Module 3
Designing Your Experiment
Welcome to the third mentorship module! First, please print out this two page worksheet that you should fill out as you watch each video. Click here for the worksheet.
In this part of the mentorship program, students will begin with an online module teaching them major concepts in experimental design with an associate worksheet (Week 8). They will review this information in another online module after the winter break and be guided in writing a project proposal (Week 10) that they will receive comments on in a mentorship session (Week 11). At the conclusion of this module, students will be able to:
- Define and develop a model system for their experiment
- Describe the differences between qualitative and quantitative data
- Define and identify independent, dependent, and confounding variables within an experiment
- Outline a clear plan to conduct experiments for their specific FER project
— Part 1
What is a model system?
Gemma has a cool new experiment for us to go through about dinosaurs. Let’s see what she is working on.
Let’s review Gemma’s experimental design and model system.
Fill out page 1 in your worksheet.
— Part 2
What are experimental variables?
In order to conduct our own controlled experiment, we need to learn about variables. Let’s learn about the three variables that are important for our projects: independent, dependent, and confounding variables.
Let’s review the variables Gemma uses and think about the variables we will use in our experiment.
Fill out page 2 in your worksheet.
Now you want to start thinking about your own experiment. Enjoy your holiday break, but make sure you brainstorm what variables and model systems you may want to use. After break we will come back and create a project proposal.
See you soon!
