8/17/10

All About the Sci://Blogz Competition

Sci://Tech 2011 is February 26


Why blog for Sci://Tech this year? 


Show off the hard work you're doing to create your Sci://Fair Science Project by blogging your progress, or create an experiment just for us! Either way, show us your process, step-by-step, from your hypothesis to your results using video, photographs, widgets, and words to blog your way to fame as a Sci://Blogger.  Previous contestants have shown us that sunscreen can't take the heat, name brand baby lotion is NOT a better deal, and our cat is cleaner than we are.


What do I have to do to compete?

*FIRST get your teacher sponsor and parent to sign the permission form and approve your question (read on to find out about the question).

*Create a blog using tools of your choice that explores and answers (is there an answer?) a science or technology question.
  • Clearly state your problem or question. (You can blog your Sci://Tech Science Fair project or come up with a new question for this competition. It's up to you and your teacher.)
  • Clearly state your hypothesis.
  • Present your research and cite your resources/references. (Be careful not to plagiarize.)
  • Present your conclusions and observations in written AND graphical format.
  • Use Web 2.0 tools in creative and unexpected ways.
  • Find and use Web 2.0 tools NOT listed on this site.

What is an example of a great question? (All of these questions are addressed in the hall of fame post below!)
  • Does sunscreen still work after being left in the car?
  • Is brand name baby lotion worth the extra money?
  • Am I cleaner than my cat or dog?
  • Do old people or young people know their faces better?
  • What type of onions make people cry most?
  • Can I take a math test and chew gum at the same time?
The options are limitless! Have fun, and be creative!


What should I know before I start my blog?

*Make sure your blog is convincing, visually compelling, well-written, and interesting.


*Sci://Blogz judges will initially spend no more than 15 minutes reviewing your blog, so make sure it is spectacular even at first glance.

*It is a parent's choice on sign-up form that determines whether blog access will be public or private. On public blogs, parents are responsible for monitoring blog comments and content.

*By participating in the Sci://Blogz competition, you give permission for EfTA to use any content from your blog; therefore, avoid using copyrighted materials.*Competition Categories: Participation is for individuals, not teams. Participants may be in any grade level and any student can be sponsored by any teacher.


How will my blog be judged?
Please look at the rubric judges will be using when viewing your blog.

*Rubric for evaluation


How and Where do I start making my blog?

*Forbes.com Top-Rated/Best of the Web Blog tools. (Word Press may be accessed in its hosted form via http://blogsome.com.)

*Tools for younger students (or ANY students):
http://edublogs.org/
Gaggle Blogs requires a school sponsor and includes free blogs.
http://www.tumblr.com/=
Publish Post
*How do I get a Google Blogger account?  Get your parents to sign up with you if you're under 13 at this site:  http://www.blogger.com.  If you don't have a Google account, you can get one there or ask someone who has a Gmail account to send you an invitation at your current email address.

Helpful Hints

  • Follow your parents' and teachers' directions and do not make your blog public unless everyone agrees it's okay.
  • Do not EVER chat, email, or meet with someone you don't know or someone who contacts you online. Remember, anyone can appear to be ANYone online.
  • Do not show your full name on your blog . . . EVER.
  • Monitor your blog and delete comments that are not school appropriate immediately. Make sure your friends know that your blog is being monitored by teachers and staff. Force logins for posters. If necessary, close commenting on your blog.
(Are you getting the picture? Be safe. Use common sense!)

  • Be able to define your topic in ONE clear, concise sentence, for example:  
    • Brand Name=Bad Deal
    • Sunscreen Can't Take the Heat
    • My Cat is Cleaner than Me
  • Choose or create a theme that reflects the topic of your blog.
  • Give your blog a clever and memorable name that isn't too hard to type in.
  • Get as much feedback on your blog as possible and make changes accordingly.
  • Use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Don't use text messaging abbreviations, like "b4".
  • CAREFULLY avoid plagiarism as that will be grounds for dismissal from the competition.
  • Use your own "voice" when you post. Check out the way successful bloggers write. You will see that the way they say things is almost as important as what they say. We should be able to sort of "hear" you saying what you write.
  • BTW (ha ha, I can do that, but you shouldn't!) think outside the box. Maybe you could make a post with an audio recording of yourself talking.
  • Use other applications and embed the products into your blog, for example, Animoto, ToonDoo, Capzles, Blabberize, Scrapblog, Wordle, etc. For more ideas, click here.
  • Link words and phrases to source sites or to sites that give further information/definitions. See the "RSS" link below for an example.
Feed yourself (Post RSS ) this blog so that if there are competition updates, you'll know. This will put a sort of bookmark list on your browser.

Ask questions and make suggestions. But remember...we're depending on YOU to FIGURE IT OUT so that WE can ask YOU those questions!

Sci://Blogz Participant Files (click here)

Click the title of this post to open and download files for the competition.

Attention Sci://Bloggers...Final Stuff

Final Entries are due to Campus Sponsors by Wednesday, January 26, 2011 

Final Campus Entries will be decided by the campus Sci://Blogz Sponsors. 

Sci://Bloggin' Finalists,
  • Do not fax or mail your permission form. Fill it out electronically and email it to your campus sponsor as an attachment. Please give all paper forms with your and your parent's signatures to the campus sponsor.  These paper forms do not need to be submitted to Sci://Blogz, only to the campus sponsor. 

  • If you are selected to compete for your campus (you are one of the top three Sci://Bloggerz at your school), please fill out this form 

  • Campus sponsors: Please email entry forms (as attachments) for your top three Sci://Blogz competitors to sciblogz@gmail.com.  Please remember you may not have more than 3 entries per campus. Projected dates are on the calendar but are subject to change. Please keep an eye (or two) on this site to be notified of changes.

  • Sci://Blogz has received a few faxed forms. We'd like to email you to let you know we need the forms electronically, but we can't make out your email address. :-(

Please do not fax forms. Email sciblogz@gmail.com with any questions.

Sci://Blogz Sponsors Post Finalists for Campus Here

If you are a campus contact person, a Sci://Blogz Sponsor or a science teacher who has a Sci://Blogger in class, you should receive student applications by Wednesday, January 26, 2011. Please select no more than 3 entries for your campus and submit contestants' blog addresses using this form by Friday, January 28, 2011.

Please note...
-No more than 3 blogs can be submitted per campus (this can be team blogs and/or individual blogs)
-No more than four participants can be on one team
-Campus sponsors/contacts will be notified via email of students who are chosen to be interviewed at the Sci://Tech Science Fair for the main competition