Setting the Stage for 20 Time

     In my Biology course, we are starting a project called 20 Time.  Also known as Inquiry Hour or a passion project, I will spend roughly 20% of my time in class or every other Monday working on what I am interesting in and passionate about.  In my 20 Time project, I will ask the question "How will different nap lengths benefit how well one can study?"  By studying, I mean the different aspects of studying such as memory, understanding new concepts, accuracy in subjects such as math, and many other factors that are used in a useful studying session.  Using the scientific method of inquiry, I plan to design an experiment testing different lengths of power naps to identify what would be ideal for the most efficient studying.

     I chose this specific project because I question what the most efficient and effective way to study is and how to achieve this.  I also love sleeping and I am sure everybody values their sleep.  Not many teenagers get the recommended 9-10 hours of sleep daily.  It turns out that the average teenagers get around two hours less than what experts recommend.  In order to compensate for the missed sleep time, I wonder what length of a nap could help boost both how you feel emotionally as well as how to study more efficiently.  This project will answer the question I asked above through a series of experiments and trials.  After running various tests, I will analyze the data and observations I have gathered in the experimental phase and come up with my best answer to my question given the data I received in my experiment.

     My goal in my 20 Time project is to find how to attain a high quality studying session by taking various naps.  Through my course of this 20 Time project, I hope to find the sweet spot for the amount of time each nap should be to have the best studying time afterwards.  By collecting data, I could measure how much progress I have made my determining if I have hit my jackpot yet or not.  If not, I will continue to find the best time and duration.  Moving forward, I plan to use the steps of the scientific method I have learned in class and design my own experiment.  I will gather information, form a hypothesis, construct and run an experiment, and collect data and analyze.  I will repeat the experimental steps if needed.