1. By: Brandy Russell Tuesday, September 14, 2010 6:00 p.m.

2.  WES will be hosting it’s 1 st annual Technology Fair this November.  This event will showcase the exceptional talents of our students in grades 3 rd -6 th and provide them the opportunity to compete with their projects.

3.  There are 6 categories in our technology fair:  1. General Applications  2. Multimedia  3. Web Site Creation  4. Video Production  5. Hardware-Robotics  6. Computer Programming  Let’s take a closer look at each category:

4.  General Applications:  Word Document  BASIC PowerPoint (no music or video/movie)  Spreadsheets  Word processing programs  Desktop Publishing programs  Example of previous General Application project:

5.  Multimedia:  PowerPoint (advanced) using different programs, adding music, adding video clips/movies  Example of previous Multimedia project:  Astound  Kid Pix  KidWorks Deluxe  Storybook Weaver  HyperStudio  Word Perfect Presentations  Claris Works  www.design-training.com and go to Multimedia www.design-training.com

6.  Video Production:  Windows Movie Maker  Toshiba Movie Designer  Any program you have that converts video to movies.  Example of previous Video Production project:

7.  Web Site Creation:  Blogs  Wiki’s  Google sites  Ning  Weebly for education  www.design-training.com and go to website creation for children www.design-training.com  www.lisaexplains.com is AWESOME! www.lisaexplains.com

8.  Hardware-Robotics:  Google search: Making a robot for kids

9.  Computer Programming:  Google search: computer programming for kids

10.  Students can do their projects on anything they are passionate about or any subject they have a lot of knowledge about.  Projects that have a school tie-in or that were directly assigned in class receive extra points at the Regional and State ACTE Technology Fair.

11.  Students will compete in Levels  Level I is 3 rd and 4 th grade  Level II is 5 th and 6 th grade  Students may enter more than one category, but may have only one project per category.  Students may enter an individual project AND be part of a group project within a single category.  Students can compete in a groups of no more than 4. The student will compete in the Level of the oldest student in that group.  EXAMPLE:  Suzie is in the 3 rd grade. She enters an individual project in Multimedia. She also enters a group Multimedia project with 2 of her friends and one of the friends is in the 5 th grade. Suzie will compete in Level I for her individual project and Level II for her group project.

12.  All projects need to be saved on a USB jump drive (flash drive)  All files, pictures, video clips, music, etc. will also need to be saved on that jump drive  Windows Movie Maker is VERY tricky sometimes if you try to create a project on a computer and copy it to a jump drive—it is best to begin the project by saving everything to the jump drive. That way everything will pull up wherever you are!

13.  We will have space available for you to set- up a laptop if your project requires a certain program that we would not have at school.  Otherwise, your child will show their project to the judges by inserting their jump drive into a computer in the library.  There will be “practice” times available the week before the fair for students to bring their projects and make sure they pull up without “glitches”.

14.  A project notebook must accompany every project.  Notebook requirements are on my website and are very detailed.  When you have decided on a project and are ready to begin, you may send your child to me and they can “check-out” a DVD that will take you step by step through how to set-up your notebook. Please return it within 2 weeks.

15.  There will be a 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd place winner in each category at our local fair.  1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd place projects will advance to the ACTE Regional Technology Fair at Jacksonville State University in January, 2011. (Alabama Council for Technology in Education)  There will be a 1 st and 2 nd place winner in each category at the regional level.  Those projects will advance to the ACTE State Fair in Montgomery in April, 2011.

16.  Tuesday, November 14 th  Students will compete throughout the school day and awards will be given out that evening at 6pm at the PTO meeting.  Judges will be teachers from other schools, employees from Calhoun County Technology Department, and Technology Sponsors.  Any questions: Please e-mail me at brussell.we@calhoun.k12.al.us brussell.we@calhoun.k12.al.us