Quarter 1
Week 0
3 Days
Introductions and Syllabus
Discussion of proper Scientific Theory/method
Review of popular media/advertisements for “Science”
Reading of “Logical Fallacies”

Week 1
5 Days
Discussion of Logical Fallacies (HW, have each student find an example of one in advertisements)
Review of student fallacies (HW, see if you can get away with a logical fallacy with friends, family, or in other classes)
Last three days spent discussing controversial issues based on Logical fallacies (Straw man, slippery slope, etc)

Week 2
4 Days (Labor Day)
Monday - A discussion about whether tis better to love your job, or make enough money to do what you love. (HW ask your parents/family/teachers What is your job? What do love about your job?  What do you not love about your job?  If you had a choice, would you be doing something else?)
Tuesday - A discussion about the careers that parents/family etc has, and what their answers were.
(HW Make a list of 10 careers that they might like)
Wednesday - Talk about what careers they have heard of, that might be interesting. Ask questions like “What does that job entail?” etc. Show “Did you know” video on youtube.  Ask students what jobs might be in 10 years. (HW Create a few jobs that they truly believe don’t exist today, but will be viable jobs in the next 20 years)
Thursday - Show “The Deep Dive” and Explain SCAMPER(http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_02.htm)
Introduce a project where they will present the career to the class.  Short 3 minute presentations to be given on Tuesday of the following week
Friday - Lecture on Research Techniques and explain that the career they chose must be based in reality, and their research should show that it is feasible.


Week 3
5 Days
Monday Research
Tuesday Presentations
Wednesday Presentations
Thursday Presentations
Friday Review of presentations

Week 4
4.5 Days (Open House Thursday)
Monday - Introduce Research project on current career, This time, taking feedback from the first presentation, they should improve their presentation.
Tuesdsay - Present the Expo project and timelines suggesting that the career that they are researching may have some relation to a possible expo topic.
Wednesday - Research
Thursday - Research
Thursday Night- Present the Independent Study Project to parents (At Open House)
Friday - Research

Week 5
5 Days
Mon-Thurs Presentations
Friday Review of Presentations

Week 6
5 Days
Monday - Introduce 5 step problem solving process and explain how this can help guide ideas for their expo project http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/think/ps-guffey.htm
Tuesday - Tell the students that they are going to attempt to solve a problem that affects them.  Not global warming per se, but more something like, because of one’s schedule, he or she cannot make it to their locker.
Wednesday - Research for that project
Thursday - Research for that project
Friday - Turn in Project

Week 7
3 Days
Monday - Discussion on Problem solving in the real world, what do consultants do, BP oil spill, etc.
Tuesday - Discussion on the power of people who think about a problem.  Most dont stop to think, just hear.  Discussion on Urban Legends.  Hit up Snopes.com
Wednesday - Introduce HOTS  http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/glenh/hots.htm
and how it can/should be applied to research
Thursday - Introduce the Toshiba Exploravision Contest http://www.exploravision.org/
And show entries, winners, etc.  Start brainstorming ideas for the project. Solve a problem that you find INTERESTING
Friday - Pick groups, and begin preliminary research for Exploravision

Week 8
4.5 Days  (Half Day Wednesday)
Work on Exploravision project - Research and Development.  By the end of the week, have a finalized plan for your product.

Week 9
5 Days
Meet with Cad/Engineering students to discuss and plan models/animation
Meet with Business for a basic Web tutorial
“The most boring things in the world”
Time to research and begin work on the website

Quarter 2
Week 1
5 Days
Mon-Wednesday Informal presentations to class
Thursday-Friday Meet with teacher to discuss presentations and hone project

Week 2
3 Days
Work on ExploraVision

Week 3
5 Days
Finish ExploraVision Monday-Tuesday
Formal Presentations Wed-Friday

Week 4
3 Days
Monday - Discuss similarities between Exploravision and Expo
Tuesday - Begin brainstorming expo ideas, but be broad here.
Wednesday - Example of how one can go about researching a broad idea to develop more specific ones.

Week 5
5 Days
Expo Topic Research (Get Library or Laptop Cart)  Stay broad here and develop some research over a couple different areas.

