Mission Folder Tip : The Scientific Method

Throughout the eCYBERMISSION competition, the staff at Mission Control will be posting helpful tips and suggestions for our Team Advisors and students focused on creating a winning Mission Folder. We encourage you to share these tips with your student teams. If you need assistance in registering and completing teams, please contact Mission Control at your earliest convenience.



Our first submission tip is focused on the Scientific Method; the basis of the eCYBERMISSION competition!




What is the Scientific Method?


The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. Scientists use the scientific method to search for cause and effect relationships in nature. The scientific method will help your students to focus their projects, construct a hypothesis, and design, execute and evaluate their experiments.



Steps of the Scientific Method:


Ask a Question

The scientific method begins with questions: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why and Where?

Note – in order for the scientific method to answer the question, it must be something that can be measured.



Background Research

Encourage your students to be “savvy scientists” by using the Internet and supplemental research.



Construct a Hypothesis:

A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work.

Guide your students in forming a hypothesis by setting it up in the following format:

“If _____ [I do this] ________, then __________ [this] _____ will happen.”



Guide your students to state their hypothesis in a way that can be easily measured and constructed in a way that helps them answer their original question.



For more tips and guidelines, check out the Resources Section or past winning Mission Folders on the eCYBERMISSION web site at www.ecybermission.com.



You can also view the Team Advisor’s User Guide and the Team Advisor’s Best Practices Guide, which are available to all registered Team Advisors and can be accessed from the site once logged in.



Thank you for participating in eCYBERMISSION. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns; please contact Mission Control at 1-866-GO-CYBER (462-9237) or via e-mail at missioncontrol@ecybermission.com.



Good luck!