[va-bird] input requested for new high school course

 Dear Va Birders, 
          I know that some of you are professors
or are involved in ongoing scientific research on
birds in Virginia so I thought the following
e-mail that I sent to the Flint Hill School
community might be of interest to you. I
am hoping that a few of you might be able to find
the time to provide input or other help.  Or
perhaps you could forward it to others who might
be able to assist.  Flint Hill School is in
Fairfax County.  THANKS!

Dear Parents, Friends, and Alums of Flint Hill
School,

Next year I am teaching a new course for a
handful of seniors called Biological Research.  I
am very excited about this class because the
students will be conducting their own research. 
In my high school education, one of the most
valuable experiences I had was designing and
performing my own research, so I am eager to give
FHS students this opportunity too.

In this course, I would like to give the students
the opportunity to see research being conducted,
analyze the results and discuss the procedures of
real research, and hear from professionals who
are actually doing research.  These aspects of
the course would take place during the first
semester as we also engage in research
experiences as a class in the field and the lab. 
Then in the second semester each student will
perform their own research which they will plan
out in the first semester.  I am looking for
mentors that can coach students and possibly
provide a place for them to conduct research. 
These can be field-based or lab-based research
projects.  My experience is with field research
so I could use the most help in anything
lab-based.

If you feel you can help in any of these ways
please let me know:
1. Visit the class with your data and lead a
discussion on your procedure, the results and
what they show, as an example of how to (or how
not to) conduct research.
2. Allow the class to visit you at the site of
your research to see you or your staff in action
and engage in a discussion of scientific method
and experimental design.
3. Mentor a student in your nearby lab or office,
guiding them as they plan out and perform their
own research.
4. I am very weak in statistics, so if you could
help us apply the right statistical thinking and
methods to our plans and results that would be a
big help.

THANKS!
The best way to reach me is by e-mail

Fred


Frederick D. Atwood     fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675     
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html
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