What+makes+a+good+inquiry+lab+proposal?


 * What makes a good inquiry lab proposal? **

What makes an inquiry lab proposal a good idea? It’s got to be doable in a high school lab, at-home, or field setting. It needs to make sense and should reflect a curious mind that thinks about relevant questions based on something researched or observed in the natural world. A good proposal defines what variables will be changed and what will be measured as a result of that change in a controlled experiment. It demonstrates evidence of thought and detail. An exceptional proposal is creative in thought and may shed new light on a subject.

=PART I: Project proposal analysis=


 * Directions:** On a separate piece of scrap paper, write down the proposal number and answer the questions. We will do the first one together as a class.

v Proposal #1 What liquid do mosquitoes like best to lay eggs and hatch larvae in? I will put many buckets outside my house with different liquids in them to see which one attracts most mosquitoes. 1. Is it doable? 2. What variables can be changed (independent)? Measured (dependent)? 3. Is it relevant? 4. Is it well thought-out (with details, shows effort)? 5. Is it creative/innovative? 6. What questions do you have that need to be answered to make it a better proposal?

v Proposal #2 How different types of fertilizers affect the growth of ecosystems. 1. Is it doable? 2. What variables can be changed (independent)? Measured (dependent)? 3. Is it relevant? 4. Is it well thought-out (with details, shows effort)? 5. Is it creative/innovative? 6. What questions do you have that need to be answered to make it a better proposal?

v Proposal #3 I have an idea for a project that would test the effect of watering seeds with microwaved versus unmicrowaved water. Living things are exposed to microwaves from ovens, cell phones and the sun. So how do they affect plants? I will plant 10 radish seeds and water half the plants with distilled water and the other with microwaved water. I will record the number of seeds that germinate everyday over the course of 10 days and measure the length of the shoot that comes out of the seed. 1. Is it doable? 2. What variables can be changed (independent)? Measured (dependent)? 3. Is it relevant? 4. Is it well thought-out (with details, shows effort)? 5. Is it creative/innovative? 6. What questions do you have that need to be answered to make it a better proposal?

=Part II: Researching project proposals=

Go the the following page to begin your research on the project proposal. @Inquiry lab ideas

=Part III: My (Our) project proposal draft=


 * 1) Your proposal draft is due on your wikipage by the end of the day on Wed 1/5 for A day and Thursday, 1/6 for B day at the end of the day.
 * 2) Once you have determined your testable question, **create a wikipage for your group** by doing the following.
 * 3) Clicking on your class period on the left hand column.
 * 4) Click the edit button.
 * 5) Create a link by first typing your first names and the title of your inquiry lab (should be your detailed question).
 * 6) Highlight what you just typed and click the link button on the top. Click add link (it could be a separate page if you choose).
 * 7) Copy and paste your proposal draft onto the discussion board (on the top of this page). ** Refer to the discussion above for an example. ** Click on new post and the subject should contain the block and day and your first names along with your question. For example, "1A Cindy, David and Theda: Does salt impact germination of sunflower seeds?" In the message space, you should paste your proposal. Your proposal should contain your question (as specific as possible), how it is relevant, briefly how you plan on testing it, etc. Make sure questions 1-6 above are tended to prior to submitting your proposal (is it doable, what are the variables, is it relevant, etc).

include component="comments" page="Your project proposal" limit="50"

=﻿Part IV: Peer review of proposals= Once you have submitted your proposal on the discussion board, it's time to peer review TWO other group's proposal. On the discussion board, choose a subject that has zero or one reply. It can be from any class. Review the proposal keeping in mind questions 1-6 from above. Comment on how the group can clarify it's proposal. //**Do not review the proposal if it already has comments by two other groups. This is due by Monday, January 7th by midnight.**//

=Part V: Refining your own proposal= Once you have gotten feedback from two other group's, go back and refine your group's proposal ON YOUR WIKIPAGE. Now it's ready for Ms. Byron to approve. Refined proposals are due on your wikipage by //**Wednesday, January 9th by midnight.**//