5th – 8th graders 2014 - 2015 The categories for the 2014-2015 Middle School virtual competition are: • • • • • •

Game Design (using Alice 3.1) App Development (using App Inventor 2) Multimedia Robotics (using NXT Mindstorms) Community Service Team Name (you will add to submission forms; a team entering in multiple categories can use the same team name or a different name)

Within this document are the themes and instructions for the contest project areas.

Deadlines • March 20, 2015 – Registration due via google docs form • April 8, 2015, 5:00 p.m. – Projects uploaded • May 5, 2015 – Winners will be announced How to Submit • • •

Submittals will be done electronically. We will be providing specific submittal directions early March. Entries MUST follow file/format directions (see below), to ensure judges can open and access your files. o If judges cannot open your file, it will not be judged. o If directions are not followed, you could lose points.

Winners • • •

We will be awarding 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for ALL award categories. There will be great prizes!!  Winning entries will be used for future promotion and training. Your submission gives HyperStream approval for your entries to be used for these purposes.

Questions/Feedback

Please email Tamara Kenworthy, [email protected]. 1

2014-2015 The goal of this contest is for students to design a game that incorporates concepts from one or more of the STEM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math). The game should be easy to use, fun to play and demonstrate a STEM concept(s).

Award Categories • • • • • •

Best Overall STEM Game Best Storyline Most Original Idea Best Animation Sequence Best Use of Sound Best Code Quality

Criteria • • • • • •

All games must be developed in Alice 3.1. Participants must compete as a team. Team sizes are limited to 3-4 students each. Hyperstream Clubs may submit up to 3 games for the statewide competition. o If you are a larger club with lots of game design involvement, it is encouraged to have a club contest to identify the top 3 games for this state competition. Each game submitted will be considered for all award categories. (see below) The attached Submission Form must accompany your entry, including game instructions and feedback which are mandatory with submission.

Hyperstream Feedback – Part of Judging Criteria Participants are to provide feedback on their HyperStream game design experience. This will be part of the judging criteria. Please provide this in a Word or pdf format. • • • •

What do you like about working on game design projects? What do you like about using the Alice software? What do you not like about the Alice software? What are the key things you learned from working on this contest entry? 2

Game Design – Judging Criteria for Best Overall STEM Game •

Sound and Animation (20%)

•

Game Design (20%) o Scene design o Storyline

•

Interactivity (20%) o Collision detection o Camera manipulation o Key/mouse bindings o User input

•

Code Quality/Technical Merit (20%) o Code is broken up into smaller methods o Inheritance is utilized o Readability  Descriptive variable and method names  Comments used when needed o Documentation  Game instructions  Project Description  Hyperstream feedback

•

Creative Component (20%) o Incorporates other fields of math, science, or technology, such as:  Computer science algorithms  Documentation as HTML  Physics (acceleration, collision, gravity) o Advanced components  Custom 3d models/textures  Development process documentation/tool-utilization • Team collaboration • Version control • Feature backlog  Concept art  Custom Sound/Video

3

Game Design 2014-2015 Submission Form A separate form must be completed for every game entered in the contest. Name of Game ________________________________________________________________ School / Learning Agency ________________________________________________________ City where School/LEA is located __________________________________________________ Team Name ___________________________________________________________________ Your submittal gives HyperStream approval to potentially use this game in HyperStream promotion and training if it is selected as one of the winning entries (1st, 2nd or 3rd place). Participants (teams can have 3-4 students per team) 1. ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. ____________________________________________________________________________ 3. ____________________________________________________________________________ 4. ____________________________________________________________________________ Teacher/Club Adviser’s Name _____________________________________________________ Email _____________________________________________________ Phone # ___________________________________________________ Mentors (Company & Names) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Instructions for how to use Alice game must be submitted with game entry. (You may use another page for game instructions.) Participants must provide feedback on their HyperStream experience. This feedback is part of the judging criteria and should be reflective of all team members. Please provide in a pdf format. (You may use another page for feedback.) • • • •

What do you like about working on game design projects? What do you like about using the Alice software What do you not like about the Alice software? What are the key things you learned from working on this contest entry?

