LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP Wednesday, January 12, :30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Eastern time How to Avoid Disqualification in ExploraVision Presented by: Brian Short and Jonathan Gastel

Introducing Today’s Presenter Brian Short National Science Teachers Association Jonathan Gastel Stuyvesant High School New York, NY

Today’s Agenda 1.Introducing the Competition 2.Facts About Disqualification 3.Entry Categories & Entry Rules 4.Required Entry Components 5.Regional & National Judging

Sponsored by Toshiba Administered by NSTA

1. Introducing the Competition How to Avoid Disqualification in ExploraVision

1. Introducing the Competition How many of you here this evening have either participated or are familiar with ExploraVision? Yes ( ) I have participated in ExploraVision No (  ) I have never participated in ExploraVision

1. Introducing the Competition What is ExploraVision? Competition for all students in grades K-12. FREE to enter! Public, Private, Parochial & Home Schools in U.S. and Canada Designed for students of all interest, skill & ability levels Students work in teams of 2-4 to select a technology, research how it works and why it was invented, and then project how that technology may change in the future. Each team is guided or led by a teacher and optional mentor Online registration option

1. Introducing the Competition Entry Components Abstract Description –Present technology –History –Future technology – 20 years –Breakthroughs –Design Process –Consequences +/- Bibliography Web Page Graphics

1. Introducing the Competition Everyone’s a Winner! Entry gifts and certificates for all students, teachers and mentors Honorable Mention Awards for 500 teams A special discount for Toshiba computer products for all participants 24 Regional Winners 8 National Winners

1. Introducing the Competition 24 Regional Winners Toshiba products for all team members Toshiba laptop computer for teams’ schools School banner Local awards ceremony

1. Introducing the Competition National Winners Eight teams Four first-place student team members each receive a $10,000 U.S. savings bond Four second-place student team members receive a $5,000 U.S. savings bond All team members attend gala awards weekend in Washington, D.C.

1. Introducing the Competition Washington, DC Awards Weekend Congressional Visits Science Showcase Press Interviews Gala Awards Banquet Dinner Awards Sightseeing

1. Introducing the Competition Let’s Pause for Two Questions from the Audience

1. Introducing the Competition

In order to win, ideas must focus on fairly complex and technologically sophisticated applications? True  False

1. Introducing the Competition Winning ideas have focused on things as simple as ballpoint pens and as complex as nanotechnology applications.

2. Facts about Disqualification How to Avoid Disqualification in ExploraVision

2. Facts about Disqualification Most common errors are: Missing items (i.e. Abstract, Bibliography, etc.) Improper labeling of components Components not in order Components do NOT follow the style requirements: Double-spaced on standard 8 ½” x 11” white paper Eleven pages or fewer Written in English Standard font in 12 point or larger to a maximum of 18 point. Participant names and identification of school concealed

2. Facts about Disqualification Most common errors are: Incorrect number of Web Page Graphics (exactly 5 required) or not using the proper form. Abstract is longer than 150 words Description is longer than 11 pages Entry not submitted on time (5pm EST on 2/2/11) Sections are plagiarized

1. Introducing the Competition Let’s Pause for Two Questions from the Audience

3. Entry Categories & Entry Rules How to Avoid Disqualification in ExploraVision

Grade categories: 1.Primary Level (Grades K–3) 2.Upper Elementary Level (Grades 4–6) 3.Middle Level (Grades 7–9) 4.High School Level (Grades 10–12) Notes: Each category will be judged separately. Students in a lower grade may be part of a team competing in the next-higher entry category. However, students may not move down to a lower grade-level entry category. A school or individual coach can enter an unlimited number of teams. 3. Entry Categories & Entry Rules

Full time K-12 students Attending public, private, or home-school in the US or Canada. Students must be no older than 21 years of age. NSTA employees, Board Members, ExploraVision Awards judges, and their respective families are not eligible. Each student can only be part of one team and is limited to one entry per year. Past winners MUST compete with different team members in subsequent years. 3. Entry Categories & Entry Rules

