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Forming an Ocean Sciences Bowl Club
If your school doesn’t already have a math/science/quiz bowl club, start one as soon as possible. Getting one started usually takes a little effort, but once you get it going, they usually are very easy to maintain year after year. Also, once you do form one, make sure it is worth the students’ time. Historically, the more successful teams at science competitions are made up of very enthusiastic students that come from schools with fun, well-organized Ocean Science Clubs.
Don’t let the lack of an ocean science education program in your school deter you from forming an Ocean Sciences club. Just this past year, one of our winning teams told us they formed an Ocean Sciences club because they enjoyed participating in the National Science Bowl and wanted to continue this type of activity. None of the initial team members had any particular background or education in ocean sciences, but they did have a math and science background that they applied when preparing for the NOSB.
Team Selection
Selection for your Ocean Sciences Bowl Team can be difficult. Each student should be knowledgeable in all of the 4 main discipline areas (biology, chemistry, geology and the physical properties associated with the marine/coastal environment) with some knowledge in the remaining three areas (social sciences, geography and technology). However, the more successful teams have students that are more specialized in different areas. For example: Student “A” might know more about hydrothermal vents and plate tectonics (geological properties) than the rest of her/his team members. While Student “B” has a stronger background in currents and wave action (physical properties) than the rest of her/his team. This will give your team a good balance with an “expert” in each of the 4 main disciplines and 3 sub-disciplines. It is also a good idea to have a few grade levels represented, not just seniors. By breaking up your team (3-4 junior and/or seniors and 1-2 freshmen and/or sophomores) you will still have some veterans this year while giving a few rookies the necessary experience to carry your team next year. Some teachers let the students vote for team members based on knowledge, performance, and attendance. Others hold practice competitions to determine the team. It is usually up to you, so choose your team wisely. Most competitions allow non-participants to watch all the matches and to cheer their team’s achievements.
Make a Schedule
Make an agenda or study schedule during your first meeting. Your team needs to decide how many hours they will spend per week practicing. Initially, practice times may be short, but as the competition nears you may want to schedule more intensive practices. Finding the time for all the students to meet can be difficult; establishing the same day and time every week for a practice session is usually the most efficient way to handle many conflicting schedules.
Decide how long your meetings will last. An hour meeting might be broken up with 30 minutes of review of the subject for the week, and 30 minutes of knowledge games.
The difficulty of the practice questions is more important than the length of time spent practicing. Brainstorm on what your team thinks are good ideas for review and practice. At least 2 practice competitions are recommended. This will help familiarize the students with the rapid fire, oral presentation for the questions (which is quite different from answering review questions from their text books). Keep the team enthusiastic and focused on the task at hand each week. Bring in science teachers or the school principal to act as practice moderators. Be sure the contest rules are adhered to stringently.
Example Schedule:
Week 1: Introductions/Fun meeting.
Week 2: Biology and Chemistry
Week 3: Physics and Technology
Week 4: Marine Geology and Geography
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week 5: Current Events and Social Sciences
Week 6: Review Rules and Strategies
Week 7: Practice Competition
WINTER BREAK
Week 8: Biology and Chemistry
Week 9: Physics and Technology
Week 10: Marine Geology and Geography
Week 11: Current Events and Social Sciences
Week 12: Review Rules, Strategies, and 7 Disciplines
Week 13: Practice Competition
Week 14: Practice Competition
Study Wisely
As mentioned earlier, each student needs to be familiar with all seven subjects. However, students should be concentrating the bulk of their studying/reviewing on their own, 1-2 areas of expertise. Students should concentrate their efforts on learning topics that questions are likely to come from. When studying for the buzzer section keep in mind the oral toss-up questions must be answered in less than 5 seconds and the bonus questions must be answered in less than 20 seconds. Focus more time studying things like definitions, formulas, concepts, and short answer problems. Practice multiple choice and short answer questions are available on the NOSB® website.
When preparing for the Team Challenge portion, look for topics in your studies that require the application of multiple concepts and mixing of science terminology with mathematics, as these are the types of questions which will be asked. Take advantage of the practice questions supplied on the NOSB® website. These practice questions will help familiarize you with the type and style of questions asked both during the buzzer section and the Team Challenge section. Also, remind students that partial credit will be given on Team Challenge questions, so even if they don’t know the complete answer, writing down their process may gain them additional points.
By preparing wisely, the students will be able to spend more time practicing and learning to solve problems for the three different types of questions more efficiently.
Know the Rules and Game Playing Strategies
Make sure each student knows the rules of the competition. This cannot be stressed enough. Every year there is a team that loses point because the students don’t know all the rules. Furthermore, learn how to use the rules to your advantage, strategies of the game are important. While this is an academic event it is also a competition, don’t ignore strategy preparation. Believe it or not, this could be your ace in the hole. For example: if your team is in the lead during the second half of the game, recognize that the clock is now your ally. If you are awarded a bonus question, let the students take a few extra seconds to double check with each other to make sure they get the question right. The questions usually get harder as the match progresses. If you are too hasty with your decisions, the lost six bonus points could come back to haunt you in a close match. By being well versed in the rules and knowing all the strategies of the game, your team will have the edge in a close match and may even allow them to triumph over a better team that isn’t as strategic.
Practice, Practice, Practice
There is no substitute for hard work and this means self-discipline and practice. Make an effort to duplicate an actual competition as much as possible. Also it is a good idea to rotate the person asking the questions each game. This will allow them to get experience hearing the questions come from different tones of voice, accents, and dialects. Don’t wait until the month before the Regional Ocean Sciences Bowl to practice the competition. Use old test questions from your previous exams or even Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy games if you have to. Just get them familiar answering the questions orally and waiting to be recognized before answering.
Keeping It Fun
Don’t loose sight of the overall focus of getting your kids interested in science and math. Finding the right combination of fun games and interesting study tools could take a little work. There are many new and interesting idea out there. The worldwide web is an excellent place to get some great knowledge games, CD-ROMS and interactive study tools. Just remember, the more students enjoy it, the more they’ll want to do it, and the more successful they’ll become. Given the proper motivation, preparation, and encouragement, your team will have a successful and rewarding science bowl experience. You can then channel your Ocean Sciences Bowl Club’s enthusiasm and momentum to do other fun things throughout the year. For example: the National Science Bowl, the National Science Olympiad program, Math Counts, Odyssey of the Mind, or the Destination ImagiNation program.
Establish Team Goals
There can be only one winner of the National competition, but participation itself is important. Involve the students in the establishment of realistic goals for the team in this competition year. Celebrate and document these goals in posters and team practice sessions. Also make students aware of the opportunities available through the NOSB® program that recognize individual achievement such as the National Ocean Scholar Program and summer internship opportunities.
Miscellaneous
Make sure the principal, teachers and administrative staff at your school knows that the Ocean Sciences Bowl Club is an active program and that you are the person in charge.
Find out about your school’s policy regarding use of the school facilities and equipment. Do they allow use of shop facilities, computer lab, etc…?
The lock-out buzzer system used in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl is the Challenger I, 8 Player System with Showtime Handgrip responders. You can either rent or purchase this system from ZeeCraft. The official clocks used in the competition can also be purchased from ZeeCraft, www.Zeecraft.com.
If you are working with a tight budget ask your NOSB Regional Coordinator if their lock-out buzzer systems are available for practice. Or perhaps your school has similar programs such as the Knowledge bowl, their clubs may use comparable buzzer systems. Ask if you can borrow their equipment.
Get your students familiar with the roles of the officials.
When practicing, set up the room the same as an actual competition room.
To view diagram of room set-up, click here.