4

2014-2015 The challenge is to design an educational game that can be used to teach a concept in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) to students in grades 6-8, generally considered middle school (junior high) age. The game should be easy to use, fun to play and teach a STEM concept.

Game Requirements: • • • • •

The game program must be created using MIT AppInventor 2. The target age group is students in grades 6-8. The concept or issue being taught must be identified in the program. Team should produce a one-page quick start guide to get players and judges started. The code should be documented and will be submitted along with the game.

Judging of STEM game: • • • •

15% based on artistic appeal 20% based on educational content 25% based on ease of use 40% based on code and code documentation

Award Categories: • • • • •

Best Overall APP game Best Storyline Most Original Idea Best Animation Sequence Best Code Quality

Hyperstream Feedback – Part of Judging Criteria Participants are to provide feedback on their HyperStream app development experience. This will be part of the judging criteria. Please provide this in a pdf format. • • • •

What do you like about working on app development projects? What do you like about using the App Inventor software? What do you not like about the App Inventor software? What are the key things you learned from working on this contest entry?

5

App Development 2014-2015 Submission Form A separate form must be completed for every app entered in the contest. Name of App Game _____________________________________________________________ School / Learning Agency ________________________________________________________ City where School/LEA is located __________________________________________________ Team Name ___________________________________________________________________ Your submittal gives HyperStream approval to potentially use this app in HyperStream promotion and training if it is selected as one of the winning entries (1st, 2nd or 3rd place). Participants (teams can have 3-4 students per team) 1. ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. ____________________________________________________________________________ 3. ____________________________________________________________________________ 4. ____________________________________________________________________________ Teacher/Club Adviser’s Name _____________________________________________________ Email _____________________________________________________ Phone # ___________________________________________________ Mentors (Company & Names) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Instructions for how to use App game must be submitted with entry. (You may use another page for instructions.) Participants must provide feedback on their HyperStream experience. This feedback is part of the judging criteria and should be reflective of all team members. Please provide in a pdf format. (You may use another page for feedback.) • • • •

What do you like about working on app development projects? What do you like about using the App Inventor software? What do you not like about the App Inventor software? What are the key things you learned from working on this contest entry? 6

~~

2014-2015 Competition Theme: Introducing a New Educational Tablet to the Marketplace Your club has been hired to market a “new tablet.” Tablets are changing the way that people use their computers and access information on the go; think tablet market leaders such as the Apple iPad, the Amazon Kindle Fire, or the Barnes & Noble Nook. What’s unique about this tablet – it’s been specifically created for the education market. It will be targeted to and used by students and educators like yourselves. Your challenge will be to create the marketing and promotional materials for this new tablet, in order to compete with the market leading tablet brands. The tablet will be geared towards education and learning; therefore, should have a name, logo, apps and other features aligned with this purpose. (Note: you do NOT have to create the apps that you feature on the tablet.)

Criteria • • •

• •

Participants must compete as a team. Team sizes are limited to 3-4 students each. Clubs may submit 3 entries per category. o If you are a larger club with lots of multimedia involvement, it is encouraged to have a club contest to identify the top 3 entries in each category for this state competition. Clubs can submit entries in EACH category OR various categories. You do not need to submit entries in every category.

The attached Submission Form must accompany each entry, with feedback which is mandatory with submission.

Multimedia -- Judging Criteria • • •

Creativity (30%) – i.e. design approach, innovative thinking, creative use of theme, etc. Execution (35%) – i.e. visual appeal, marketing savvy, theme execution, etc. Technical abilities (35%) – use of software/technologies used; difficulty of technology execution, etc. 7

Award Categories •

Logo – Select a name for the tablet and design a logo that will capture the excitement and innovation of the new tablet for the education market. o Size: 500px x 500px o PDF format o Color or Black/White is team’s choice

•

Photo Collage – Edit tech/tablet and education-related images that best represent the new tablet. Compile them into a collage to be used for catalogs, online and marketing materials. o Must include minimum of 5 images o Show before and after of images submitted o PDF format

