Coaches Training Session Florida Science Olympiad Osceola County November 2, 2007

Philosophy of Science Olympiad  Improve quality of science education.  Create a passion for science learning.  Provide recognition for achievement.

Correlation of Science Olympiad with State Standards. State standards for 6-8 and 9-12 have been correlated to the events for the Florida Science Olympiad. These are listed in your manual.

The Events: Division B. A for Anatomy Amphibians and Reptiles Balloon Launch Glider Crave the Wave Disease Detectives Ecology Food Science Meteorology Metric Mastery Mystery Architecture Oceanography Reach for the Stars Road Scholar Robot Ramble Rocks and Minerals Science Crime Busters Science Process Skills Science Word Scrambler Simple Machines Tower Building Trajectory Write It, Do It.

The Events: Division C Amphibians and Reptiles Astronomy Boomilever Cell Biology Chemistry Lab Circuit Lab Disease Detectives Ecology Electric Buggy Experimental Design Five Star Science Food Science Forensics Health Science Oceanography Physics Lab Practical Probes Remote Sensing Robo-Cross Rocks and Minerals Sounds of Music The Wright Stuff Write It, Do It.

Types of Events The events are generally divided into the following types of events:  Construction and Engineering  Laboratory and Process Skill  Research  Knowledge Recall

Rules Books  Contains rules for students to follow and to prep for events.  If it is not specifically forbidden, it is allowed.  BUT, in most cases, electronic devices are NOT permitted.  If in doubt, contact us.

Rules Books  If in need of clarification, go to the FSO web site at  Also go to the National Clarifications Page at  FSO follows the clarifications.

Setting up a team.  Consist of 15 students, one coach.  Maximum of 7 seniors on division C.  Maximum of 5 freshmen on division B.  All students must be from home school.  Can have as many separate teams as you want – but must have separate registration for each.

Setting up a team  Only one event is allowed to be entered for each team.  Can put top-achievers on one team from a school.  Can have a second team as a practice team.  Can have backup students.

Scheduling  Best to have a variety of students.  Some schools do better with generalists.  Students too specified may not do as well if schedule gets changed at last minute.  Don’t over-commit a student.

Scheduling  Have back up students for events. A student in one event can switch at the last minute with another if necessary.  Some events don’t require the builder to be present. Example: Bridge and Tower.

Scheduling  There are a variety of ways to select team members:  Individual school competitions.  Teacher pick.  Department pick.  Open to all

Scheduling  Try to put the student in his or her strongest event first.  Note the times and places of event so students are close to their next event.

The Code of Conduct Student participants are expected to compete in tournament events with an honest effort to follow the rules and the spirit of that competition. The goal of competition is to give one’s best effort while displaying honest, integrity, and sportsmanship. Students, coaches, parents, and guests are expected to display courtesy and respect toward Olympiad officials, other teams, and guests of the Olympiad. Failure to show honesty and/or courtesy by a participant, coach or guest of the team may result in disqualification of the team from that event, the entire tournament or future tournaments.

Code of Conduct  It is important that all attending model good behavior.  The goal of Science Olympiad is to emphasize the process of science, not competition.  Sportsmanlike conduct is to be emphasized.

Clarification of the rules  The rules are complex! So check and read them carefully.  Any questions, contact FSO.  Or contact the National Clarification Web Site.  It is possible for rules to be modified slightly after the FSO tournament.

Pre-Olympiad Preparations  You will receive the following paperwork:  Code of Conduct  Final Registration Form  FSO Event Card  Website/Press Release Form  Directions to FSO  Schedule  Map of school

Pre-Olympiad Preparations  MAKE SURE STUDENTS KNOW THEIR TEAM NUMBER!  Lunch will be provided by an outside caterer.  Be flexible!  Prepare for equipment challenges.  Bring extra supplies.

The Olympiad  Enter ALL events, even if you are not prepared.  Other students not competing can come and watch.  Remind everyone to not interfere or interact with students, judges during event.

The Olympiad  Set up a base of operations.  Bring extra supplies for broken engineering events.  Remind the students of the Code of Conduct.  Have FUN!

The Olympiad - Scoring  Team scores will be:  1 st Place = 1 point  2 nd Place = 2 points  3 rd Place = 3 points  nth Place = n points  Did not show = n+1 points  Disqualified for behavior = n+2 points

Post-Olympiad  Review events with your team.  Discuss what went right, wrong.  Plan for next year.  Notify FSO of issues we can change.

Additional Training  Coaches Conferences  San Francisco  Orlando

For more information… Mike McKee

Fermi Questions Require students to estimate and think critically. Must be familiar with rounding and powers of 10.

Fermi Questions Examples: 1. How many frames are in a typical Disney animated film? 2. How many eggs can fit in a stadium? 3. What is the increase in mass of humans over the last century? 4. How many heartbeats occur during a human lifetime?

National Science Olympiad Training  Oct 12-13, 2007  Olympia High School  All events will be presented