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DETAILS
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE
The IRON SCIENCE TEACHER COMPETITION 2008 has been postponed to 19 November 2008.
All rules and schedules - processes, etc - remain as stated below.
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THE SECRET INGREDIENTS


Celery Stalks
1 bunch

Latex Gloves
1 box
Medium

Drinking Straw
1 bag (black)
(205Lx8DIA)mm

Torchlight
1 set
D-size battery
Contestants may not use the entire quantity available,
ie the available numbers (above) must be shared among all contestants.
Please read the rules regarding the use of these Secret Ingredients.
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THE COMPETITION PROGRAMME

TIME
ACTIVITY
1230
 ALL Participants report to the Preparation Area
for Secret Ingredients & Final Briefing.
1400
START of EVENT
  MC Welcomes ALL,
Introduces the Judges,
Explains the Format.
~1415
 First Participant's Presentation ... then loops.
~1515
RECESS ~ 15 minutes
~1530
 Participant's Presentation ... then loops.
~1630
END of PRESENTATIONS
  Judges retire to deliberate.
Set up venue for prize-giving.
~1645
 Results & Prize Presentation with Judges' comments.
~1730
APPRECIATION
IRON SCIENCE TEACHER Competition 2008 Ends.
See You Next Year!
All times & durations are approximate – to be finalised where and when possible;
dependent on the number of participants.
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THE COMPETITION PROCESS Click to Return to the Top of this Page.
THE SUPPORTING CAST

The cast of our Supporting Personnel from the Science Centre includes:
  • The MC : Ms Florence Francis, Senior Scientific Officer
  • The Timekeeper : Ms Jenny Leong, Higher Administrative Assistant
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THE COMPETITION VENUES

The event is held at Science Centre Singapore.
  • Presentation Venue : the Dalton Lecture Hall, Level 3, Science Centre Singapore.
    • All presentations will be made here.
    • The Audience will also be seated here.
      • Please be seated at least 15 minutes before the start of the first presentation, ie ~ 1345.

  • Preparation Venue : the Faraday Lab, Level 3 (next to the Dalton).
    • All participants must report here by ~1230.
    • Registration, briefing, co-ordination, apparatus/equipment preparation, etc are all be carried out here.
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SHARING SESSIONS

This special gathering aims to bring past participants and potential participants together to share in the spirit of the competition. It also offers the opportunity to preview the competition venues and other facilities, and get DVDs of the previous contests – while stocks last.
  • Date : 12 September 2008
  • Time : 1500
  • Venue : Newton Room (Level 2 Mezzanine)
Please use the Participant's sign-up page to reserve a place in the Sharing Session.

A second session may be arranged.
Please stay tuned, or, indicate your interest by e-mailing the organisers directly.

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THE COMPETITION DATES

The Competition which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, 12 November 2008, has been changed to
  • Wednesday, 19 November 2008,
  • from 1400 to ~1730.
If the total number of participants and a significant number of them requests it, another afternoon session can be organised. In this case, 11 November 2008 (from 1400) will likely be the second session.

To sign up as a participant, please register online Click to Return to the Top of this Page.
THE PRIZES

Your Title
Your Prize
The IRON SCIENCE Teacher of 2008
Travel + Residency
The WROUGHT IRON Teacher of 2008
S$500.00
The CAST IRON Teacher of 2008
S$250.00
Judges' Special Recognition Awards
Max of SIX awards.
The winning performers' names will be updated in the Participants' page.
Each winning performer will also be presented with a trophy and a testimonial letter.
Videoclips of the winning performances may also be uploaded here.
  • The Iron Science Teacher of 2008 wins the following study trip:
    • The opportunity to learn from, augment to and share his science teaching-communication skills with fellow teachers at the National Science Learning Centre in York, UK.
      • The Iron Science Teacher of 2008 may choose one course from the following list.
        • We are awaiting confirmation from the National Science Learning Centre.
    • Travel that includes ONE Return Economy Air Ticket + Train Ticket + Air Travel Insurance.
    • Residency (course fees + room & board) that covers the number of days of the course (only).
  • After the Iron Science Teacher of 2008 returns from his/her study trip:
    • Must submit a report of your experiences at the course.
      • A suggested report format will be provided.
      • Please submit it within THREE weeks of your return.
    • Host at least ONE sharing session so that everyone can learn from your learning experience there.
      • Do keep a good record (especially photographs, videos, etc) of your experiences there.

  • The Judges' Special Recognition Awards are given at the judging panel's discretion, ie the panel may decide
    • not to award any such recognition to any participant, or,
    • to award up to 6 such recognitions for categories the panel deems noteworthy.

  • Each participant will be presented with
    • a certificate of participation,
    • a bag of interesting gifts, souvenirs and fun stuff, and,
    • a DVD record of the competition (when ready).

