2017 HCS Tech Fair Details & FAQ

Horry County Schools host its 8th annual technology fair.

Come out and join teachers and students as they demonstrate how they use technology for teaching and learning. The 7th annual technology fair will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 12 -5 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Admission is FREE!

What: HCS 2017 Technology Fair

Where: Myrtle Beach Convention Center

When: Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Time: 12PM – 5PM (this is the time the entries will be on display for the public)

Awards:

Grades: PK-5^th - 4:15

Grades: 6-12 – 5:15

To register for the Tech Fair, Lego or Rubiks Cube Competitions, please visit the HCS Tech Fair pages at HorryCountySchools.net. Registration is open from January 23 - March 1, 2017.

FAQ  · Each school will have ONE point of contact. This person will be the school's technology contact. This person will be responsible to deliver all information to participating teachers and students. Each entry must have a teacher sponsor but the sponsor does not have to be the technology contact. · Projects for each category must be unique and cannot be entered in more than one category. The only exception is in the case of a large multifunctional project that has several elements, each of which could stand alone. Students may participate in a maximum of 2 projects. · Projects are to be designed and created by students. Some adult guidance is allowed, but it must be clear that all work entered by students was done by the students. · Schools may submit up to two entries per category. Schools may elect to have preliminary fair/judging to determine the entries for the district level competition. ·  All categories are open to team competition unless it is specifically stated the category is for individuals. Teams should consist of no more than 3 people, with exception to robotics teams. · The deadline for technology fair registration is Wednesday, March 1st.  We will not be able to accept additional entries after March 1st due to the many items that need to be in place prior to the event on March 29th. · There WILL be a LEGO robotics competition again this year.  More information will be available soon.  The LEGO competition will be a separate category and has a separate registration form which will be avaliable soon. ·  If your school is having a preliminary technology fair to determine school entries for the district fair, please let me know.  I would like to keep track of how many schools are needing to have their own fair before the district event. · Don’t forget field trip request forms.  One recommendation from last year was bus transportation to the event and parents pick up at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.  Students may begin setting up as early as 9am if needed. · No outside food, drinks or coolers are allowed inside the convention center halls.  You may have snack (or your own lunch) outside in front of the building.  · Parking is FREE · Remember you can submit 2 entries, per category, per level.  There are 5 levels. o   Primary (PK-1) o   Elementary (2-3) o   Intermediate (4-5) o   Middle (6-8) o   High (9-12) Students MUST attend and present the project on the day of the Fair. Teams must have at least 2 of the members in attendance. Each participant must have a parent consent form to participate at the district level. Transportation: Parents and/or the school will be responsible for student transportation to and from the event. Bibliography – If the project contains any material not written/created by the student, a bibliography must be included (including websites used, people that consulted with the student to provide guidance, etc) Copyright permissions – The Student Technology Fair committee supports ethical behavior and respect for the work of others. Any images, text or recordings not created by the student must have written permission from the owner of the work. The content must give permission of use or be free domain. Note: "Google," "DISCUS," and "United Streaming" are not considered full citations. Work that is unique to the student or free in the public domain is acceptable but must be listed in the Bibliography. Work that is not properly cited will be penalized in the judging. Computers and Software - Students will be provided a table and electricity the day of the competition. Students are responsible for the security of any computer or equipment brought on the premises. If additional equipment is needed, please complete the additional equipment needed form prior to the day of the competition. Prizes - Placement ribbons and prized will be awarded

2017 Tech Fair FAQ

Each school will have ONE point of contact. This person will be the school's technology contact. This person will be responsible to deliver all information to participating teachers and students. Each entry must have a teacher sponsor but the sponsor does not have to be the technology contact.

·         Projects for each category must be unique and cannot be entered in more than one category. The only exception is in the case of a large multifunctional project that has several elements, each of which could stand alone. Students may participate in a maximum of 2 projects.

·         Projects are to be designed and created by students. Some adult guidance is allowed, but it must be clear that all work entered by students was done by the students.

·         Schools may submit up to two entries per category. Schools may elect to have preliminary fair/judging to determine the entries for the district level competition.

·         All categories are open to team competition unless it is specifically stated the category is for individuals. Teams should consist of no more than 3 people, with exception to robotics teams.

·         The deadline for technology fair registration is Friday, March 18th.  We will not be able to accept additional entries after March 18th due to the many items that need to be in place prior to the event on April 13th.

·         There WILL be a LEGO robotics competition again this year.  More information will be available soon.  The LEGO competition will be a separate category and has a separate registration form that is now available by clicking here.

·         If your school is having a preliminary technology fair to determine school entries for the district fair, please let me know.  I would like to keep track of how many schools are needing to have their own fair before the district event.

·         Don’t forget field trip request forms.  One recommendation from last year was bus transportation to the event and parents pick up at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.  Students may begin setting up as early as 9am if needed.

·         No outside food, drinks or coolers are allowed inside the convention center halls.  You may have snack (or your own lunch) outside in front of the building. 

·         Parking is FREE

·         Remember you can submit 2 entries, per category, per level.  There are 5 levels.

o   Primary (PK-1)

o   Elementary (2-3)

o   Intermediate (4-5)

o   Middle (6-8)

o   High (9-12)

Students MUST attend and present the project on the day of the Fair. Teams must have at least 2 of the members in attendance. Each participant must have a parent consent form to participate at the district level.

Transportation: Parents and/or the school will be responsible for student transportation to and from the event.

