| Author | Thread |
|
|
01/31/2013 04:24:44 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by Spork99:
Gimme a break, the girl is 10. At that age, asking the question, "Which dog does its job the fastest?" is an entirely appropriate query. Especially when you consider her father's occupation and the fact that he's more than likely discussed his job and the dogs' role in it.
The fact that she didn't stuff the cocaine down her pants, handle the dogs or actively participate in the execution of the test isn't relevant to it being good science.
It may not be Nobel Prize winning science, but it's not terrible either.
The fact that cocaine was involved is irrelevant. Would you still jump all over her and her project if the dogs had detected explosives? or food? or human scent? |
I think the query was good enough at 10. As a mom, I've just seen too many parent want their kids to be first, so they do all the work and have the kids write down the results. My kid decided to pack an egg in different materials and drop it from 3 ft or so to see what the best packing material was. He had a blast packing the egg in bubble wrap, nails, and anything silly he could think of, and then writing down the answers. All she got to do was writing down the answers.
I don't care about the cocaine or anything else. Parents just need to settle down, find something the kid can actually do themselves, (it may not be so impressive that she wins blue, but she'll probably get more out of it. |
Science isn't necessarily about actually doing experiments. Experimentation involves designing an experiment to test your hypothesis and interpreting the results of that testing. It matters little who actually runs the test as long as the test is run correctly. One of the most significant errors is letting scientists run tests when they aren't familiar with the equipment. That's why smart experimenters let people who are experts run their tests when they themselves don't know how to operate the equipment. Unless the girl is one of the dogs' handlers, her non-involvement in the actual execution of the test isn't important. |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 04:30:42 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
I remember reading about it when I was just a kit ... |
What kind of glue did your mom and dad use to put you together? ;-) |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 04:46:17 PM · #28 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by Kelli:
Speaking of weird science and animals, I found this story on the same page fascinating and disgusting at the same time. |
Ambergris isn't really vomit, it's an excretion......not that the description is any more pleasant!
From Merriam-Webster:"It is thought to form as a collection of feces around indigestible parts of squid and other prey of the whale. "
Yeah, it smells nasty but has been coveted for hundreds of years. Its first known use was in the 15th century. I remember reading about it when I was just a kit (50 years ago) and was fascinated. The perfume industry seems to have a wide and varied demand for the most vile things on earth.
I just don't get it! LOL!!! |
And why were you surprised the other night when I said whales are stinky? Now I want to know what ambergris smells like just so I can say I know........ even if it makes me gag....
Anyway this is about a science fair entry.......right BearMusic ......... I think this is an over the top example of a parent having his dogs helicoptering in order to assure the success of the child ........beyond the call of duty......and should be a banned activity. Science fairs are basically bogus anyway. There are rules about a parent's involvement....at least in Pennsylvania and even so kids AND parents cheat....left and right. If there are going to be rules they should most definitely be broken....every opportunity is a chance to get ahead.....dog eat dog....dog sniffs coke.....cop is a braggart....people are sheep.....LOUD RECORD SCRATCH INSERTED HERE////////////////////////////// !!!!!!!!!
Actually THIS is how it SHOULD be......
Each child entering a science fair should be given a box filled with basic materials...... paper....metal wire.......rubber bands.....clay, perhaps..pencil (with sharpener) .....etc......and they should be sequestered over a weekend alone in a room...food slid under a space in the door...like in jail.....each under the same conditions as the next contestant and be given a specific challenge (like this place)......then when they are good and hungry they should be allowed to leave exactly at 8 am Monday morning....no sooner...no later...all doors open at the same time. Their "projects" should be transported by anonymous carriers to a large hall in the same convention center where a panel of judges....who DO NOT KNOW any of the contestants and parents judge the entries based on secret criteria they only get to read immediately before they judge the entries....... a little more fair? |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 05:03:25 PM · #29 |
I want to experiment with cocaine......I mean I want to experiment with dogs on cocain...I mean I want to experiment with a dogs sence of smell and cocain.......aggghh never mind.
|
|
|
|
01/31/2013 05:05:10 PM · #30 |
In California in fourth grade there is a unit in the Spanish Missions. it has been a fourth grade unit since I was a kid. You study them, you build a model, you write a report, Yada yada yada. The helicopter parents take it up a notch. They take the kid on a tour of the missions, they hire a professional model maker to make their kid's model. It gets pretty silly.