  • Prize-receiving Protocol
    • Please come forward when your name is called.
    • Greet (shake hands) and receive your trophy. Photographs will be taken.
    • Please remain at the front-centre to listen to the Judges' comments.
    • This procedure will be finalised during the participants' briefing (before the start of the competition).
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Responses relevant inquiries will be appended below.
  • Is the competition for individuals? Or can I work with a partner?
    The competition is for the solo "performer" (just as the classroom setting is for a single teacher – for now!). Participants may discuss his/her "lesson plan" with whomsoever he/she chooses, but the actual "lesson" must be given by the individual participant without pre-arranged or pre-practised assistance. The spirit of the competition is to share teaching ideas with a measure of improvisational, creative inputs. There is also no provision for recognising your aid(s)/assistant(s) – especially for winning lessons! Lastly, there is also no provision for the presence of "teams of participants" during the final briefing. Do note, however, that there is also no restriction about engaging audience volunteer(s) for your demonstration.
  • Am I allowed to discuss the lesson after knowing/receiving the secret ingredient(s)?
    Yes. In fact, we encourage you to talk with your fellow participants – brainstorm, bounce your ideas off them. The principal objective of this competition is for teachers to exchange ideas on how to make science interesting to your audience. Each teacher's lesson will be unique and presumably, no participant wants to present the same lesson-topic in the same way (as another presenter).
  • How many different secret ingredients will there be? Can I use more than one of them?
    There will be a set of secret ingredients – not more than 4 different items. You may choose to use any particular one or any combination of the secret ingredients provided. But only in the number(s) specified and provided. For example: If only one spoon is specified as one of the secret ingredients, you may not bring your own spoons (even if of the same design/manufacture) and then use multiple spoons in your demonstration.
  • If one of the secret ingredients is a spoon (for example), can I use my own (similar) spoon?
    You may of course practise with your own spoon in the week before the competition. However, during the competition, you must use the spoon we provide, (ie the exact secret ingredient and limited to the numbers per ingredient).
  • What are the material I am allowed to use for my presentation?
    As you will be told the secret ingredients a week in advance, you are expected to think up possible topics and lessons based on the secret ingredient(s) you choose to use. You are not expected to nor will you be allowed to "construct" entire apparatuses as teaching aids for your presentation. On the actual day of the competition, you will be shown to a set of material (kept in the Preparation Area). You may use any of these material together with your chosen secret ingredient(s) in your presentation. So do report early to the Preparation Area to find out, select and practise with all your chosen material.
  • Will expendables like markers for the whiteboard, transparencies and colour markers for the OHP, paper and pens for the visualiser be provided for my presentation?
    Yes, necessary expendable material will be provided, but with some restrictions due to the equipment available.
  • Can I prepare transparencies, graphics, etc for use with the OHP or the visualiser?
    In the spirit of the contest, NO. The idea of the competition is for ultra-fast lesson planning and improvisations – to captivate the audience with your performance, and enthrall the audience with your bite-size science. How you enthusiastically express yourself will be more important than what you tell your story with! As such, no pre-fabricated training aids are allowed. You will have to start from fresh sheets of paper or transparencies during your presentation. Pragmatically, although the OHP and visualiser are provided, you are not expected to use them as they really "tie you (looking) down" during your presentation – not the best way to engage an audience. Even the whiteboard will have you turned (facing) away from your audience. You should consider the use of these equipment carefully. More importantly, think about the science (the salient bits – not all the details) you want to transmit. You really don't have much time to go into the nitty-gritty. Apply the KISS – Keep It Simple, Silly – principle.
  • Will I be penalised if I use more than the allowed time for my presentation and Q&A?
    The judges will certainly take that into account. But a total of 6 minutes is a lot of time for a "simple" (simplified) lesson-demo, so you should have enough time for everything you want to do and say – as long as you stay focussed on what precisely you want to say and how you want to do it. Thus, you are expected to stop and vacate the floor at the 6-minute bell. Depending on your plan – allocate more time to teach the science, or, allocate more time to Q&A – you can change the balance of your content transmission with your audience engagement. It is your strategy.
  • Can my presentation be shorter the 5 minutes?
    YES. In fact, we strongly advise that you plan for a less-than-4-minute presentation to give yourself more time to "interact" with the judges and the audience. The type and number of questions indicate the audience's attention to your presentation. The judges will certainly be listening for that as well. Also, local audiences (as is well know) are oftentimes rather "conservative" so you may wish to draw them out by asking them questions; rather than facing silence, especially over any remaining presentation time (to the 6-minute bell). This proactive solicitation is surely a well used tool for feedback on the lesson-demo presented.
  • Will I be penalised if the secret ingredient(s) I use is damaged or destroyed?
    NO. In almost all cases. Obviously, if the secret ingredient is of some monetary value, (a laser pointer, for example), you would be expected to be more careful. Not because of the cost of the secret ingredient but because there may not be enough copies for other participants – if operational ones are continually damaged. If the secret ingredient is a styrofoam drinking cup, then obviously, you can tear it (them) up or punch holes, etc. Such will almost always be the case as secret ingredients are almost always ordinary, everyday items.
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USEFUL WEBLINKS

Here are some weblinks that should give you some ideas.
If you have relevant links and resources you wish to share with others, please forward them to the organisers.
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