An inquiry based project for stem

An Inquiry-Based Project for STEMLaura BradfordMICDS Science Department

Why An Integrated Science Project?

What STEM means in the MICDS curriculum

Ties to NGSS; Science, Math, and Engineering

Global, real-world, relevant issues

Cross-curricular

Local contacts (Danforth Plant Science, Monsanto)

Building research skills

Engineering component

AKA: “Isn’t lecturing about content easier?”

Our Curriculum

In 2010 MICDS began the process of designing a new building to house the science and math departments. As the new building took shape, it spurred a natural evaluation and re-design of the of the math and science curriculums .The building and curriculum together offer MICDS students opportunities to learn and explore new worlds related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics - preparing and graduating a steady stream of future leaders in the STEM disciplines..

Intro

Our Curriculum

Forward FocusOur goal is to teach the essential science using a focus/lens that uses theexperiments and issues of today

Interdisciplinary approach to the teaching of modern science usingthe skills of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Find out more about our 9 and 10 curriculum Tuesday, session 3, 1:00!

Real-world applicationsLittle content is delivered as lecture, instead students gain a working understanding of science and math, questioning their world and designing investigations around those questions

Grade 9 – Focus is Physics and ChemistryGrade 10 – Focus is Biology and ChemistryEnvironmental Science AP level courses / electives

Aligned to NGSS StandardsMore than science and math contentBuilding in engineering practices

Working with Partners Don’t re-invent the wheel, who has the time for that?

We posed a Real-World Problem!

You and your company have recently been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to develop an efficient, government-compliant, economical process for producing ethanol..

Cross-Curricular and Multiple-Skills “What is an important factor to consider in designing an efficient, economical process for producing ethanol?”

EconomicsHealthWorld HistoryMath

Reading mapsInterpreting graphs and tablesWorking with dataPlanning long term projectsDesign/conduct/present experiment

Overview http://www.c2es.org/technology/factsheet/CellulosicEthanolFederal Regulationhttp://seco.cpa.state.tx.us/energy-sources/biomass/legislation.phpEthanol Production http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/renewable/ethanol.phpEthanol from Sugar Cane –http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/brazils-ethanol-sector-once-thriving-is-being-buffeted-by-forces-both-man-made-natural/2014/01/01/9587b416-56d7-11e3-bdbf-097ab2a3dc2b_story.htmlPricing and Food Concernshttp://seekingalpha.com/article/81793-food-or-fuel-for-thoughtEnvironmental Concernshttp://www.ethanolrfa.org/pages/ethanol-facts-environment

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Students share the research, share findings, share ideas, share thoughts on Important aspects of the project (googledocs)

Students work to determine best source ofcellulosic biomass.

The procedure was given to students, theyfocused on the best source of biomass.

What makes “the best source of

cellulose?”

Use your resources! MICDS librarians were an AMAZING resource for our students!

The process…..

1. Work as a group to do background research.2. Determine best source of cellulosic biomass.3. Determine the best pre-treatment.4. Conduct experiment, collect results.5. Share data with all classes. 6. Present findings to the company.7. Additional part at the end of the

year….develop your OWN research project. Many choose to continue to expand on this project.

8. Second run was 100% student conducted. An opportunity to fine-tune the first experiments or find other factors to increase ethanol production.

The process….

Goal of your experiment: Day 1 (12/9 or 12/10; 90 min): Breaking down celluloseStep 1: Select Cellulose Biomass material:Step 2: Describe your method of breaking down sample:Step 3: Describe how you will treat with cellulase; you must adhere to the lab handout for this step. Describe Your Experimental and Control Treatments: Explain the purpose of your control: Supply List—be specific so we can gather the necessary tools to break down your sample: Day 2 (12/16; 45 min): Beginning FermentationWhat data will you collect to determine whether your cellulase treatment was effective?Describe how you will organize your data.Describe how you will ferment your samples.

Students need small deadlines/goalsRequire progress reports at various stages

Progress Report Name(s): Date:

Restate your hypothesis:

Paste all data tables and graphs displaying your data below. Make sure all tables and graphs have proper titles and axes.

What aspects of your experiment have gone differently than expected, if any?

Is there any part of your experiment that still needs to be done or re-done? When will you do that?

The result….

Presentations and shared data

The extension….Poster-presentations of individual extension projects

Question: Can a genetically modified yeast with higher resistance to ethanol be more viable fermenter than regular yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for the production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass?

Findings: Ethanol obtained from fermentation of miscanthus from wild type S. cerevisiae 6%.From S.cerevisiae ∆eth1 fermentation, 9% ethanol.

The future….

 According to U.S. Department of Energy studies conducted by Argonne National Laboratory of the University of Chicago, one of the benefits of cellulosic ethanol is that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by up to 86% over reformulated gasoline. By contrast, starch ethanol (e.g., from corn), which most frequently uses natural gas to provide energy for the process, may not reduce GHG emissions at all depending on how the starch-based feedstock is produced.

Looking forward to find more ties to economics, ecology, mathematics, genetics, botany, environmental, biochemistry, geography.Students next year will have past results to build from!

Govt. regulations

Greenhouse gas

emissions

Cost/benefits

Thank youLaura BradfordMICDS Science [email protected] ext 7612