1. The BEST Award Competition Nikki Baird Marilyn Manning September 10, 2016

2. The BEST Award Our Most Prestigious Award
Presented to the team that best embodies the concept of Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology
Your team’s participation in the BEST Award Competition is optional
Engineering Notebook
30%
Spirit & Sportsmanship
10%
Marketing Presentation
25%
Robot Game Day Performance
15%
Exhibits & Interviews
20%
SCORING TOTAL
100%

3. 2016 BEST Competition Important Dates
FR BEST Event
Event Time and Place
*Teller and El Paso County
Kickoff
Saturday, September 10
9 AM — 12 PM
Dakota Ridge High School
13399 West Coal Mine Ave., Littleton
12 PM—3:30 PM
Space Foundation Discovery Center
4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs
Deadline to decide on
BEST Award Participation
Sign up for Exhibit & Presentation Time Slot
Friday, September 23
Via to
Team Roster
Friday, September 30
Complete your team rosters in Team Google Drive Folder (Google Spreadsheet)
include t-shirt size for each team member
Practice Day
Marketing Presentations
Saturday, October 15
9 AM —3 PM
Englewood High School  
3800 S Logan St, Englewood
10 AM—3 PM
*REQUIRED for ALL TEAMS*
Documents deliveries:
Engineering Notebook
Demographics Form
Due at 9:00 AM MST
Submit all documents in Team Google Drive Folder
Game Day
Robot Competition & Exhibits
Attendance open to the public.
Saturday, October 22
8 AM— 5:30 PM
Englewood High School

4. Marketing Presentations Marilyn Manning

5. Marketing Presentation
Marketing Presentation – 25 points
Purpose: To present information and respond to questions concerning the company’s effectiveness in creating a product ready for market.

6. Marketing Presentation Sign-up
Friday, September 23rd
Deadline to sign-up for Marketing Presentation time slot
Link to sign up for Presentation Time Slot
If you have any questions,
NOTE: The times could be expanded to include LATER or EARLIER times if high participation requires a schedule modification.

7. Marketing Presentation Location
LIVE Teleconference Presentations on October 15th (Practice Day)
Englewood High School for Denver Teams
The Venue
The Space Foundation Discovery Center for El Paso and Teller County Teams
General Hill Conference Room
There will be a check-in station just outside the room.
Teams should check in 15 minutes prior to their time slot. 
At least five minutes will be scheduled between presentation sessions.

8. Marketing Presentation Logistics
Presentation time limits are firm, if teams exceed the limit, they will ‘get the hook’
> 5 minutes: Set-up
> 12 minutes: Presentation
> 5 minutes: Q & A with judges
> 3 minutes: Breakdown and clear room
= 25 minutes
Note: Teams not requiring set-up or break-down time may utilize that time for their presentation (for a total presentation time of up to 20 minutes).

9. Marketing Presentation
The team should view themselves as employees of a “company” that is marketing their “product” (robot) to potential buyers/investors (judges).
The marketing presentation should provide information about:
their company
the engineering team involved in the design and construction of the product
why their product is the best one on the market that can complete the assigned task.

10. Marketing Presentation Guidelines (1 of 2)
A minimum of 4 students must actively participate in the presentation.
A maximum of 8 representatives for the team may be in the presentation room, including the presenters, photographers, videographers, etc.
Adults/leaders are not allowed to participate, but may be present in the room (counting as one of the 8 representatives)
Representation by student presenters from more than one grade level is encouraged and will be considered in the evaluation as part of the team’s recruitment efforts.

11. Marketing Presentation Guidelines (2 of 2)
FR BEST will provide a computer, projector, and screen for teleconference presentations.
Teams must bring a USB Thumb Drive with their PowerPoint or PDF to use with BEST provided laptop.
Direct questions about equipment and facilities to Tami Kirkland at
Failure to voice additional equipment needs may result in a team not having the necessary equipment for its presentation.

12. Marketing Presentation
Company Demographics, Budget & Operations - 5 points (5/25) Well-defined roles as company employees/owners/managers

13. Marketing Presentation
Company Demographics, Budget & Operations , cont.
Company team-building (team-building activities, representation and percentage of team involved in development, methods of team decision-making, etc.)
Company team demographics (evidence of team diversity – male, female, variety of grades represented, minority involvement)
How funds were generated

14. Marketing Presentation
Design & Manufacturing Process- 3 points (3/25)
Brainstorming approaches- Early concepts, alternatives
Analytical evaluation of design alternatives- What worked? What didn’t? Why?

15. Marketing Presentation
Marketing Strategies- 3 points (3/25)
Publicity efforts to inform school and community of their product (e.g. school newsletters, presentations to community and/or school groups, fliers/brochures, posters, press releases, etc.)

16. Marketing Presentation
Use of Available Technology- 4 points (4/25)
CAD drawings, computer illustrations and/or models, simulations/analysis
WEB-based for promotional and/or recruiting
Photography, video, other media.

17. Marketing Presentation
Quality of Presentation- 10 points (10/25)
Communication skills and professionalism. Organized, prepared.
Meet specifications (time limit, 4 presenters min., etc).
Creativity of format; visual elements like graphics, typography, images, and information are used in a creative way- to enhance clarity.
Quality of Q&A response to judges’ questions

18. Presentations

19. The Road to Success Use the Score Sheet as your presentation outline
Apply the engineering/design process:
Define the problem and establish constraints
Read the rules and requirements
Research similar designs
Inventory resources available
Brainstorm strategy and design possibilities
Evaluate the strategies & design approaches
Analyze several alternative solutions
Select strategy & preliminary design configuration
Accomplish final design- Build & test, modify & retest
Document process and decisions along the way!
Deliver product

20. Marketing Presentation
Judges’ Advice
Don’t read the presentation verbatim, use cards for notes. Look at your audience, not at the projection screen.
Use visual aids
• Pictures of people, drawings, mockups, your actual robot, etc.
• Take advantage of technology- software like PowerPoint, etc.
Dress appropriately, professionally
• Dress and speak like you’re interviewing for a scholarship
• ‘Casual business’ is expected, or better.
BRING IN THE ACTUAL ROBOT (FINISHED OR UNFINISHED)!!!!