•

Poster – Use graphical elements and design to create a poster promoting the new tablet. o Poster size must be sized at 8-1/2 inches (width) x 11 inches (height) or larger o High-resolution (300ppi) o PDF format

•

Video Commercial – Create a commercial promoting the new tablet. o Duration: 30 seconds o Include website URL for more information o Upload to YouTube and provide link to view

•

Music Challenge - Edit an existing piece of music or create an original composition that could be used in the video commercial for the new tablet. o Duration: 30 seconds o Must be in WAV or MP3 format

•

Website Design o Provide an active link for judges to access the website o Include logo and video commercial in Website design and presentation • Must have four main pages: i. Homepage ii. About the Tablet – Name and describe the tablet, and promote the tablet directed at the audiences for whom the tablet is intended. Highlight the features and benefits of the tablet. iii. Apps Included – Name and describe four types of apps that the tablet includes (Note: you do NOT have to actually create the apps). iv. Buy – Include pricing and purchasing information for the tablet. v. You may include other pages if you’d like. 8

Fine Print – Copyright Plagiarism and copyright infringement will not be tolerated as part of the contest. All copywriting content must be originally created by your team. Art (music, graphics, etc.) used must be originally created or fall under Creative Commons with proper attribution (artwork attribution will depend on Creative Commons level selected by the creator, so make sure to check before using any artwork that is not made by your team).

9

Multimedia 2014-2015 Submission Form A separate form must be completed for every entry submitted in the contest. Award Category _______________________________________________________________ School / Learning Agency ________________________________________________________ City where School/LEA is located __________________________________________________ Team Name ___________________________________________________________________ Your submittal gives HyperStream approval to potentially use this entry in HyperStream promotion and training if it is selected as one of the winning entries (1st, 2nd or 3rd place). Participants (teams can have 3-4 students per team) 1. ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. ____________________________________________________________________________ 3. ____________________________________________________________________________ 4. ____________________________________________________________________________ Teacher/Club Adviser’s Name _____________________________________________________ Email _____________________________________________________ Phone # ___________________________________________________ Mentors (Company & Names) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Participants must provide feedback on their HyperStream experience. This feedback is part of the judging criteria and should be reflective of all team members. Please provide in a pdf format. (You may use another page for feedback.) • What do you like about working on multimedia projects? • What multimedia software packages have you liked the most? • What multimedia software packages have you not liked as well? • What are the key things you learned from working on this contest entry? 10

2014-2015 Robot Categories 1. Harvest Challenge – a local apple grower’s cooperative has hired you as a startup Robotics Company to design a robot with attachments to accomplish two specific jobs during the apple growing season. You will adapt your robot to spray the apple trees to protect them during the growing season and to harvest apples at the end of the growing season. (See below for details/criteria for this challenge.) 2. Free-form, Innovative Robot Challenge – You must design and program a robot to do something creative or innovative for you, or complete a dirty, dull or delicate task for your team. You must also create a creative back story to give more of a story line on the need for the robot and the process of how the robot was developed, along with a plan for marketing the robot to your fellow students.

Award Categories For both Robot Categories above, awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be given in each of these categories. • Overall Best Robot • Creative Programming • Design & Build of Robot • Robot Design and Programming Documentation • 3rd Motor Attachments

• Use of Sensors – all robots must use at least 1 sensor • Robot Name

11

Criteria • • •

• • •

• •

You must utilize the NXT Mindstorms software. All entries must be a single-robot design. You must submit the following as part of your entry: video of robot in action, robot documentation, submission form (within this document) o Your video should include a visual of all team members involved on this robot Participants must compete as a team. Team sizes are limited to 3-4 students each. Clubs may submit 3 entries per Robot Category (max of 6 robots submitted per club) o If you are a larger club with lots of robotics involvement, it is encouraged to have a club contest to identify the top 3 entries in each Robot Category for this state competition. Clubs can submit entries in EACH Robot Category, or you can choose to submit in only one Robot Category.

The attached Submission Form must accompany your entry, with feedback which is mandatory with submission.

