Hi Deepa and Dan,
When your team considers how to present your work, it helps to think of the overall point of doing the project and what you're trying to commuicate to the judges. Did the kids:
1. Identify a problem?
2. Do they understand that problem? Including what's already been done to solve it? Why those things didn't work? or work completely? Why does the problem still exist? What is the extent of their research? How did their research inform their solution?
3. What ideas did they brainstorm to solve this problem? And how did they chose theirs? What were their considerations? And why?
4. How did they develop their solution? What will their solution look like? How will they know it's worked?
5. What were the problems they encountered and how did they fix them? Who did they go to for advice? And what did they do with that advice?
It's really about how well thought out your problem is and how your solution matches that problem in an innovative way.
So for a solution that solves your problem thought raising awareness, I'd consider including something in your presentation like:
1. How they plan to raise awareness - brochures, posters, billboards, etc. and then bring in something for the judges to see - the brochure, a example of what the poster would look like, etc. If you planned to put a billboard in the middle of town - then go
to the site and take a picture of where the perfect location is and tell the judges why this is the perfect site and how they know it's the perfect site. Tell them how many cars drive by an hour; tell them who those people are; and tell them how your billboard
will influence those people. Or something of the sort.
2. Take information from other studies that show something similar to your project was successful. Make a chart or graph taken from the information in the studies so they judges can have a visual of what you're talking about. Basically...something that says
- 'we just don't think raising awareness will solve our problem' - but rather - 'here's the information we used to base our solution on and this is why it will be successful.'
3. If you've already worked to implement your solution, put some pictures on a poster that show the kids working through their project. A chart or graph that shows the outcome, etc.
4. If they worked to redesign their project, think how you can show that? Like an old brochure vs. the new one they designed, and then they can talk about how they knew what to change and why?
Just be creative in how you show the judges all the work you've done. I used to tell my kids - you may have done the work, but unless you can communicate it effectively, the judges (or anyone) will not know about it.
As far as slide shows - personally I'd nix that unless the kids can somehow have it completely set up and ready to go. But really otherwise, the kids have to take so much time to set up and it kind of detracts from the team' presentation. I've been a judge
for many years and I'd say the best presentations I've seen is when the kids just tell us about their projects in a thoughtful, well put together way. It's certainly up to the kids how they think the most effective way of explaining their project is, but I'd
say that if you're going to create a presentation that way, just make sure you've had plenty of time to practice first.
It's really a story they're telling...and it should be fun to tell it. :)
Just my two cents! :)
Amy Nichols
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