Research design and poster plan
Students will design a C. elegans investigation and plan a research poster as a project team.
Team research design plan: testable question, defined variables, target sample size, poster section outline, and assigned member roles.
- 1Do thisStudents will design a C. elegans investigation and plan a research poster as a project team.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisPre-lab: Team research design plan: testable question, defined variables, target sample size, poster section outline, and assigned member roles.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems) › Unit 2.2 Research Model: Model organisms, C. elegans, neurotransmitters/hormones, scientific literature, research poster. › Pre-labOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: A well-designed research question drives the entire investigation; vague questions produce uninterpretable data.
- 0-10Review: what makes a research question testable? (good vs. bad examples)
- 10-25Team drafts testable question; teacher circulates and provides feedback
- 25-42Define independent, dependent, and controlled variables; set target sample size
- 42-58Outline poster sections: question, background, methods, results, conclusion
- 58-70Assign each team member one poster section; note responsibilities
- 70-80Share design plan with another team for quick feedback; submit plan
- • Scientists do not start experiments randomly; they start with a precise, testable question.
- • Today your team will write that question for your C. elegans investigation.
- • You will also plan your research poster so you know exactly what evidence you need to collect.
- • Good planning now means less confusion on lab day.
- 1Review the components of a strong research question.
- 2As a team, draft a testable question about C. elegans.
- 3Define your variables, controls, and target sample size.
- 4Outline the poster sections you will need.
- 5Assign each team member a poster responsibility.
- • Team produces a testable question with defined variables.
- • Poster plan assigns clear roles and sections.
- • A testable question specifies the organism, variable, and measurable outcome.
- • A research poster communicates method, data, and conclusions in a standardized scientific format.
- • Team role assignment ensures accountability and mirrors how biomedical research teams operate.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 2.2 Research Model: Model organisms, C. elegans, neurotransmitters/hormones, scientific literature, research poster. · Research design and poster plan
Day 3 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Find and complete the design-planning or team-project prompt in myPLTW that corresponds to today's C. elegans investigation design; finish it after your team drafts the testable question.
Mark the design-planning activity complete in myPLTW after submitting your team research plan.
Variables task is done; today the design-planning task should show complete.
Note or screenshot of completion status for your tracker.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Unit 2.2 Research Model: Model organisms, C. elegans, neurotransmitters/hormones, scientific literature, research poster. · Research design and poster plan
Find and complete the design-planning or team-project prompt in myPLTW that corresponds to today's C. elegans investigation design; finish it after your team drafts the testable question.
Variables task is done; today the design-planning task should show complete.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Students will design a C. elegans investigation and plan a research poster as a project team.
- Review the components of a strong research question.
- As a team, draft a testable question about C. elegans.
- Define your variables, controls, and target sample size.
- Outline the poster sections you will need.
- Assign each team member a poster responsibility.
Pre-lab: Team research design plan: testable question, defined variables, target sample size, poster section outline, and assigned member roles.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Review the components of a strong research question. | _______ |
| As a team, draft a testable question about C. elegans. | _______ |
| Define your variables, controls, and target sample size. | _______ |
| Outline the poster sections you will need. | _______ |
| Assign each team member a poster responsibility. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- Team produces a testable question with defined variables.
- Poster plan assigns clear roles and sections.
Resources & readings
Vetted readings and references for this unit. Use them to prepare, to catch up if you were absent, or to go deeper on today's target.
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
With your team, finalize a research question, variables, and a poster section outline with assigned roles.
HHMI BioInteractiveThen submit your Pre-lab on Schoology.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
Khan Academy: The science of biology (experimental design)Optional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Tue, Apr 6, 2027 · Research design and poster plan here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
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