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International students' natural science projects honored
By Fei Lai |
December 26, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MAKING learning relevant outside the classroom is always a challenge, one that Shanghai international school students have taken on in the annual Global National History Day Competition.
This year the finals of the six-month event were held in Shanghai in early December. It attracted more than 500 international school students from Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing.
Award-winning teams presented research on topics such as the value of medicinal plants, the life of dolphins and preserving endangered pandas.
The Global Natural History Day Competition, a natural science competition, originated in the United States 25 years ago.
It is organized by the international Global Health and Education Foundation and aims to promote interest in the natural sciences among primary and middle school students.
Students formed teams and presented their research on natural history topics, using visual design, exhibitions and drama performances. Some students conducted experiments to test their hypotheses and consulted international experts.
The research was judged by volunteer professionals in education, law, finance, consulting, science museums and sports.
"This program is part of a growing trend in education to give students opportunities to apply their classroom learning in new and exciting ways and in a different context, and to share the results with audience," says Mark Johnson, judge and humanities teacher at the Concordia International School Shanghai.
He says the program helps inspire love of science among students and help them develop research and presentation skills.
"One of the program goals is to increase student research, critical thinking skills and communication skills since students are required to go through several interviews about their process and their findings," he says.
"Having young students speak with such authority and confidence about sophisticated topics is truly inspiring," he adds.
Johnson cites a project about the endangered Beijing swift, a swallow-like bird that is fighting for survival because of the destruction of its habitat in urban areas.
Students combined history and science to explain the factors threatening the Beijing swift and propose efforts to protect the bird.
"The student project went beyond merely describing the topic to taking an active role in proposing a solution by creating a Swift Action Foundation to raise awareness of the issue," Johnson says. "It stands out for the sophistication of thought that went into it and the clarity of the communication of a complex topic."
According to the organizing committee, seven student teams from this year's competition will be selected to visit natural science museums and scientific research institutions in the United States in February.
This year the finals of the six-month event were held in Shanghai in early December. It attracted more than 500 international school students from Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing.
Award-winning teams presented research on topics such as the value of medicinal plants, the life of dolphins and preserving endangered pandas.
The Global Natural History Day Competition, a natural science competition, originated in the United States 25 years ago.
It is organized by the international Global Health and Education Foundation and aims to promote interest in the natural sciences among primary and middle school students.
Students formed teams and presented their research on natural history topics, using visual design, exhibitions and drama performances. Some students conducted experiments to test their hypotheses and consulted international experts.
The research was judged by volunteer professionals in education, law, finance, consulting, science museums and sports.
"This program is part of a growing trend in education to give students opportunities to apply their classroom learning in new and exciting ways and in a different context, and to share the results with audience," says Mark Johnson, judge and humanities teacher at the Concordia International School Shanghai.
He says the program helps inspire love of science among students and help them develop research and presentation skills.
"One of the program goals is to increase student research, critical thinking skills and communication skills since students are required to go through several interviews about their process and their findings," he says.
"Having young students speak with such authority and confidence about sophisticated topics is truly inspiring," he adds.
Johnson cites a project about the endangered Beijing swift, a swallow-like bird that is fighting for survival because of the destruction of its habitat in urban areas.
Students combined history and science to explain the factors threatening the Beijing swift and propose efforts to protect the bird.
"The student project went beyond merely describing the topic to taking an active role in proposing a solution by creating a Swift Action Foundation to raise awareness of the issue," Johnson says. "It stands out for the sophistication of thought that went into it and the clarity of the communication of a complex topic."
According to the organizing committee, seven student teams from this year's competition will be selected to visit natural science museums and scientific research institutions in the United States in February.
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