Bibliography – If the project contains any material not written/created by the student, a bibliography must be included (including websites used, people that consulted with the student to provide guidance, etc)

Copyright permissions – The Student Technology Fair committee supports ethical behavior and respect for the work of others. Any images, text or recordings not created by the student must have written permission from the owner of the work. The content must give permission of use or be free domain. Note: "Google," "DISCUS," and "United Streaming" are not considered full citations. Work that is unique to the student or free in the public domain is acceptable but must be listed in the Bibliography. Work that is not properly cited will be penalized in the judging.

Computers and Software - Students will be provided a table and electricity the day of the competition. Students are responsible for the security of any computer or equipment brought on the premises. If additional equipment is needed, please complete the additional equipment needed form prior to the day of the competition.

Prizes - Placement ribbons and prized will be awarded

Description of Categories (2017)

Graphic Design: (no more than four entries in a combined count, per level) 3-D Modeling: Works of graphic art that are created with the aid of computers and specialized 3D software. 2-D Modeling: Geometric model of an object. This includes certain types of images, diagrams, logos, drawings, paintings and page layouts. Multimedia / Video Editing: (no more than four entries in a combined count, per level) Multimedia: Computer-based reports or creative presentations using any combination of sound and/or images with text, graphics and/or drawings.  Information is being represented through a presentation. Video Editing: Editing segments of motion video production footage, special effects and sound recordings in the post-production process. 1.       Minecraft: (no more than four entries in a combined count, per level) Minecraft app – (Pocket edition) students creating in the Minecraft app (pocket edition) are primarily limited to just creating/building.  This level promotes creativity, problem solving and perhaps elements of architecture. This would be considered a lower level skill approach to Minecraft. Creating by writing code - students creating with Minecraft on a computer, are open to more in depth creating and programming abilities. Students can download mods (modifications to the game) that will change the look and experience of the overall game. They can also utilize programming features such as using triggers, basic coding and more. Creating on the computer requires higher level thinking and in depth skills. 1.   Web Design: (no more than four entries in a combined count, per level) Template manipulation – any web pages built through the manipulation of templates, programs or applications will fall into this category.  Utilization of web creation programs such as Weebly or Wordpress will be categorized as template manipulation Creation from scratch – building web pages or web sites from the ground up.  This requires knowledge and demonstration of HTML, HTML5 and/or other Coding skills. Students may create a single page or develop a site. 1.   Gaming/App Creation: (no more than four entries in a combined count, per level) Manipulation of an existing Game or App to use as a teaching or learning tool From Scratch – building or creating a game or application from the ground up – does not use a preexisting template or application Programming: (no more than three entries per level) Self-executing programs created using recognizable programming languages such as BASIC, C++, ALICE or LOGO. All parts of the program must be the author’s own design.. Robotics: (no more than four entries in a combined count, per level) Kit: Was the robot built from a kit? Robots used as part of LEGO or *FLL will be in this group - *please note there is a separate registration for FLL teams that wish to compete in the team competition. This category is for FLL type robots that will be judged on the robot itself, not the team competition challenge. Non – Kit: (built from scratch) This is for any robots that are built from scratch by the student. Digital Photography: (no more than three entries per level) Original image with use of a digital camera (photo manipulated by settings on the camera or device, not a software program.  Photos manipulated with software will need to be entered in 2D design. Creative/Innovative: (no more than three entries per level) This is limited to “new and innovative” software and programs. Entries in this category cannot fall under any other category. Teacher Category: Using technology to improve instruction. How technology is used in your classroom to enhance instruction and motivate students. Middle and High teacher entries must follow Third Rotation as explained by your schools’ Digital Integration Specialists.  You will need to show how you are connecting outside the classroom (Blended learning, Google hangout, Skype etc.)

Display Requirements

Project Display Board: We have returned to the requirement of project display boards.  For 2017, each entry is required each entry to have a project display board for the table, however the display board will not be any larger than 18X48 (you may cut a regular presentation board in half to make a display for two separate entries). All projects must have project documentation, as well as any permission needed, and a bibliography (if applicable). Title (Name of project, name of creator(s), competition category & level) Introduction of project What hardware and software did you use?  Why did you choose to do this project? What have you learned from creating this project? Visual documentation during project development (photos) Standards: How does the project relate the content to instructional standards? The instructional standard may not be the standard of the level of the student creating the project, but it may be a standard at any level.  Bibliography – If the project contains any material not written/created by the student, a bibliography must be included (including websites used, people that consulted with the student to provide guidance, etc) Copyright permissions – The Student Technology Fair committee supports ethical behavior and respect for the work of others. Any images, text or recordings not created by the student must have written permission from the owner of the work. The content must give permission of use or be free domain. Note: "Google," "DISCUS," and "United Streaming" are not considered full citations. Work that is unique to the student or free in the public domain is acceptable but must be listed in the Bibliography. Work that is not properly cited will be penalized in the judging. Computers and Software - Students will be provided a table and electricity the day of the competition. Students are responsible for the security of any computer brought on the premises. If additional equipment is needed, please notify Ashley Gasperson via email at  agasperson@horrycountyschools.net

How Can I Help?

If you are interested in helping with the Horry County Schools' Technology Fair contact Ashley Gasperson at agasperson@horrycountyschools.net or by phone at 843.488.6554. Please indicate if you are interested in one of the following: You are interested in being a judge for the fair You or your business can provide items for the exhibitor bags - (for example, pens, pencils, jumpdrives, meal certificates) You would like to be contacted to discuss ways you or your business can help with the technology fair. Thank you for supporting the students of Horry County!