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 * COMPETITION CATEGORIES

Information Technology Test Multimedia Hardware Robotics General Applications Computer Programming Team Computer Video Production ** Written exams will be given on-site for each of the five grade levels. The exams will have 50 multiple choice questions. Each question will have four responses but only one correct answer. "None of the Above" and/or "All of the above" will not be used as responses. A few (general/non-language-specific) programming questions will be on the Level III, IV, and V exams only. Questions will be both vocabulary and concept oriented. They will come from the following topic areas: 1. History of computers 2. Parts of the computer and peripheral computer devices *NEW 3. Copyright and copyrights, ethics and plagiarism 4. Uses and limitations of computers 5. General uses of common computer applications software 6. New and emerging technologies 7. The Internet and World Wide Web 8. Social implications of computers *NEW 9. Networking (Levels IV and V only) An oral exam (dealing with questions from items 6, 7, and/or 8 above) may be used as a tiebreaker if more than two students are tied for the same position. Use of tiebreakers is at the discretion of the fair directors. Questions for topic areas 1-7 will come from information generally available in textbooks and reliable sources on the Internet. The series of "//Blank...// For Dummies" books that are widely available from libraries and bookstores are good sources for similar information. Also suitable are "//Computing Dictionary, the Illustrated Book of Terms and Technologies"// by the publishers of PC Novice and //"The Usborne Computer Dictionary for Beginners"//. General computer magazines and television programs have discussed some of the social implications of computers. Entries shall be developed from various nonmultimedia application programs. Projects using general presentation software that does not include sound or video capabilities should be entered here. Many general applications projects, although presented on-screen and allowing an attached "sound", may be printed so that the final printed product does not lose any of the intrinsic integrity of the on-screen project. One example of this is StoryBook Weaver. However, products such as PowerPoint, which now permit multimedia, must be entered under multimedia category __unless__ those features are not used by the student. A complete print-out of each "slide" must be included in the student's notebook if this option is chosen and the final product must be completely linear or book-like in its presentation. Research projects that use applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, desktop publishing, and/or databases can be entered in General Applications. Projects using information obtained from e-mail, Internet searches, and other electronic media (on-line, laser disc, or CD resources) can be entered in General Applications, also, providing that the end product is for print or on-screen presentation not using other multimedia effects. Students must demonstrate knowledge and use of the applications software that they have used. They must have the software loaded that was used to create their project and a computer on which to run it the day of the fair. Students will present their notebooks of summary information to the judges. If a program runs from a CD-ROM, it must be available at the fair. __For security purposes, however, a student may elect to bring a copy of such software rather than the original.__ Projects in this category may use applications software such as word processing, spread sheets, databases, desktop publishing or presentation/story creators. Graphics design and photography oriented software, which, after digital manipulation, may produce a final printed product, whether two or three dimensional in appearance, should also be submitted in this category. Any of these applications may be combined and may also use information and images from other input devices such as digital cameras and scanners. Examples of this software may include: paint, illustration and photo scanning/manipulating, sketching and computer-aided design products so long as a final printed product is possible. ACTE understands the quality of the final product often depends upon the quality of the printer. Students may not have access to print devices that will give the same performance as the on-screen project. The defining principle here is that a printed product is possible or desired as the final outcome of the project. Art work or graphic designs may be included from within the software itself or obtained from external sources including the Internet or clip-art software. Art that has been created digitally should be entered in General Applications. Photographs may be entered in General Applications provided that they have been digitally altered by computer-based software. The alteration process must be a necessary part of the project, and the output must be intended for print or visual (nonmotion) effects on-screen. Students should be prepared to describe and demonstrate this process to the judges. The process and end results must be documented in the project notebook. The final output from this category may be on-screen or on paper, even if more than one applications software package or element was used in creating the project. However, if sound (such as speech or music or long-playing sound) or motion (animation/video) is incorporated, the final project should be entered under the Multimedia, Web Page Creation, or Video Production categories, as appropriate. When several still pictures are brought together to create a video, such as a "quick-time" movie, the result belongs in multimedia, unless it is used in a video or web page category project. Newsletters, newspapers, and