TechTest2010 Weekend

George Rebane

Today the fourth annual merit scholarship TechTest was given in the Science Lecture Hall of Nevada Union High School.  The test was administered by NUHS physics teacher Mr John McDaniel who also heads the TechTest academic committee.   I visited the lecture hall this morning and took the nearby pictures.  Mr McDaniel told me that this year 24 students from Nevada County were competing for the scholarships which will total a little north of $15,000.

   

As you can see, the students looked, shall we say, engaged in their labors.  This year the four-hour exam had eight problems of various weights.  I have had the privilege of writing the TechTests, which is a rewarding effort in itself.  Test problem ideas occur throughout the year, sometimes in the craziest ways.  For example, this winter as I was closing our driveway gate, I gave it a pull and, without looking back, walked briskly to the latch point expecting to get there before the gate hit me.  I lost, and sported a badly bruised Achilles tendon for about three months.  But that little incident inspired this year’s toughest test problem.

After coming up with about ten to twelve problems, I work each of them out with the clock running.  If I can’t solve them in a 20-30 minute interval, I either edit the problem or toss it.  The completed test, along with the solution key, is then made pretty and submitted to Mr McDaniel, who then reviews the questions and solutions.

The exams will again be graded by NUHS science and math teachers under the supervision of Mr McDaniel who will then send the results to the test’s sponsor, the Sierra Environmental Studies Foundation (SESF).  Later this spring the entire TT2010 exam along with the solution key will join the previous years’ exams on www.sesfoundation.org.  For you techies out there, it might be fun to download one of the pdfs, pour yourself a full measure of your favorite adult beverage, look at your watch (but not the solutions), and have at it.  No handicap allowed for the adult beverage.

TechTest2010 results will be posted after the annual TechTest awards breakfast that is usually held in May.  The scholarship checks will be presented to the students during the annual NUHS scholarship awards night.  The SESF TechTest scholarship fund is made up of 501c3 tax deductible contributions solicited from local residents, businesses, and SESF members.   You may want to join them.

Comments

[Mikey McD]

More info on TechTest/SESF: http://sesf.typepad.com/

Thank you for authoring the test!

[Anna Haynes]

For a different perspective:
"True purpose of TechTest from the Sierra Environmental Studies Foundation?", at:
http://ncfocus.blogspot.com/2010/03/true-purpose-of-techtest-from-sierra.html

(George, apologies if this is a duplicate; my earlier comment doesn't seem to have appeared)

[George Rebane]

Anna, your earlier comment is intact where you inserted it. You have just forgotten where you spread these messages around the web. I am at a loss as how to treat your baseless allegations. I do believe that you should seek professional help.

[Russ]

Anna,

I endorse George's recommendations, you need some serious professional help. Please see a mental health councilor who can help you deal with your mental conflicts, resulting in your baseless allegations against SESF.

[Anna Haynes]

For the record, George Rebane states that he is not a shill for the climate denial industry. I just now asked him:

"Have you or your family members ever been compensated, directly or indirectly, for any efforts you or they have engaged in to communicate to the public the view that climate change is natural or is not a serious problem?"

He responded "No".

------------
(and Russ, thank you for sharing.)

[Mikey McD]

Ironic that the "true believer" does not want progress in the fields of science and math. If I made a list of 10 major issues/crisis facing the world/future generations "Global Warming" would not make the list. In other words "I don't care about a Hypothesis/THEORY until it is proven true AND directly effects me. I literally spend zero seconds a day concerned with globull warming.

The hypocrites (any "globull warming" fiend that owns a car or house or purchases food or purchases energy or purchases power, or administors/authors a blog, etc) that make a lifestyle out of pushing the "globull warming" agenda on others needs to take a serious look in the mirror. You can tell the integrity of a citizen journalist by the lies (a.k.a. "different perspectives") they tote even after the truth is laid out clearly.