A friend told me a story from her child's school where the models are being lined up and the difference between the kid made models and the parent made models is very clear. The teacher made an announcement that the models were going to be graded pass/fail. Half the room was relieved, half incensed. One mother came up to the teacher and was furious. She said " I worked too hard on this model not to get my A."
When a class project or a science fair demonstration involves more parent activity than kid activity, it does not allow the other children to compete on an equitable basis. In cases like this where tax payer money is paying for an impressive "child's" project, it is even worse. |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 05:18:22 PM · #31 |
I don't have a problem with the parents helping the kids on their projects, as long as the project is graded on the work that the kid did himself. Every kid should be lucky enough to have parents who are involved, but projects that incite a lot of parental involvement probably *should* be graded pass/fail.
I actually have a bigger problem with the schools assigning impossible projects that can't be done successfully without parental involvement. Around here, especially in the suburban areas, that seems to be the norm. That puts the kids whose parents are less skilled or less available at a big disadvantage. |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 05:18:45 PM · #32 |
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
In California in fourth grade there is a unit in the Spanish Missions. it has been a fourth grade unit since I was a kid. You study them, you build a model, you write a report, Yada yada yada. The helicopter parents take it up a notch. They take the kid on a tour of the missions, they hire a professional model maker to make their kid's model. It gets pretty silly.
A friend told me a story from her child's school where the models are being lined up and the difference between the kid made models and the parent made models is very clear. The teacher made an announcement that the models were going to be graded pass/fail. Half the room was relieved, half incensed. One mother came up to the teacher and was furious. She said " I worked too hard on this model not to get my A."
When a class project or a science fair demonstration involves more parent activity than kid activity, it does not allow the other children to compete on an equitable basis. In cases like this where tax payer money is paying for an impressive "child's" project, it is even worse. |
YUP...agree....regardless of content.... |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 05:39:48 PM · #33 |
the real winners are
the makers of the NikonJeb kit! And I bet they did it without their parents too. |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 05:41:54 PM · #34 |
| I need to refresh myself on which participants in this thread have kids of their own... |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 05:49:24 PM · #35 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I need to refresh myself on which participants in this thread have kids of their own... |
memememememememe!! |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 05:58:59 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I need to refresh myself on which participants in this thread have kids of their own... |
memememememememe!! |
uhhh...didn't I just mention the preloaded Wendy exemption to all my statements? |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 06:00:16 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I need to refresh myself on which participants in this thread have kids of their own... |
memememememememe!! |
uhhh...didn't I just mention the preloaded Wendy exemption to all my statements? |
Sorry -- I forget these things... I really do try to remember... |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 06:29:31 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by Ann:
I don't have a problem with the parents helping the kids on their projects, as long as the project is graded on the work that the kid did himself. Every kid should be lucky enough to have parents who are involved, but projects that incite a lot of parental involvement probably *should* be graded pass/fail.
I actually have a bigger problem with the schools assigning impossible projects that can't be done successfully without parental involvement. Around here, especially in the suburban areas, that seems to be the norm. That puts the kids whose parents are less skilled or less available at a big disadvantage. |
+1
My husband had to make a project for our son last year. It needed to made of plywood which we needed to buy along with the "accessories" to go with it. It needed to be cut with a circular saw. Nailed and glued together. My son did the design of the project and the painting, but the real work fell on us (I had to transport and carry the stupid thing).
Message edited by author 2013-01-31 18:33:19. |
|
|
|
01/31/2013 07:00:17 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I retract what I said somewhat after reading another account which mentioned repetition of the trials. That is an important scientific concept. My original picturing of the experiement was to have each dog try it once and declare a winner. |
I was thinking the same thing as you Doc. But I refrained from commenting. I thought, she had to at least have a diagram about how a dog's nose works to go along with this or something. The news story left me misinformed. It's a sad state of affairs at Yahoo News! They can't put together a decent news story with all the facts. But they sure do know how to get their comments section to fill up with people arguing! |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/14/2025 09:46:08 AM EDT.