Robotics – Judging Criteria for Best Overall Robot (in both categories) •

Robot Design & Build (25%)

•

Documentation (20%) o The robot design process from your original build to the final robot and documenting the changes o Documentation of your strategies to accomplish your challenge mission o Programming documentation with notes explaining the programs o Hyperstream feedback

•

Use of Sensors – must use at least 1 sensor (15%)

•

3rd Motor Attachments (15%) o Creativity o Successful application of attachment to tasks

•

Creativity and Innovation (25%) o Creative programming o Innovative strategies to accomplish challenges

12

Robotics – Category 1 Harvest Challenge You are a new robotics company working with a local fruit cooperative to design and program a robot to spray the apple trees in a local orchard in order to protect them during the growing season, as well as to harvest the apples at the end of the growing season. To successfully complete the challenge, you must build a robot and attachments and program the robot to complete the following tasks: 1. You must pass through the orchard and spray both sides of each row of trees using your robot and an attachment you have built to simulate spraying the trees. 2. You must harvest the apples at the end of the season and place them in the Apple Wagon. This will require some type of attachment to collect the apple and deposit it in the Apple Wagon. In your programming and planning your two missions, you must use at least one sensor to assist you in the task of spraying or harvesting the apples. Use of more than one sensor in the programming to complete the tasks will achieve more points.

To create your orchard for the Harvest Challenge:

13

Begin by mapping out a 4 foot by 6 foot rectangle on the floor or build a mat out of bulletin board paper that can be easily taken up and placed back down on the floor for working on your Harvest Challenge. Next take some blue painters tape or colored duct tape and mark the following on your mat or floor according to the dimensions shared in the picture below for the following Orchard Features: • • • • • •

•

Right side – 36 inch fence to keep out wildlife Top Apple Processing – 30 inch building Left – 30 inch row of trees Right – 30 inch row of trees Center upside down U Shaped grove of Trees – three 18 inch rows of trees that make up the grove Four Apple placement markers for the apple harvest o Apple objects do not need to be placed on the mat until after the completed orchard spraying is complete and then can be placed on the markers ready for the harvest part of your challenge. One square where your Apple Wagon will sit on the mat which will need to be taped out after selecting your apple wagon container (see criteria below for Apple Wagon).

14

You will also need the following boards cut to size for place holders on the orchard mat or floor: • • •

Three 30 in. 2x4s Three 18 in. 2x4s One 36 in. 2x4

Note on lumber: You don’t have to go out and purchase new lumber as the 2x4s represent place holders for the trees in the orchard, the Apple Processing Building and the Orchard Fence to keep wildlife out. You can use other dimensions of lumber you have available in the specified lengths. We chose 2x4s as they are a common scrap lumber you might have available and are more stable when placed upright as the place holders to simulate the trees and other objects on the mat. Whatever boards you use, for the trees, the board should be placed upright with the largest dimension in the vertical position. So the 2x4 would sit with the 2 inch side down on the mat and with the 4 inch side vertical to represent the tree height. 15

Note on Apple Wagon: Your Apple Wagon can be a container of your choice, but must have the minimum of 4 inch high sides for placing your apples in the wagon. Note on Apples: You may use any objects of your choice that meet the criteria of minimum of 1 inch width and maximum of 2 inch width for the apple object that you will collect and transport to the Apple Wagon. We have provided a picture below of some examples, but be creative in what you use for an apple so that it slightly resembles an apple. I have provided the following examples: an apple built out of Legos; the Lego ball with a rubber tire as the placeholder to keep it in place until you harvest it; a Jumbo marshmallow; a small gala apple found at the local grocery store or you might have some crab apples that meet the dimensions; a regular marshmallow; a wooden knob found at craft store. (Apple objects do not need to be placed on the mat until after the completed orchard spraying is complete and then can be placed on the markers ready for the harvest part of your challenge.)

16

Where to start your robot for your missions? This will be left up to you as a team, but just remember a logical starting point would be from the Apple Processing Building where the robot might be stored between operations in the orchard.

•

Your successfully completed Harvest Challenge will be: to have built a robot with at least one sensor employed and programmed in your missions;

•

• •

Built a spraying attachment for the robot and programmed the robot to complete the spraying simulation of both sides of all the trees.

