Sci://Blogz 2012

All About the 2012 Sci://Blogz Competition

2011-12-15T14:30:00.002-06:00

Sci://Tech 2012 is February 4

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.

Sci://Blogz Winners 2011

2011-02-26T10:41:00.008-06:00

5-6 Division Winners:
1st Ashwin Bhumbla, Mitchell Intermediate
2nd Tyler Sorrells, Vogel Intermediate
3rd Victoria Sunderman, Vogel Intermediate

7-12 Division Winners:
1st Margaret Steiner, McCullough Junior High
2nd Kasturi Nair, Academy of Science and Technology, College Park
3rd Abbi Wharton, York Junior High

If your name is listed above, please attend the Sci://Tech award ceremony at The Woodlands College Park High School Auditorium. from 4:00-5:30. All Sci://Blogz awards will be given at the first ceremony.

Interview Location Change

2011-02-21T17:02:00.001-06:00

UPDATE: The interview location is Building C, upstairs in the mini computer lab.

Sci://Blogz Interviews Pending

2011-02-18T07:21:00.003-06:00

Interviews will be held at Lone Star College in Building C on the second floor on Saturday February 26. If you were chosen to receive an interview, you, your teacher, and your parent were notified via email and sent a sign up link for a time slot.

Sci://Blogz Calendar

2011-02-18T07:21:00.002-06:00

Final Business

2011-02-02T11:07:00.001-06:00

Dear Students and Sponsors:

If you are the only student from your school (or one of the only three from your school) OR you are a finalist from your school, make SURE you have registered on the official entry form. Unless your name and info is on THIS FORM, you will not be entered to compete in the Sci://Blogz competition.

All About the Sci://Blogz Competition

2010-08-17T15:45:00.009-05:00

Sci://Tech 2011 is February 26

Why blog for Sci://Tech this year?

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.

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?

Helpful Hints

2010-08-17T15:42:00.003-05:00

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)

2010-08-17T15:40:00.000-05:00

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

Attention Sci://Bloggers...Final Stuff

2010-08-17T15:31:00.004-05:00

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

2010-08-17T15:30:00.005-05:00

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

Sci://Blogz Hall of Fame

2010-07-08T08:30:00.002-05:00

Sci://Blogz Winners 2010:

Overall Competition Winner:Shannon Oscher, click here to see blog

7-12 Winners:

1st Place: Shannon Oscher, click here to see blog
2nd Place: Kasthuri Nair, click here to see blog
3rd Place: Janice Rosado, click here to see blog

4-6 Winners:

1st Place: Reagan Derossett, click here to see blog
2nd Place: Brendan Garcia, click here to see blog
3rd Place: Maggie Steiner, click here to see blog

Sci://Blogz Winners 2009

Open Letter to Sci://Blogz Sponsors

2009-11-08T09:24:00.016-06:00

Open Letter to Sci://Blogz Sponsors:

Dear Science and Technology Friends,

Please remember the Sci://Blogz competition this year when you are encouraging (or requiring) students to participate in the Education for Tomorrow Alliance Science Fair. Each school can send THREE participants to be interviewed about their work, and with 10 potential ways to win, students have a much higher chance of placing than in the general science fair. Plus, EVERYONE grades 4-12 can participate at the campus level.

What is Sci://Blogz?

Show off the hard work you're doing to create your Sci://Tech 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.

Can I see some examples? Check out the Sci://Blogz Hall of Fame.

Permission forms are kept by campus sponsors and can be found here.

If you hear of a class that is participating, please ask the teacher to let me know how many students are involved (I report these numbers to Sci://Tech) by filling out this SHORT and SIMPLE FORM.

Need information NOT posted on the blog? Email sciblogz@gmail.com

Sci://Blogz Calendar

2009-11-05T13:54:00.000-06:00

Open this calendar in another window to see all the days.

Map to Lone Star College

2009-11-01T09:59:00.000-06:00

If you are chosen as a finalist for the competition, you will participate in an interview the day of the Science fair. Please check the calendar posted here for details.

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