1. 1 Intel Educator Academy 2009 Reno, Nevada Costa Rica

2. Costa Rican Team –Jose Roberto Vega, PhD. LANOTEC (National Nanotechnology Lab) NSF and National Engineering Fair. SRC chairperson –Alicia Fonseca National Advisor for Technical Education, Ministry of Education Commission member of the National Engineering Fair –Emilie Baltodano Alpízar Director of the Office to Promote Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology –Mary Helen Bialas Education Manager, Intel Costa Rica Shoptalk speaker: –Nathalie Valencia Intel Students as Scientists (Teacher training program ) Program Coordinator National Engineering Fair. Academic Director.

3. Costa Rica Country: Population: 4,3 million Territory: 51100 km 2 Educational Environment: Education System – Organization: 23 Ministry of Education Regional Offices

4. Educational Environment One National Curriculum-- centralized & test driven. Math & Science introduced from K-6 by regular teacher, general science teachers in 7-9 th grades, and specialized science teachers in high school. After 9 th grade, students choose academic HS for 10-11 th grades, or technical HS for 10-12 th grades. National tests are required during the final year for graduation. –Math, Science, Social Studies, Spanish, and –Language – either French or English University entrance requirements = High School National test scores + grades average from 10-11 + entrance exam.

5. Status of Science and Engineering Fairs 1960´sScience fairs as extracurricular activities: First Creativity and Science Fairs attempts 1970´sUniversity of Costa Rica (UCR) organizes Science Fairs with university students 1980’s 1987: Fist National Science Fair (NSF) managed by UCR. NSF during this period included mainly private HS students from metropolitan area. (30 -50 schools participated ) 1990’s Law 7169, formal organization of NSF. NSF expanded to Primary School (1998) and other regions of the country (300 schools participate) 1999NSF affiliated to ISEF. First 3 Regional Fairs (550 schools) / ISEF Student observers 2000 20 Regional Science and Technology Fairs feed the ISEF affiliated National Science & Technology Fair; (710 schools participate) 2002- CR team obtains first Special Award at ISEF 2004 National Decree (# 3900 MEP-MICIT) Institutional science fairs are mandatory and incorporated in National School Calendar (2300 schools participate). ISEF 2004 CR students obtain 3rd place team award. 2006 New regulations for the participation of Kindergarten students A new fair is affiliated to ISEF; (3400 schools and over 50% student population or 600,000 students participate) ISEF 2006 CR students obtain 3rd place team award. 2007 Integration of science research in the curriculum for seventh grade (in process) ISEF 2007 CR student obtains a Special Award (scholarship) 2008 ISEF 2008. CR team obtain 1 student special award and a team special award Launch of the 1st National Engineering Fair

6. National Science & Technology Fair Process: 2008 ISEF affiliated fairs2 National Fairs Regional Science Fairs22 Institutional Science Fairs K-121700 Projects:200 Individual projects @ NSF60 Team projects @ NSF135 Judges @ NSF173 National Engineering Fair : 2008 ISEF affiliated fairs1 National Fair Projects60 Judges @ NEF50

7. Science Fairs: Three biggest obstacles & proposed solutions Improve quality of SF projects. –Integrate project based learning as a teaching methodology –Provide training for Regional SRC to elevate standards –Offer new training courses to teachers. –Establish mentorship program for students with scientists and professionals. Increase participation of engineering projects –Obtain Gov funding for the National Engineering Fair thru a decree. –Coordinate teacher training program with the Ministry of Education to reach rural schools. Judging process needs to be improved in order to standardize quality of judging in institutional, regional and national fairs. –Create a guideline for the judge profile to be distributed to all institutional fairs nationwide. –Modify fair manual and expand training initiatives. –Create SW program to help standardize process.