yearbooks are eligible projects; however, they must fit the appropriate entry category and cannot have more than four people who worked on the entry. For example, an electronic yearbook may need to be entered under the Multimedia category if it imbeds voice, or music, or video. However, if it is distributed by VHS tape for viewing as a true film or video on television then it should be entered under Video Production. A yearbook that is distributed on disc or CD-ROM, but which does not meet the multimedia criterion of additional sound or motion, may be entered in the General Applications category. These projects may be linear or nonlinear in layout and may be interactive or directed by the student presenter(s). Multimedia is defined as a presentation combining sound and/or motion with text. Sound may include voice, music, or natural or man-made sounds and effects that are part of software, found on the Internet, or created and imported by the student. Videos may be created from video cameras or prerecorded tapes, imported from other sources, or taken from still images and manipulated into moving sequences by other programs. (Completely video projects, however, belong in their own category.) Graphics may be images from commercial software, photographs, created by the student with software or scanned in and may include line drawing, photos, paintings, etc. Digital animation also belongs in this category. Multimedia projects are computer-based reports or creative presentations. Some examples of suitable software are Astound, Kid Pix, KidWorks Deluxe, Storybook Weaver, HyperStudio, Power Point, Word Perfect Presentation, Claris Works, etc. Again, a notebook of information must be presented to the judges. The exception to the "__multi__"-media element is music. Projects that deal solely with sound or music and in which the final product may be produced on an audio tape or compact disc should be entered under multimedia. Music projects are those in which sound or music is recorded, mixed, synthesized, and reproduced for a final aural output; although producing the tape is not a current requirement. The project may use single or multiple devices. Projects may also be combined with other features such as lights, laser light, or digital on-screen effects. Projects may be constructed from kits or published schematic drawings, modified from other devices to create new applications, or constructed from the students’ own concepts and designs. __The projects must have some obvious relationship to the computer and be controlled through student programming or providing instructions via the software that comes with the kit or some other software__. Students may build computerized devices provided that the reason for the design shows a direct instructional or commercial usage. Such projects must have a notebook as described above. All entries must be a working and functional piece of electronics. Mechanical and motor driven devices entered must be controlled by computers (either hard-wired or remotely) that are programmed by students in order to be eligible. Students must be able to show they have written the programs to control such devices. Examples of commercially available kits are robotic "arms" or robot movers, Lego and K’Nex-style building kits, Capsella, and Technics style robotics kits. Scientific laboratory measurement devices using a logic board or computer based technologies, unless constructed by the student, are not considered part of the ACTE Technology Fair competition. Students will be required to demonstrate their project, explain how it works, what it does, and its purpose. Judging will be on the basis of the significance of the project, the quality of workmanship, demonstration of the project’s function and explanation of purpose. As in other categories, the use of notebooks that document the stages of design and development will be considered in the final evaluation. Copies of any programming or instructional "code" used to control the devices must be printed and available to judges for review as part of the notebook. Web sites may be created for Internet posting, or for local area Intranets within confined settings, such as a local school network, a closed network, or a "members only" network. There should be at least three separate pages that are hyperlinked together. At least three external links to "outside" information are also required. Because such external links might not be allowable within Intranets and cannot be "shown" without live Internet access, these links should be saved to the designer's storage (disk, CD, Zip, hard drive) and may be referenced as internal files although they were created and maintained on the World Wide Web. The largest drawback to judging this category is the lack of live Internet access at the fair sites to demonstrate student projects that have external hyperlinks. Software such as Web Whacker or other saved file formats may collect sample interactive links within a local computer. Additional linked pages may be printed if there is not sufficient hard-drive space to store saved sublinks. A notebook with printed "screen shots" taken from interactive sessions and suitable written explanations of the project, its intent, and how it was created is also needed. The use of project boards alone for Web Pages is no longer adequate. All web pages must be demonstrated on a computer with their hyperlinks as described above. A project belongs in the video production category if it is intended to be seen as a "movie" or video or broadcast. It must have the integrity to tell its story or information by itself. It must be capable of being saved and viewed on video-tape, DVD, or CD formats. If it is created so that it complements a larger multimedia project that has text, and is incorporated in that project, then it should be entered in multimedia. Entries must be