Complete entry must consist of: 1) Entry form 2) Abstract 3) Description 4) Bibliography 5) Five Simulated Web Page Graphics Do not use report covers, binders, or folders. Submit your entry via mail to NSTA or via online at Complete entries must be received at NSTA headquarters by 5:00 pm EST, Wednesday, February 2, Entry Categories & Entry Rules

1. The ExploraVision competition is divided into four grade categories 2. A college student can participate in ExploraVision 3. A 3 rd grader can work on the same team as a 7 th grader 4. Complete entries must be received at NSTA headquarters by 5:00 pm EST, 2/2/11. Let’s review: True (T) or False (F)?

Let’s Pause for Two Questions from the Audience 3. Entry Categories & Entry Rules

4. Required Entry Components How to Avoid Disqualification in ExploraVision

1.Entry Form – Must be signed by students and coach 2.Abstract – No more than 150 words that summarize the proposed future technology 3.Description – Present Technology – Provide an overview of the present form of the technology. History - Research and describe the history of the technology from its inception. Future Technology - Describe the team's vision for what this technology will be like in 20 years. 4. Required Entry Components

3.Description (continued) – Breakthroughs - Why doesn't this future technology exist today? What breakthroughs must occur to bring idea to fruition? Design Process - Describe three alternative ideas or features the team considered for this ExploraVision project. Describe the team's design process. Consequences - Describe the potential positive and negative consequences of the new technology on society. 4. Required Entry Components

4.Bibliography – All sources used in researching the chosen technology should be referenced 5.Five Simulated Web Page Graphics – Communicate and promote the team’s future technology vision; may be hand- drawn or computer-generated and may include text, pictures, photographs and diagrams. 4. Required Entry Components

Let’s review: What is the maximum number of pages of the “written description of the project”? 4. Required Entry Components 15 pages10 pages20 pages 11 pages8 pages13 pages

Let’s review: Where should teams include the names of the team members and their school on the entry form? 4. Required Entry Components On every page of the entry Only on the title page of the entry Only on the entry form and not on the entry itself Only on the AbstractAt the end of the entry On any random page of the entry

4. Required Entry Components Visit the ExploraVision web site: –How to obtain entry materials –The entry process –Online registration and submission –Web seminar archive –Prizes, Rules and FAQ’s –Past winners –Videos of interviews from teachers and students

4. Required Entry Components Join the ExploraVision Facebook community at: Or follow ExploraVision on Twitter at

4. Required Entry Components Let’s Pause for Two Questions from the Audience

5. Regional and National Judging How to Avoid Disqualification in ExploraVision

Regional stage: 6 geographical judging regions Judging Criteria Present technology (10 points) History (10 points) Future technology (20 points) Breakthroughs (15 points) Design Process (10 points) Consequences (10 points) Bibliography (5 points) Simulated Web page graphics (20 points) Creativity, scientific accuracy, communication and feasibility of vision. 24 Regional Winner Teams selected, one in each grade-level category in each of the six geographical regions. 5. Regional and National Judging

National stage (applies only to Regional Winners): Create a website describing the future technology. Website must include a video. Create a prototype of the technology. Websites will be judged on creativity, originality and the substance of the promotional message — not on the professional quality of the website. Website criteria: oWebsite must be viewed within 5 minutes. oWebsite must incorporate at least one original video 1-2 minutes in length. oWebsite must relate to the original project description. oAll team members must contribute to the production of the website. oWebsite must show the prototype of the proposed future technology in drawings, photographs or video footage. 5. Regional and National Judging

Let’s Pause for Two Questions from the Audience

Thank you! Other questions? Please or call ExploraVision Team Marie Wiggins, Sr. Director, Science Education Competitions, NSTA Brian Short, Assistant Director, Science Education Competitions, NSTA

National Science Teachers Association Dr. Francis Q. Eberle, Executive Director Zipporah Miller, Associate Executive Director Conferences and Programs Al Byers, Assistant Executive Director e-Learning LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP NSTA Web Seminars Paul Tingler, Director Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator