High School Competitive Events Overview

 

The following information provides only a basic description of each event. Please consult 2009 & 2010 High School Technology Activities, National TSA Conference Competitive Events Guide (on CD) for detailed specifications and rules regarding each event

Agriculture and Biotechnology Design

Participants (three teams of two or more members per state, one entry per team) conduct research on a contemporary agriculture or biotechnology problem of their choosing, document their research, and create a display. The information gathered may be student-performed research or a re-creation or simulation of research performed by the scientific community. If appropriate, a model or prototype of the solution may be included in the display.

Animatronics

Participants (one team per chapter; one entry per team) will demonstrate knowledge of mechanical and control systems by designing, fabricating, and controlling an animatronics device that will communicate, entertain, inform, demonstrate and/or illustrate a topic, idea, subject or concept. Sound, lights and a surrounding environment must accompany the device.

Architectural Model

Participants (one individual or team per chapter, one entry per individual or team) develop a set of architectural plans and related materials for an annual architectural design challenge and construct an architectural model to accurately depict the design.

Design for 2009-10: Participants design an assisted living center for Alzheimer patients.

Career Comparisons

Participants (one individual per chapter) thoroughly research various technology-related careers that are associated with one of the following technology areas: Biotechnology, Communications, Energy and Power, Engineering, Manufacturing, Medical Technology, Technology Education Teaching, Transportation, or Construction. After documenting the research, each student submits a cover letter and resume for the selected career and completes a formal job application. Finalists participate in an on-site mock interview.

Chapter Team (Written and Oral)

Participants (one team of six members per chapter) take a written parliamentary procedures test in order to proceed to the finals. Finalist teams perform an opening ceremony, dispose of three items of business, and perform a closing ceremony within a specified time period.

Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Architecture with Animation

Participants (two individuals per state) create representations, such as foundation and/or floor plans, and/or elevation drawings, and/or details of architectural ornamentation or cabinetry. Students may be expected to animate a presentation of their entry.

Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Engineering with Animation

Participants (two individual per state) create 3D computer model(s) of an engineering or machine object, such as a machine part, tool, device, or manufactured product. Students may be expected to animate a portion of their model.

Construction Systems

Participants (one team of two members per chapter) complete a written test on general construction systems knowledge. Semifinalist teams demonstrate their knowledge by solving a construction systems problem that is announced on site.

Cyberspace Pursuit

Participants (one team of three to five members per chapter) are required to design, create and launch a web site that features the school's technology education program, the TSA chapter, and the chapter's ability to research topics pertaining to technology. Pre-conference semifinalists participate in an on-site oral examination/interview.

To obtain the design brief, visit the TSA website at www.tsaweb.org and click on Competitive Events tab then the Themes and Problems tab.

UPDATE - All websites must be posted online on a publicly-available web server. The URL for each chapter's entry must be emailed to stemmetje@gmail.com no later than 11:00 PM on Monday, March 8, 2010 MST

Debating Technological Issues

Participants (three teams of two members per state) debate against a team/s from another chapter in order to advance to the semifinals. Team members prepare to debate a topic (both pro and con views) against a team from another chapter.

Topic: Technology is the cause of the world’s current climate change situation

Desktop Publishing

Participants (one individual per state; one entry per individual) develop a notebook that includes a tri-fold pamphlet, a three-column newsletter, and a poster. All participants (not just semifinalists) then work to solve an on-site problem that demonstrates their abilities to use the computer to design, edit, and print materials for publication.

Problem: “The Triumph of Technology”

Dragster Design

Participants (two individuals per chapter; one entry per individual) design, produce working drawings for, and build a CO2-powered dragster.

Electronic Game Design

Participants (three teams per state; a minimum of two individuals per team) develop an E-rated game that focuses on the subject of their choice.

Electronic Research and Experimentation

Participants (one team of two or more individuals per chapter; one entry per team) research, plan, design, and construct an electronic device. Entries are evaluated on quality of research, ingenuity and complexity of the device, and effectiveness of the exhibit display.

Engineering Design

Participants (one team of three to five members per chapter, one entry per team) work as part of a team to solve a design problem. Through use of a model/prototype, display and design notebook, the team explains in detail how it has solved the problem and the solution’s impact on society and the environment. Semifinalists demonstrate the problem and solution in a timed presentation.

Essays on Technology

Participants (three individuals per state) conduct research in an announced technological area and, using the knowledge and personal insights gained form this research, write a persuasive essay on one subtopic selected from two or three related subtopics assigned on site.

Essay: Globalization

Subtopics: Opportunities
                 Threats

Extemporaneous Presentation

Participants (three individuals per state) give a three to five minute speech, fifteen minutes after having drawn a card on which a technology or TSA topic for a speech is written.

F1 Challenge

The 2009-2010 Rules and Regulations for the Formula One Technology Challenge.

Fashion Design

Participants (one team of two to four members per chapter) research, develop, and create garment designs, garment mock-ups, and portfolios that reflect the current year's published theme. Semifinalists participate in an on-site event in which they present their potential garment designs to judges on a TSA runway.

Fashion Design: The garment design theme is Technology Student Association professional attire.

Film

Participants (three teams per state) develop a film that focuses on a subject of their choice from one or more of the following areas: the arts, social studies, science, or technology. Possible subjects include but are not limited to social study documentaries, nature films, advertisements, comedies, or dramas. Sound may accompany the film/video.

Flight Endurance

Participants (two individuals per chapter; one entry per individual) analyze flight principles with a rubber band-powered model aircraft.

UPDATE - Entries for Flight Endurance should be made prior to the conference, as indicated in the current High School Competitive Events Guide

Future Technology Teacher

Participants (three individuals per chapter) research and select three accredited colleges or universities that offer technology education/engineering technology teacher preparation as a major. Each participant must write a one page simulated college essay about the wish to become a teacher in either major. Participants also develop and present a lesson plan.

Imaging Technology

Participants (one individual per chapter; one entry per individual) capture images and process photographic prints for display that depict the current year’s published theme. Semifinalists participate in an on-site event in which they record digital images and utilize multimedia software to prepare a storyboard/outline and media presentation of newsworthy TSA conference activities and events.

Imaging theme: “What Family means to me”

Manufacturing Prototype

Participants (one team per chapter) design and manufacture a prototype of a product and provide a description of how the product could be manufactured in a state-of-the-art American manufacturing facility.

Prototype Design: Design and manufacture an educational board game for a visually impaired elementary school student. An appropriate marketing package should accompany the product. The marketing package should not include the use of any copyrighted characters or images.

Medical Technology

Participants (three teams per state; two or more participants per team) conduct research on a contemporary medical technology problem of their choosing, document their research, and create a display. The information gathered may be student-performed research or a re-creation or simulation of research performed by the scientific community. A model or prototype of the solution must be included in the display.

Music Production

Participants (three teams per state) produce a musical piece that is designed to be played during the national TSA conference opening or closing general sessions.

On Demand Video

Participants (one team of two or more students per chapter; one entry per team) write, shoot, and edit a sixty second video during the conference in this on-site event.

Prepared Presentation

Participants (three individuals per state) deliver an oral presentation that includes audio and/or visual enhancement based on the theme for the current year’s conference.

            Theme: TSA: Tomorrow’s Leaders

Promotional Graphics

Participants (two individuals per chapter; one entry each) develop and present a graphic design that can be used as a TSA recruitment tool and that includes the theme for the next year’s conference.

Theme: Snapshot of Innovation

Radio Controlled Transportation

Participants (one team of two members per chapter; one entry per team) design, fabricate, test, and demonstrate the use of a radio-controlled vehicle that collects and distributes a load during a five minute demonstration. Evaluation is based on performance, vehicle craftsmanship, and documentation of design efforts.

Scientific and Technical Visualization (SCIVIZ)

Participants (three teams per state) develop a visualization focusing on a subject or topic from one or more of the following areas: technology, engineering, science, mathematics, or social studies.

Structural Engineering

Participants (one team of two members per chapter; one entry per team) work as part of a team, on site with supplied materials, to build a model of a structure that is destructively tested to determine design efficiency.

System Control Technology

Participants (one team of three members per state; one entry per team) work as part of a team on site to develop a computer-controlled model-solution to a problem, typically one from an industrial setting. Teams analyze the problem, build a computer-controlled mechanical model, program the model, explain the program and mechanical features of the model-solution, and leave instructions for evaluators to operate the device.

Technical Sketching and Application

Participants (two individuals per chapter) complete a written test in order to qualify as semifinalists. Semifinalists must demonstrate their ability to solve an on-site engineering graphic problem using standard drafting techniques.

Technology Bowl (Written and Oral)

Participants (one team of three members per chapter) complete a written, objective test in order to qualify for oral question/response, head-to-head team competition.

Technology Dare

Participants (one team of two members per chapter) design, fabricate, and demonstrate the application and control of mechanical, fluid, and electrical power by applying power and energy principles to move balls with a pneumatic flow. Evaluation is based on a demonstration of the application of mechanical, fluid, and electrical energy principles, and craftsmanship.

Technology Problem Solving

Participants (one team of two members per chapter) use problem solving skills and limited materials to develop a solution to a problem given on site.

Transportation Modeling

Participants (one individual per chapter; one entry per individual), using only certain materials and following required specifications, design and produce a CO2-powered scale model of a vehicle that fits the annual design problem and that takes appearance and performance into consideration.

Model: Design and produce a famous television or movie vehicle.