student-created videos or student created broadcasts. Both digital and analog video productions are allowed, but all entries __must__ use some form of computerized editing or mixing (sound/music, graphics, titles, etc.) for the final production. Final products cannot exceed 10 minutes total viewing time. Longer videos created for other purposes must be edited into a 10 minute version, but the full-length copy should also be brought. A 30 or 60 second "commercial" or promotional "spot" is also allowable, but will be judged with a unique rubric within this same category. Videos may be saved to CD or DVD formats, in addition to VHS or VHS-C, but appropriate players must be brought. Be sure to bring copies and not the only "original" production in the event of equipment failure! Students who create school broadcasts over open/closed circuit television may submit sample broadcasts (or edited versions) that __do not exceed 10 minutes in total viewing time__. These productions also must have used some form of computerized editing or other computer-enhanced production that can be described to the judges. Because a large number of students actually participate in school broadcasts, entries must be limited to actual production staff (up to 4 students excluding reporters or actors). Video reports that that have been created by up to 4 reporters and/or actors who may also have done their own camera work or editing may be entered also, but should be different from any other entries. Students will be expected to describe their production crews and job responsibilities in creating the final video. These activities must also be described/documented in the project notebook. The project notebook must also include any storyboards or scripts that were used. Programming projects use recognized programming language code and are self-executing. All parts and sections of the program must be the author’s own original design and coding. Some examples of acceptable program compilers/languages are the various versions of BASIC, C, C++, C#, Java, Pascal, etc. Projects that have an educational or business purpose are highly desired. Scripting languages alone, such as Javascript or HTML, or software such as Front Page, which generates HTML, do not qualify for programming projects under this category. They may be entered in General Applications, Multimedia, or Web Sites as appropriate to the resulting project. However, when scripts are combined with other recognized programming languages to create more elaborate final applications, they may be entered here with sufficient explanation and demonstration. (Contact your regional fair coordinator about this option. The fair director will determine if your project fits in programming or general applications.) All programs must be created by the student(s) and not copied from other sources. They must be original work. Programs must be presented with a documentation notebook which includes: hardcopies of the source code and algorithms, any printed or screen generated output from the program and a narrative description of the program with purpose, 5-step plan, flow chart, data flow diagram, or any other appropriate documentation. The program must be identifiable in one of three project categories: 1. Computer aided instruction or educational/learning games 2. Business or commercial applications 3. Personal applications which, with minor alteration, could be marketed for larger commercial appeal. The student would need to explain what design changes would need to be made to create a product for a wider audience. Programs will be judged on originality and creativity, application of structured concepts, complexity, and overall value. Internal documentation includes remark statements or comments that identify sections of the program and may explain them, as appropriate. Correct spelling and grammar will be part of the judging process. Students will be required to run their programs for the judges and to explain them orally. Students must bring their own computers and software with which to run the programs. As has been traditional with ACTE, this category is considered an on-site event in which teams of two to four students are given a series of problems, which they must solve during a two-hour competition time. Four problems of varying difficulty will be presented in writing to each team. The problems will be the same for each team at a single level (III, IV, or IV). The computer must calculate computational solutions to the problems. Any questions regarding interpretation of the problems must be submitted in writing to the judges who may choose to answer or reject the question. The decisions of the judges are final. Students should use procedural or object languages that are capable of solving calculations and logical problems. Each team will be awarded points for each problem solved correctly. Programs will also be judged on structure, design, and organization. The team with the highest number of points will be declared the first place winner, and subsequent places for second, third and honorable mention. In the event of a tie, two or more teams may be declared winners. Competition will begin with a briefing session. The contest problems will be distributed to all teams at the same time. Competition time may be extended beyond the two-hour limit at the discretion of the judges only in the event of extenuating circumstances. At the end of the two hours, the disks will be turned in to be judged. The judges will use the team computers to check the solutions to the problems. Results will be announced at an awards ceremony.
 * Information Technology Test ** (formerly Literacy or Computer Awareness)
 * General Applications **
 * Multimedia Projects **
 * Hardware – Robotics **
 * Web Site Creation **
 * Video Production **
 * Computer Programming **
 * Team Programming Challenge **