Week 8, 9.2 Maintaining a Balance

'Discuss how you could use STANSW Young Scientist Awards or a similar award system (e.g. CREST or BHP Awards) to assist teachers and students with open-ended investigations and apply holistic marking criteria. (May draw relationships to your MyScience project)'.

Open ended investigation also known as SRP have come a great tool in teaching students essential skills within Science.  Not only does it prepare them for future endeavors within science but also helps them assess content and investigate research through secondary sources.  Therefore the positive aspects of working towards such awards will give students independence within the research fields.

Although keeping in mind there are some negative aspects when it comes to individual investigations.  Not only are many students inclined on doing the work themselves that they do not seek out advice nor help from teachers or professional within their fields.  This can tarnish students scientific mindset and confused their understanding. Therefore it becomes a real complications when they bring their understanding to a class from what they have taught themselves outside of class. 
Within the module 9.2 Maintaining a balance students could look at plant temperature regulations.  The fact of the matter is that they could research relevant information but investigate an inference which they assume could be the case.  

Finally awards such as Young scientist gives students an opportunity to actually get out there and work towards a specific goal which improves their scientific investigation skills and their independence.  These should be guided by teachers and professionals in order to maintaining some scientific value.  This becomes essential during marking such awards because there can be quite a variation between markers when it comes to holistic marking.  Things such as grammar and spelling should not play a role in marking.  Simply the students effort and scientific mind for an investigation are the key.  The more the student submits the greater the evidence of their investigation.  This is what markers should keep in mind when marking holistically