Then you must replace the spray attachment with a third motor attachment to harvest the apples and place them in the Apple Wagon. Having programmed, videotaped, documented your development process, and provided lots of pictures in your documentation of the robot and attachment design and programming process, you are ready to fill out the paperwork and submit your Harvest Challenge Project for the judging process.

This Harvest Challenge adapted from a Challenge developed by Casey Wenstrand, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Summer Robotics Camps Intern and Iowa State University Student.

17

Robotics

2014-2015 Submission Form A separate form must be completed for every entry submitted in the contest. Robot Category (Harvest OR Free-Form) ____________________________________________ School / Learning Agency ________________________________________________________ City where School/LEA is located __________________________________________________ Team Name ___________________________________________________________________ Robot Name __________________________________________________________________ Your submittal gives HyperStream approval to potentially use your entry in HyperStream promotion and training if it is selected as one of the winning entries (1st, 2nd or 3rd place). Participant Names (teams can have 3-4 students per team) 1. _____________________________________________________ Grade ________________ 2. _____________________________________________________ Grade ________________ 3. _____________________________________________________ Grade ________________ 4. _____________________________________________________ Grade ________________ Teacher/Club Adviser’s Name _____________________________________________________ Email __________________________________________ Phone # ______________________ Mentors (Company & Names) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Participants must provide feedback on their HyperStream experience. This feedback is part of the judging criteria and should be reflective of all team members. Please provide in pdf format. (You may use another page for feedback.) • What do you like about working on robotics projects? • What do you not like about the NXT Mindstorms robotic kit? • What are the key things you learned from working on this contest entry?

For Robot Category 2: Teacher/Club Adviser’s Signature Required:

This team has come up with the robot design and build on their own and did not utilize ideas/instructions from other sources (whether online or in print). ______________________________________________________________________________ Teacher/Club Adviser Signature 18

2014-2015 The community service project can be targeted at any age group and should be focused on some aspect of technology.

Judging Criteria •

Project Concept – Technology Relevance (25%) o Creative project idea o Relevance of technology within project scope o Purpose of need in “community”

•

Project Implementation (25%) o Project organization and management o Promotion for project implementation o Success of project implementation

•

Team Involvement and Collaboration (10%) o Describe how each team member was involved in project – both their individual roles and collaboration as a team

•

PowerPoint Presentation (20%) o Clear understanding of project details o Visual representation (you may use video, photos, etc. in your PPT)

•

Project Feedback on completed project/improvement ideas (20%) o What did you learn from this project? o How did the “community” react to this project? o What did the “community” tell you they learned from this project? o What would you do differently with this project in the future?

19

Criteria • • • • •

You can have as many club members involved in this project as you’d like. A minimum of 3 students must be involved. Hyperstream Clubs may submit up to 3 entries for the statewide competition. o If you are a larger club with lots of involvement, it is encouraged to have a club contest to identify the top 3 entries for this state competition. The entry must be submitted as a PowerPoint presentation. o You may use photos, link a video, etc. within the presentation – whatever you think is needed to tell your story. The attached Submission Form must accompany your entry. o You may include a separate sheet to list the team members.

Examples – To give you an idea of past community service projects: • Holding an IT security awareness class for the community • Arranging for a one-day recycling drop off point for used computers and/or other electronics • Volunteer to support computers and/or network for the local library

20

Community Service Project 2014-2015 Submission Form

A separate form must be completed for every entry submitted in the contest. Project ______________________________________________________________________ School / Learning Agency ________________________________________________________ City where School/LEA is located __________________________________________________ Team Name ___________________________________________________________________ Your submittal gives HyperStream approval to potentially use your entry in HyperStream promotion and training if it is selected as one of the winning entries (1st, 2nd or 3rd place). Participant Names Your entire club may work on this project. There must be a minimum of 3 students involved. You may use a separate sheet attached to this entry with the list of names, if more than 3. 1. _____________________________________________________ Grade ________________ 2. _____________________________________________________ Grade ________________ 3. _____________________________________________________ Grade ________________ Teacher/Club Adviser’s Name _____________________________________________________ Email __________________________________________ Phone # ______________________ Mentors (Company & Names) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

21