Create a fun, interesting experiment that showcases UV-curable materials and would be suitable for high school classrooms.
Teams will:
- Agree to use only their own work.
- Not submit false or inaccurate information.
- Select a team leader who will be the main point of contact. Teams of 1-3 people are acceptable.
- Be enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited university for the duration of the spring semester (January – May 2014).
- Use the provided rubric as a basis for creating the demonstration.
Details of the project:
- Participants will create a demonstration that may be carried out by a teacher or single person in a high school classroom setting. The demonstration should showcase UV or light curable materials. The actual demonstration should take only 2-3 minutes.
- Participants should submit a video of the actual demonstration for judging. The video should be clear and concise, showing only the 2-3 minute demonstration and effectively communicating the “fun factor”.
- Participants should submit a typed document in the form of a lab manual that covers all aspects of the demonstration in detail. The paper should include all relevant information outlined in the rubric and be formatted in such as way as to relay all information to the audience in a clear manner.
- Participants should develop a research question that encompasses the entire project. This question focuses your project and allows for writing a concise thesis statement.
- Participants should develop learning outcomes for the students. What should they learn from the experiment? How do these outcomes support their science curriculum? Are they age appropriate? Do they relate to the research question?
- Provide background information for the project. Is there a commercial use for this technology? Describe the chemical processes involved in UV chemistry. Be sure the information is age-appropriate.
- Participants should outline all safety information that is relevant to the project. Include the MSDS for chemicals and appropriate chemical handling, outline personal protective equipment, and write a brief statement about the safety considerations of UV light or UV-curing.
- Outline a detailed experimental procedure. Teachers should be able to follow the directions exactly and produce good results. Use 2nd person language.
- Use common household materials if possible, as they are easily accessible for teachers with budget constraints. Create a detailed list of the chemicals and where they may be obtained, including part numbers and pricing if available.
- Provide 3-4 reflection questions that may be used to further discussion on the topic of UV curing. These should be age-appropriate and possibly relate back to the research question. Correct answers should be provided for the teacher.
- Submissions should be received by March 28, 2014. Documents should be emailed to the Judging Committee at uveb@radtech.org. The link to the YouTube video should be highlighted in the document.
**Be sure to describe all preparations and set-up of the experiment in detail in the written document. The submitted video should only show what the students would see as the demonstration is being carried out.
Important: Please be aware that many science classrooms do not have access to fume hoods or adequate inside ventilation. Allergies and asthma are also a major concern. When creating your experiment, consider using outside areas if possible. Be aware of the sensitivity of participants when using chemicals such as styrenes and acrylics. You may want to avoid these if possible.