Week 6
5 Days
Expo Topic Research (Get Library or Laptop Cart) Now start to delve down into more specifics.  What are the problems in this area, who do they affect, and how could they be solved? Is anyone working on it currently?  What have they done?

Week 7
5 Days
Mon-Thurs Meet with teacher to discuss ideas for projects, pare it down to the top few.
Friday - Informal student proposals due (Winter break HW: Present your proposals to as many people as possible to get tons of feedback)

Week 8
5 Days
Mon-Wed Revise topic and Meet with teacher to discuss the final selection
Thursday - Research
Friday - Topic Selected and Informal presentation to class. (Weekend HW: Discuss with parents their role in the mentor team.  Have parents sign something that says they read the timeline and expectations)

Week 9
5 Days
Monday - Discussion of the importance of mentors, and what the mentor team will consist of.
Tuesday - Brainstorming on Possible Mentors, Where do they come from, would they be willing to help
Wednesday - Talk about what makes a professional letter.  What will make the mentor want to help?
Thursday - Write first draft of generic mentor letter
Friday - Teacher reviews first drafts with students.

Finals Week
4 Days (Half Day Wed, Thurs, Fri)
Tuesday - Study day

Quarter 3
Week 1
4 Days
Tuesday - Alumni Presentation
Wednesday - Mentor Selection research
Thursday - Several possible mentor selected and ranked
Friday - Contact letters go out to Mentor, teacher mentor, Alumni, and Parents.

Week 2
5 Days
February 2nd : EXPLORAVISION ENTRIES DUE
Monday - Decide what you are going to need help with on your project
Tues-Fri Give presentation to Freshmen classes, and pair up students by interest.

Week 3
5 Days
Mon-Fri Work on Project and meetings with teacher to discuss progress
Also, meetings with In building mentor
Rough Timeline of project should be done this week
Students should reflect here: What is going to be easiest for me?  What will be the most difficult?
1 day a week for the rest of the project, students should be sending updates to the mentor team via email or website.

Week 4
5 Days
Mon-Fri Work on Project and meetings with teacher to discuss progress
Also, meetings with In building mentor
Should have met with all mentors by this point, Beginning production on the Project
1 day a week for the rest of the project, students should be sending updates to the mentor team via email or website.

Week 5
4 Days
Work on Project and meetings with teacher to discuss progress
Also, meetings with In building mentor
Review timeline to see if changes need to be made.
1 day a week for the rest of the project, students should be sending updates to the mentor team via email or website.

Week 6
5 Days (Writer’s Week)
Work, but options open for WW
1 day a week for the rest of the project, students should be sending updates to the mentor team via email or website.

Week 7
5 Days
Work:
POINT OF NO RETURN: Projects cannot be changed significantly after this point.
1 day a week for the rest of the project, students should be sending updates to the mentor team via email or website.

Week 8
5 Days (GI/CP Presentations Tuesday/Thursday)
Work:  Find a way to take a mental break this week.  Do something fun, a different activity, etc. This is the week before spring break.  Also, have students make expectations for themselves over spring break, and send it to mentor team.

Week 9
5 Days
Big long meetings this week with teacher.  Possible “Come to Jesus” meetings here.


Quarter 4
Week 1
5 Days
Monday: Discussion of what an “abstract” is, good examples, etc.
Tuesday: Discussion of tech/Equipment requests
Tues-Friday: Start work on Abstracts while continuing to meet with teachers, and sending updates to mentor team.

Week 2
4 Days
Monday (but really probably Tuesday) Abstracts Due
Discussion of what will be on table, presentation, etc.
Tech/Equipment Requests due

Week 3
4 Days
Continue to work, but have a mental break here too.
Send out invitations to Expo

Week 4
5 Days
Presentation on Tri-fold/Table Discussion of grading based on the upcoming presentations.

Week 5
5 Days
Work on Expo
Begin Expo Presentations this week or next

Week 6
5 Days
Expo Presentations

Week 7
5 Days
10 Presentations

Week 8
5 Days
Last 8 Presentations
Preparation for Expo (The last steps over the weekend)

Week 9
3.5 Days (Half Day Friday)
Prep for expo on Tuesday Night.
Discussion of Expo, and wrap up any unfinished expo business.