Teacher Resources
Introducing ExploraVision / Motivating Your Team / ExploraVision Ambassador ProgramClassroom tips: Elementary / Middle and Junior High / High School
Classroom Tips - High School
Do your busy high-school students need some extra incentive for focusing on science and technology? Try ExploraVision!
High-school level science and technology should focus not only on design solutions, but also on cost, risk, benefits, potential environmental impacts and other trade-offs. This assessment is key for success in ExploraVision.
While ExploraVision entries at this level contain more complex information and more "professional" presentation than those created by younger students — winning requires the same kind of imagination, teamwork and creativity.
Organizing a High School ExploraVision Team
Click here for general tips on helping students of all levels
1. Advertise — Then Let Interested Students Form Their Own Teams of 2–4 Students
- Make your students aware of the ExploraVision competition through class announcements, bulletin-board postings and your school website. Ask your colleagues to chat with their students about the program.
- At this level, students should form their own teams with little teacher direction. If one or two students ask for help, suggest they look for other students with diverse interests and talents. In ExploraVision, strong writing and artistic/graphic skills are as important as technological understanding.
2. Develop a Schedule
Help the team establish a schedule of effort to ensure it doesn't miss the deadline. Ideally, the project should begin early enough so that students can take time off during "crunch" times throughout the school year.
3. Help the Team Choose a Topic
Meet formally every week or so to work on choosing a topic. Students should spend at least a few weeks researching new inventions and innovations to existing technology before making their choice.
4. Find a Mentor
At this level, a mentor can be the team's technical resource, help with logistics and arrange contacts with local technical experts.
5. Encourage!
It is essential that the students develop their own vision of the future. Get involved, provide feedback, resolve conflicts and pat them on the back, but don't pressure or lead your students.
You may be called upon to proofread the Description and Web page graphics. You might also assist with photocopying, collating, checklist review and final mailing of the first-round entries.
6. Research
- Find an expert. High school students should be familiar with basic research resources, but most will find contact with someone in the field they are studying to be the best source of information. Engineering firms, private companies and local university professors are often willing to help. This person will probably also be able to suggest other sources for research. You or your mentor may need to set up the initial contact, and go with students to their first meeting. You might even be able to establish an e-mail dialogue that's mutually beneficial.
- Encourage students to use a wide range of resources — including the library, museums and the Internet. Click here for a short list of resources appropriate to each grade level.
7. Complete the Entry
It's best for students to complete the elements of the entry a week or so before they must mail the entry. This leaves plenty of time for last-minute editing, photocopying and assembling.
Don't let the team's hard work go to waste because their entry gets disqualified. Make sure that the students actually complete their entries and mail them on time. Go through the checklist (link) with the team members to ensure rules and directions have been followed to the letter.
Content Standard E: Science and Technology
As a result of activities in grades 9–12, all students should develop:
- Abilities of technological design
- Identify a problem or design an opportunity
- Propose designs and choose between alternative solutions
- Implement a proposed solution
- Evaluate the solution and its consequences
- Communicate the problem, process and solution
- Understandings about science and technology
Scientific inquiry is driven by the desire to understand nature; technological design is driven by the need to meet human needs and to solve human problems.
From the National Science Education Standards National Research Council, 1996
"...The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision program makes clear and reinforces the connections [among]...the traditional sciences, mathematics and technology. ExploraVision allows students to act as part of a team...simulating...an interdisciplinary scientific research team."
— David M. Stone, University Laboratory High School, Urbana, Illinois
