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Transforming Our Lives through Self Reflection and Psychology
A psychology professor's collection of lessons fostering self-discovery through online activities, hands-on classroom experiences, engaging lectures, and effective discussion prompts.
Science Fairs
Organizing a Science Fair
Resources for organizing a school, county, state, or nationwide science fair by a psychological scientist who studies science fairs.
I vividly remember watching Carl Sagan's Cosmos as a little kid and feeling so much awe - we live upon a tiny planet, circling a humdrum star, lost in a galaxy tucked away in a forgotten corner of a universe of billions and billions of galaxies. Yet we're star stuff and we can contemplate the cosmos with science. Sagan inspired me to major in Physics and, while I eventually found exploring the human condition with science my awe-inspiring path, I'm grateful to have learned so many sciences and love how they fit together. It's what led me to bring psychology to understanding science fairs.
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In the field of thinking, the whole history of science from geocentrism to the Copernican revolution, from the false absolutes of Aristotle’s physics to the relativity of Galileo’s principle of inertia and to Einstein’s theory of relativity, shows that it has taken centuries to liberate us from the systematic errors, from the illusions caused by the immediate point of view as opposed to 'decentered' systematic thinking.
Why Science Fairs Matter
Science fairs provide students an authentic opportunity to learn-by-doing, struggle over inevitable stumbling blocks, and build confidence public speaking. Having an opportunity to work months on a single project and getting to talk about their ideas with actual practicing scientists spark their curiosity for a possible career.
Despite science fairs providing students wonderful experiences, many schools don't participate. It's understandable because science fairs take a lot of effort for teachers and other organizers. After my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, I volunteered to be a judge and noticed the profound way it matters. I starting conducting science of science fairs! But I like to be helpful so I created resources for you, through my research, volunteering as a judge, and being appointed director of a science, I hope you find materials helpful!
Despite science fairs providing students wonderful experiences, many schools don't participate. It's understandable because science fairs take a lot of effort for teachers and other organizers. After my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, I volunteered to be a judge and noticed the profound way it matters. I starting conducting science of science fairs! But I like to be helpful so I created resources for you, through my research, volunteering as a judge, and being appointed director of a science, I hope you find materials helpful!
Science Fair Students' Guide
What to expect and doing your best in a middle or high science fair by a scientist who studies science fairs.
Science Fair Judges' Guide
How to affirm students' scientific development, provide helpful feedback, and rate projects well.
Science Fair Organizers' Guide
Help for organizers including a rubric enhancing scientists' feedback and a spreadsheet to automatically rank projects.
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Peer-Reviewed Publications about Learning Science
About the Author
Katie Hope Grobman actively contributes to science fairs including serving as Lead Judge at county & state science fairs since 2006 and Co-Director of the Monterey County Science Fair from 2020 to 2023. She has mentored numerous students; some have competed at the international science fair. Her research of scientists across disciplines led to the development of a refined rubric. This rubric has increased inter-rater reliability among judges and greater predictive validity for awards at subsequent competition levels.
Katie Hope Grobman actively contributes to science fairs including serving as Lead Judge at county & state science fairs since 2006 and Co-Director of the Monterey County Science Fair from 2020 to 2023. She has mentored numerous students; some have competed at the international science fair. Her research of scientists across disciplines led to the development of a refined rubric. This rubric has increased inter-rater reliability among judges and greater predictive validity for awards at subsequent competition levels.
