Dynamic Planet B/C

[Celeste]

Do you think we'll be allowed (and have need for) calculators and rulers?

[IdahoSciGuy]

Definitely. Calculators and rulers should be a must on everyone's list for this event. Figuring out gradient, steam flow, capacity all would be severely hindered without a calculator and ruler.

[zyzzyva980]

More than likely they'll have to be non-programmable, so pick up some TI-34s or TI-30Xs, those are cheap but much more efficient than your average four-operation pocket calculators.

[sciencegeek100]

i did this event once filling in as the 2nd person because of a conflict, we got 2nd at state but my partner did most of the work...

[Flavorflav]

A binder was also allowed for the first year of oceanography, but not the second.

Binders were allowed for at least five years before that.

[IdahoSciGuy]

I Also remember when binders were allowed. When doing DP during the glaciers topic, It turned out that one of my fact sheets, which was taken off of wikipedia, was used word for word on the test. We won 1st by more than 100 points.


This is why i don't like binders.

[paleonaps]

You win by 100 points and you don't like binders?

[IdahoSciGuy]

Well yeah, 1) I don't like to have an unfair advantage, which is always possible when you have so much info printed off from the internet, there's a much higher risk of my scenario happening to others. That's a huge disadvantage to the other teams. 2) It defeats the purpose of studying for the event. If you cram a binder full of stats and facts, and then study where everything is in the binder, then as as soon as you see a question, you flip to the binder, and it tells you the answer. This defeats the purpose of SciOly. The test is supposed to evaluate your personal knowledge on the subject, not the binders organization structure.

So yes, i may have a gold medal from that event hanging in my dorm room, but i dont take pride in it.

/end rant

[paleonaps]

I disagree. When I made my binder, I studied everything I was going to put in. I didn't just print web pages. The binder is not being tested- what you learned and put in is being tested. The binder should be a failsafe, not the other way around.
Also, the event writer shouldn't just print web pages for his event. That kind of thing just shows apathy.

[IdahoSciGuy]

I disagree. When I made my binder, I studied everything I was going to put in. I didn't just print web pages. The binder is not being tested- what you learned and put in is being tested. The binder should be a failsafe, not the other way around.
Also, the event writer shouldn't just print web pages for his event. That kind of thing just shows apathy.

Well, in states like mine, I have dealt with many different types of people, but the majority (schools that never place very high, but are still made to come to the state tourney) would take advantage of the binder system. Im sure this has happened in even the major states, just at a less serious level. Either way, the first year of glaciers, we didn't win. We sat next to the winners, who happened to do exactly what i described in my previous post. We got third that year, then first the next, but the point still stands. There are people who will take advantage of the system, and i would rather not have it and eliminate the possibility of this happening again, then having the system, and then watching as more complaints of stolen medals and places mount up, IMHO.