21. His sense of informality came after grueling hours of practice.

22. Thank you!
Questions?

23. Exhibit & Interviews Nikki Baird

24. Team Exhibit & Interviews
Team Exhibit and Interviews – 20 points
Purpose: To creatively communicate the following information through a display and discussion with judges
An understanding of the game theme
Demonstrate how the team has promoted community awareness about BEST in the school and their community.

25. Prior Years’ Exhibit Examples

26. Exhibit & Interview Process
Judges will visit table exhibits of each BEST team at your scheduled time slot
Sign up for your Exhibit Judging Time Slot here:
Multiple judges will evaluate your exhibit and conduct the interview
Stellar teams at Regionals address each aspect of the Score Sheet in a presentation during their scheduled appointment
Judges will evaluate every item in the score sheet
BE PREPARED – use the score sheet as your interview guideline/outline
Rubrics are included on the score sheets – USE THEM!!

27. Exhibit Guidelines Table will be provided upon request
Skirting for table not provided
Power will be provided including one power strip
Bring extra power strip for backup
Display must not exceed floor space of 8’ x 8’ x 8’
Other exhibit items may be used
Additional equipment (audio-visual, extension cords) will be responsibility of the team
Each team is responsible for security of its own materials and equipment
Mark all materials with identification and contact information

28. Exhibit Guidelines (cont.)
Exhibit Set-up by 9:00am on Game Day:
Saturday Game Day set up from 7:00 - 9:00am.
Exhibits should be manned by students from 9am – 3pm
At least one student rep must be present to respond to Judges’ questions during the assigned appointment time.
Each team is responsible for breakdown and clean-up of exhibit following awards ceremony
Please do not break down exhibits until after 3:00 PM

29. Exhibit Scoring Categories
Exhibits will be evaluated on:
Sharing information and/or technology resources, and mentoring other schools
Presentations and robot demonstrations to other schools and community groups
Publicity (materials, media/press) within school and community about BEST
Fundraising and/or sponsorship efforts
Use of technology, display models or boards, or multi-media
Creativity in incorporating game theme into design and presentation of exhibit
Compliance with specifications (space allocation)

30. Interview Scoring Categories
Interviews may occur at the Table Exhibit and will be evaluated on:
Evidence of students’ learning experience and understanding of the game theme
Evidence of students’ enthusiasm about their experience in BEST
Evidence that team recruitment included multiple grade levels and students from a cross-section of the school population
Evidence that students were the primary designers and builders of robot, team exhibit and all materials

31. Regional Exhibit Examples

32. Regional Exhibit Examples

33. The Rest of the BEST Award

34. Engineering Notebook Engineering Notebooks– 30 points
Mandatory for all Teams
Must submit on Practice Day, Oct 15th by 9:00 am
New Rule: Teams must submit in PDF format to Your Team Google Drive Folder – your Teacher/Mentor should have received an with the link to this folder.
if your teacher does not have access to your Team Google Drive Folder.
The Goal: To document the process the team uses to design, build and test the team’s robot.
It’s your team’s opportunity to tell the story of your robot; it’s part “diary” and part “log” that the team keeps as they progress through the process.
NEW

35. Spirit & Sportsmanship
Spirit and Sportsmanship –10 points
Evaluation will occur throughout the competition
The following will be observed:
Spirit promoted by the team during competition
Team’s conduct throughout the day
Seating area
Table display area
Game floor
Pit area

36. Evaluation of Spirit Team spirit includes:
Display of vigor and enthusiasm
Use of signs, posters, t-shirts, props, etc.
Cheerleaders, mascots, costumes, bands, etc.
Band limited to maximum of 10 instruments
Bands play ONLY during their team’s 3-minute round
No powered instruments, sirens, air-horns, etc.
Evidence of community involvement (for example community supporters present on Game Day)

37. Evaluation of Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship includes:
Outward display of sportsmanship
Helping other teams in need
Conduct and attitude considered befitting participation in sporting competitions
Grace in winning or losing
Evidence that students (not adults) are the pit crew

38. Robot Performance
The last category, Robot Performance, will determine the final 15% of possible BEST Award points.
These 15 points will be based on the total game points earned throughout the seeding phase (prior to the semi-final phase) according to the following scale:
Team finishes in top 20% of all teams at Game 15 Points
Team finishes in top 40% of all teams at Game 12 Points
Team finishes in top 60% of all teams Points
Team finishes in top 80% of all teams Points
Team finishes in top 100% of all teams Points
Team is unable to score any points during game 0 Points

39. Remember… Enjoy the experience !
Materials submitted by teams must be the work of the student participants.
Your team’s efforts are being judged by a distinguished team of judges.
Your team members will be representing your team and your school at all times during the competition; judges will be present during those times as well.
Scores among the teams often differ by only fractions of a point.
Enjoy the experience !

40. ONE MORE TIME… Read the rules – Your Teacher has a copy!
2016 Awards & Judging Policies
2016 Awards & Judging Front Range BEST Logistics
Score Sheets with rubrics
Use the Score Sheets as your guide
Address every category
Have a good time !!

41. BEST Award Internet Links
(password until September 19th)
The Competition > Game Info > The BEST Award (download here)
Participants > File Manager > 2016 Game Files >Awards and Judging
Teams => Team Resources
FR BEST Announcements, links, and resources will be posted on this page