TOYtimes: Issue 9, 2008
OVERVIEW OF NATIONALS PRESENTATION & JUDGING
As a reminder, each team will be given a 5foot table to set up its prototype and any accompanying presentation boards. Any presentation display should support your toy and help tell the story of its creation. Space around your table may be very limited, particularly at the sides. Plan your display to show key elements in the development of your creation, with your toy or game as its centerpiece.
The judging timetable (always subject to change, so your team should be ready to be flexible) is for each team to make a nine-minute presentation to one group of judges (including judge Q+A time). Please refer to your coach handbook for specifics about the judging criteria—these are what the judges will be looking for in your presentation. Also, be ready to answer questions about your toy or game and your design process. We recommend that you practice giving your presentation to parents, friends and classmates so you can get feedback about what is most effective and also work out some of those nerves!
PRACTICING YOUR PRESENTATION
We're sure you'll be busy preparing and practicing your presentation for the judges at this time. Remember that, in the short amount of time you have, it is vital that your team be the ones doing the talking! As a coach, you'll also be excited and eager to discuss the great experiences you have had guiding the team...however the judges are looking for what the team, not the coach, can tell them and will grade the presentation accordingly.
In previous years, there have been coaches and attending parents who have upset the team’s chance of winning by not being able to resist jumping in with extra thoughts and ideas… meaning the judges were not able to fully assess if the kids did the work developing the prototype. As well as coaching the team on their presentation, be sure to coach yourself and any non-team attendees you are planning on bringing, to ensure you resist this temptation and allow your team to shine!
Please remember also that you'll be in an area with lots of other teams, including some right next to you! So when practicing the presentation, be sure to turn up the volume—you'll need it on the day so the judges can see your enthusiasm, excitement, and hear every word you say!
SHOWING YOUR STUFF
Your prototype may now be approaching completion, and you're no doubt very excited to show it off. If you haven’t already, it’s a good time to be thinking about a surrounding display. Each team will be given a five to six foot table with a small surrounding area to display their toy or game. Part of the engineering process is being able to communicate your ideas effectively to others. How will you use your display space to show off your toy or game to its best advantage? How will you best show off your toy or game without going over the allowed budget to create your display?
Here are some things you might want to think about:
- Think creatively! A display doesn't have to be fancy to be effective. We've had teams use lengths of butcher paper and PVC pipe to show their stuff—cheap to make, easy to transport, yet very striking!
- Your display should complement, not overpower your toy.
- More information on the display is not necessarily better. The "busier" your display is, the harder it will be for the judges to take it all in during their short time with you, or to pay full attention to your prototype.
- A well-planned surrounding display can help support your team's verbal presentation! If everybody knows where to find information on the display, they'll be able to turn to it as a cue if they get stuck in describing a process or feature.
- Please be considerate with your display design. Keep in mind that there will be a lot of people at the Nationals, and there will most likely be teams on either side of you. Treat their display area with the same friendly respect you’d want from them.
We're looking forward to seeing all of your toys and games, and we're excited to see how you approach the challenge of showing it off to its best advantage!