Project• What is the Project?• Getting Started• How to Brainstorm (caution, it’s messy!)• Narrowing it Down to THE Topic• Sources/Finding experts• Collaboration Tools• Developing a Solution• Creating a Presentation• Doing it All in 13 Weeks

• Identify problem• Evaluate current solutions• Develop innovative solution• Share solution with others• Give creative presentation at tournament

Research Project

Project Documents: released August 30th • Read and re-read!• Use Them as Your Starting Point• Pull Out the “Deliverables”

Field Trips• Reach Out to Parents/Friends• May Lead to Expert• Field Trip May Come to You

Getting Started

Warm Up• Pre-Research• Play a Game, Do a Teamwork Exercise

Make Sure Everybody Knows the Rules• No Judging• Quantity Over Quality• Encourage Wild or Exaggerated Ideas• Build on Other’s Ideas• Every Person Has Equal Say

Get Creative in Organization• Sticky Notes• Diagrams• Pass the List• Continuous Brainstorming

How to Brain Storm

Make a List of Criteria• Impact, Available Research, Current Solutions

Take Advantage of Opportunities• Problem Close to Home • Know an Expert• Access to a Resource

Parallel Paths• Follow Multiple Ideas

Set a Deadline

How to Narrow it Down to THE Topic

Variety is the Key• Print: Books, Magazines, Internet• Experts, Documentaries • Experimentation• Use library and librarians

List Sources Used Throughout the Season• Appoint a documentation lead

How to Find Experts• Look Local – Colleges, Business Professionals, Government• Use Technology – E-mail, Skype• Send out Feelers – Friends, Relatives

Research Sources

Perfect for Background/Basic Knowledge

Great for Teaching about Information Reliability, Fact Checking

Great Jumping off Point • References, Further Reading, External Links

Use scholarly or government sources when available

A Word About Wikipedia

Wikipediathe free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

CollaborationEveryone on team participates!

Organize the Research Process• Everyone Knows the Organization Structure and Follows It• Web Tools – Google, Yahoo, Drop Box etc.• Paper Based Systems – Files, Binders, Logs etc.

Working Outside of Meeting• Homework• Online Collaboration• Small Independent Groups

Developing a SolutionExamine Existing SolutionsBrainstormFollow LeadsGet Inside the ProblemLook Around• Use Nature, Technology, Everyday Items• Make Connections – What is it like?

Evaluate, Choose, Refine

Create a Live PresentationFormat:• Get Creative – Song/Rap, Skit, Game Show, Puppets…• 90% of teams do skits (TV reports, dramas, re-enactments)

Writing:• Create Interest• Engage Audience…use Humor, Emotion, Passion for topic

Cover the Basics: (see rubric)• Problem statement • Solution statement (Elevator Pitch) • Mention group(s) team shared with

Props & Costumes:Technology:• Technology can enhance, but should not be the focal point• Beware of Technical DifficultiesDisplay board/poster:• Useful for presenting facts and research materials. • Font needs to be large enough for judges to read! • Props: • Wigs, costumes, masks…help to establish characters• Enhance the presentation, not dominate it.• Designed, constructed, carried, and set up by team

members.• Team should practice set-up as part of presentation.• Do NOT expect electricity, chairs, or tables to be available.

Share Your Project• Who can learn from your project?• Who does your project impact?• Who can give you feedback or help improve your

project?

Practice & Edit: 5 minute max• Time limit: includes set-up and presentation• Does it meet Rubric requirements?

Focus on speaking clearly:• Pronounce difficult words• Pause for effect

Do Q&A based on rubric areas:• Why did you pick this problem?• Where did you get your information?• How did you come up with your solution?

Preparing for Judging: 5 minute presentation, 5 minute Q&A

Sample Research Project Timeline

Wk 1: Understand Project, Basic Research• Read project document carefully!

Wks 2-3: Narrow and Select Project TopicWks 4-5: Focused ResearchWks 6-11: Write/Edit Presentation & Make PropsWks 12-13: Practice and Present to Others

• Present to target audience or experts and ask for feedback

FLL Research Presentations—many examples on youtube

Skit with TV report: mandatory app for tornado alert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-AkHbfC68 Supernova Heat Wavehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVtvAqGbGFQ News report about Nature’s Furyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as1FF9xHYq4

Research Project Q & A