special award for the best application of a computer in a research project from the American Statistical Association's (ASA) national project competition. In 1999, a project submitted by a graduate of this program received the first-place award in the ASA national project competition.

The project director is Dr. Joe Ward. Dr. Ward has had much experience in introducing high school students and teachers in the applications of statistics and computers in research. He has developed curriculum and taught Problem Solving Through Data Analysis in the San Antonio PREP program. He is a past member of the American Statistical Association-National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Joint Committee on the Curriculum in Statistics and Probability. Ms. Laura Niland who teaches Advanced Placement Statistics at MacArthur HS will provide assistance in the workshop. Ms. Niland has been recognized as a Texas Presidential Awardee in Mathematics. Ms. Linda Gann, who teaches Statistics at O'Connor HS, will provide assistance in the workshop. Ms. Gann is a finalist for the Texas Presidential Awardee in Mathematics. The workshop will be enriched with a special presentation from Mr. Paul Foerster, the first Texas Presidential Awardee in Mathematics. Mr. Foerster, who teaches at Alamo Heights HS, is the author of several mathematics textbooks used by many students in the San Antonio area. In addition, visits by several statisticians will provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the activities of practicing statisticians.
 

5 days per week, for two weeks beginning Monday, May 29 through Friday, June 9.

Phase 2 -- Progress report meetings will be conducted twice per month (or as needed) before project competitions to facilitate quality student research projects. Statisticians from the San Antonio area will be available to assist teachers and students with the design and analysis of their research. The short-term objectives of this project will be active participation by students in one or more competitions such as the Junior Academy of Science, the Alamo District Science Fair, the National Statistics Project and Poster contests and similar activities.

Each teacher who successfully completes both phases of the project will receive a stipend of $1,000. Each student who successfully completes both phases of the project will receive $100 for expenses associated with their research projects. One-half of the payments will be made after successful completion of Phase 1 and the final payment will be made after satisfactory completion of the research projects of Phase 2.

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Teacher's Application Form: and/ or Teacher's Student Recommendation Form:

Teacher Name:________________________________________________________________________________

(Last Name) (First, Name) (MI)

Mailing ___________________________________________ Phone:____________________Fax:

Address

___________________________________________ Email:____________________________________

School: ___________________________ Subjects taught: _____________________________________________

I recommend the following student for participation in STCP2000:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Student Application Form:

Student Name:_____________________________________________________________________________________

(Last Name) (First, Name) (MI)

Mailing ____________________________________________ Phone:______________________ Fax:__________________

Address

____________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________

School: ___________________________ School grade Sept. 2000 __________________