Science Fair Fun - Essay Example

Memo Cc: Re: Science Fair Fun Purpose This memo aims at giving a critique of Science Fair Fun: Designing Environmental Science Projects for Students Grades 6-8 by The U.S. Environmental Policy (EPA) for the determination of its effectiveness in technical communication. This analysis will be based on the accessibility, usability, and relevance of the Science Fair Fun project to aid in making a conclusion on the effectiveness of the project as a form of technical communication. Description Science Fair Fun project is a project development guide aimed at increasing the understanding and comprehension of students from grades 6-8 through providing resources for detailed guidance on projects. The project aims at informing students of the requirements, guidelines, resource availability, and considerations to make in conducting projects, and environmental aspects to be analyzed in projects. Developed in a procedural style sung standards words and aiming for a predetermined purpose achieved through steps makes it a technical communication for it requires the in-depth and full participation of the students both mentally and physically for the success of the project. Accessibility Science Fair Fun informs the users of the author of the information as The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowing for the development of curiosity and need for better understanding by the learners due to the success of EPA. Science Fair Fun project is easy to access through ensuring that the users can easily access information and understand it using simple words that are within the reach of students in grades 6-8. Easy access and simple words allow students to understand the information and guidance presented in the project and enjoy while participating in science projects. The paper is accurate, as it has no mistakes or errors in terms of grammar and presentation of the project. Lack of bias in the presentation of the procedure an environmental conservation needs for better understanding by the audience makes the Science Fair Fun project believable. Clarity and completeness is ensured in the Science Fair Fun project since the project is clear on the need and objectives as well as the measures to be taken by the students to meet their Science needs and gives all the information required for safe and environmental friendly projects. The project uses many examples to drive the point and the language used is simple and meant for young Science learners with the glossary aiding in explaining some words that may pose a problem to the learners showing that it is concrete. Students understanding of the project are improved from the interaction created in the Science Fair and Fun project through using questions, providing examples of projects that can be undertaken by the students, and providing options on access of some project needs for projects to succeed (The U.S. Environmental Policy, 4). Use of a clear outline and a step by step guideline in the project ensures the project meets the organization needs of technical communication for the students to understand the requirements of a science project guide. The project is visually effective using drawings, colors, and photographs to aid in driving the message to the customers and gains the interest of the students for science projects and the conservation of the environment. Some of the visual tools used in the Science Fair Fan project include photographs of a computer, bulb emitting green light to depict environmental conservation in science projects, photographs of the facets of a program, recycling boxes, boxes, and dollars. This ensures the students are engrossed and effectively grasp the purpose of the project. Other visual media used in the Science Fair Fun project is use of symbols and different color schemes to explain to the reader the importance of different stages of the project process. Use of circles and different colors to denote the procedure from asking the question, conducting of background research, construct of hypothesis, test with the experiment, analyze results and draw conclusions, and report. Usability Good flow of the Science Fair Fun project from the start to end where a step by step development of the information is done. The project is effective by developing the understanding of the students from the introduction, the following parts, and subsequently develops their interest and comprehension of project writing and undertaking. Users can, therefore, get the flow and retrieve information on different parts of the project easily increasing the usability of the Science Fair Fun project. Creation and performance of projects by the students is easy since the Science Fair Fun project gives a detailed guide on the procedures to follow in conducting a project. The project gives a good explanation on the different steps, the sources of guidance and access to further resources at different steps of the project procedure, and the objectives that each part of the project has to meet ensures the users easily comprehend the aim of the project. The detailed guidance and simple development of the project’s various stages, the project is easy for the users to look for information and guidance on project completion. Relevance Science Fair Fun maintains focus on students of grades 6-8 using simple language aimed at ensuring the students comprehend project completion procedure and the sources of guidance and help from the teachers and the community. The use of photographs shows this relevance to students of grades 6-8 who need to have visual and graphic imagery in technical communication to improve their understanding and gain their attention. Use of glossary explaining words that could be problematic to students of grades 6-8 also depicts the relevance in the project (The U.S. Environmental Policy, 17). Science Fair Fun is relevant to the audience it is designed for and meets the objectives of the project of increasing the understanding of the students on project procedures and environmental conservation. This allows the students to develop curiosity, a factor that aids in making better scientists and generate the need for understanding Science at an early age while inculcating the need for environmental conservation at an early age. Summary Providing guidance on how to conduct science projects in an environmental friendly manner and within a safe environment is important. The conditions for effective technical communication are met in the Science Fair Fun project including maintenance of a target audience, address to specific goals and needs of the clients, use of graphics and word choice for the target audience, and ability for effective organization. My recommendation for the Science Fair Fun project is presenting some information in audio and visual forms to allow students of grades 6-8 who are the main audience to listen and watch procedure and other project related information to reiterate the importance of environmental conservation in science projects. In general, Science Fair Fun project is an effective technical communication resource for students of grades 6-8 to have a better understanding of project stages and environmental needs to consider. Work Cited The U.S. Environmental Policy (EPA). Science Fair Fun: Designing Environmental Science Projects. Washington, September 2010. Print. Read More