Central Susquehanna IU16 Regional Competition

Regional Competition Information

When and Where

• Date: March 22 and 23, 2010
• Location: Central Susquehanna IU 16
• Time: 8:00 - 12:30 PM

Schedule of Category Judging

Daily Schedule

•   8:00 -   8:30   Computer Set-up
•   8:30 -   8:45   Welcome Students and Advisors
•   8:45 - 11:00   Judging, computer lab time for students, & refreshments
• 11:00 - 11:20   Students and advisors may visit projects
• 11:20 - 11:35   Awards Ceremony
• 11:40 - 12:30   Lunch

Regional Rules

• Entries are limited to one project per category or a maximum of nine projects per district.
• Students may work individually or in groups, but each group must designate a captain as spokesperson for the project. Groups will be limited to three students.
• No live internet connections will be available at the regional or state level.
• It is highly recommended that each school bring a laptop computer that has student projects already loaded, power strips, and speakers. This will prevent configuration and compatibility problems.

All entries must have a designated faculty member or sponsor.  All entries must be registered online by the faculty member or sponsor. (The faculty member or sponsor also must accompany students to the regional and state competitions.  All communication will go through that person.)

• There will be no entrance fee charged to either the school district or the student to participate.
• Each project must have the project number listed in a visible location for the judges.
• Due to security concerns, the regional events are not open to the public, but arrangements for authorized visitors can be made ahead of time.
• All judge decisions are final.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What if there is inclement weather the day of the event?
  
Please call our main switchboard (570-523-1155) and listen for important changes in schedules in the event that the CSIU is closed or is on-delay.  If this should happen, we will contact you with alternate arrangements.



• What if school is not in session during the regional event?
  Please give me a call at the phone number and extension listed below and we will work on alternate arrangements for getting the projects entered into the computer fair.
  
  

• Do students have to attend to enter their project?
  Sometimes students who want to submit a project may find that they are unable to attend the regional event.  In this case, we can arrange for the submission and judgment of the student’s project.  Student participation is encouraged but not required.
  
  

• How do we register for regional and states?
  Use this link to register for the regional event: http://www.pacomputerfair.org/  Projects that get first place in a category are promoted to the state competition.
  
  

• Why are districts only allowed to enter nine projects at the regional event?
  
  Due to an increased number of participants at the regional level, it has become necessary that each district only be allowed to register one project per category –or-nine projects maximum in any combination of categories.  Please call me with any questions.
  
  
  
• How important is the project number?
  When you register your students onhttp://www.pacomputerfair.org/ you will be assigned a unique number for each project.  This number must be displayed on the project summaryand will be required if your student takes first place in a category and moves onto states.
  
  
• If my student(s) wins first place, how do I register for states?
  Student projects that take first place in their category at the regional event will be entered in the state competition by the CSIU.  The project number will identify the project.
  
  
  
• Is there any cost to participate in the regional events?
  
  There are no registration or participation costs for students or sponsors to attend the regional event.
  
  

• Can I help with anything ahead of time to make the regional event a grand success?
  Please make sure that students have completed all paperwork and have the necessary signatures ready to hand in at the start of the regional event.  Always ask if you have questions!
  
  
  
• Are there any costs for first place winners to attend states?
  
  There are no registration or participation costs for students or sponsors to attend the state event.
  
  
• If our students win, will we need to do our own district press release to the media?
  CSIU will submit pictures and press releases to all the local newspapers for our five county region.
  
  
  
• What do the students and sponsors do during the judging?
  Students will be allowed to use our content filtered computer lab to access the Internet.  Students are encouraged to bring homework and assignments to work on during this time, however we want students to be comfortable and enjoy the time as well.

Narrative Description/Project Summary

Each student must submit a narrative description/project summary with each entry into the 2010 Computer Fair. The PA Computer Fair Participation Packet includes the document with instructions on what information to include. The summary will be the student's opportunity to provide judges with any background information they wish the judges to be aware of during the judging process. The summary will be placed with each project for the judges to read as they evaluate the student's entry. This summary should not be more than one page and must include the following items:

• The project's objectives, vision, and/or overall purpose.
• A list of the software applications used to create the project. List any additional equipment (scanners, digital camera, etc.) used in the creation of your project.
• List the approximate time spent creating the project and name all contributors to the project.
• If design elements/graphics are included, please describe where the elements originated. Please include citations of all design elements that are not original.
• A brief description of the process used to create the project.
• Any additional information the student feels the judges should be aware of while evaluating the project.
• Important: Make sure that all documents have been proofed for spelling and grammatical errors. Judges will subtract points for sloppy work and this can make the difference in getting first or second place.

Copyright Requirements

The PA Computer Fair Participation Packet includes a participation agreement that must be signed by all participating students on a project and their teacher sponsor. Part of the agreement outlines copyright expectations, as well as other project requirements.

Other Important Dates

• March 5, 2010 - All registrations due for the regional fair
• March 22 and 23, 2010 - Regional competition at CSIU
• TBA - State Computer Fair - Dickinson College - Carlisle, PA 17013

Judging Criteria

• All first place winners will advance to the State Competition.
• All project entries must be accompanied by a Copyright Sign-off form and Project Summary
• All judging rubrics are posted on this website.

Directions

http://www.csiu.org/index.cfm?pageid=585

For More Information

Bill Herald
Technical Support and SQA Manager
CSIU Computer Services
PO BOX 213
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Voice: 570-523-1155 extension 2176
Fax: 570-523-6122
Email: bherald@csiu.org
http://www.csiu.org