Level 1 Projects at Regionals are presented live to STLP Judges remotely utilizing the Google Meet video conferencing platform.

• Practice using Google Meet, including: 

  • connecting to a Meet,

  • optimal camera placement (can the judges see you and presentation?), 

  • using an external microphone, if possible, 

  • considering lighting (judges need to see you),

  • knowing how to share your screen (if using digital visuals/slide deck).

• Charge your device and have it plugged into power (just to be safe).

• If presenters are using individual devices/multiple devices to connect, headphones are required to avoid feedback issues for judges.

• Find a quiet space with limited distractions for presentations.

• Technical issues can happen…are you ready to handle it? (show us your skills for the T in STLP).

By November 20th, each project team should moved on from the project pitch phase (local Level i)  and began to "do" their project. Level 1 is about giving judges a Progress Report to share where your project stands. 

• Use feedback from local Level i pitches to make your presentation stronger!

• Projects shouldn't be completed by Level 1... but they should be started.

• Utilize technology tools to take advantage of the online meeting platform (slide deck instead of printed posters, etc.)

• Rely heavily on the 7 Guiding Questions to build presentations (find them in the Project Toolkit here).

• Be sure responses to the 7 Guiding Questions are clear… make the Judges jobs as easy as possible.

• Although presentation window is 10 minutes, plan for to be 5-7 minutes so allow for overcoming technical challenges at beginning and time to answer questions at the end. It’s ok to finish in less than 10 minutes… but not ok to exceed 10 minutes.

• You already know the “answers to the test”. The Level 1 rubric/scoring guide tells you exactly what the judges will be scoring. Take advantage of the rubric!

• Prepare a clear ending: help judges know your presentation is concluded and you’re ready for questions.

• Don’t forget to get those easy points: 

  • keep your presentation original and show you have permission to use anyone else’s digital property. 

  • proudly display STLP logo throughout your presentation. 

• A roster with specific presentation times will be released days prior to event.

• Presentation times will be listed as 10-minute windows between starting at 10am thru 12:30pm Eastern Time/9am thru 11:30am Central Time.

• Effort is being made at assign later morning presentation times for Central Time Zone schools.

• Teams from the same school will present consecutively, allowing school to utilize one presentation space and equipment.

• Practice transitioning the presentation space from one project team to the next efficiently.

• Remember that while project teams can consist of any number of students, only up to 4 students may act as the presenters to judges. 

• Connect to Google Meet at the indicated time…not early. If you arrive late, your presentation window will not be extended (to be fair to all following teams)

• ALL TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN TIME. Be certain to translate to Central Time as needed. 

• STLP Judges will do everything in their power to make sure your students have an opportunity to be successful. Please extend the same grace by understanding that:

  • requests for changes to assigned presentation times cannot be accommodated, 

  • although effort was made to push Central Time Zone schools to later windows, given the number of projects it may not always be possible.

• • Judges are looking for teams that can confidently share their passion for their projects and explain:

    • Where your project currently stands

    • What's still left to do...and what's your plan for those things

  • Don’t be shy… speak clearly and loudly. (An external microphone is a great help)

  • Perform your presentation at least once on a practice Google Meet like it’s a dress rehearsal to get comfortable and build confidence.
    
    

Decide roles in advance (demonstrate to judges that your team is prepared!): 

• • How will you introduce your project, project title, and project team?

  • How will you take turns presenting so everyone has a voice? 

  • Who will control/advance the slide deck? 

  • What are everyone’s specific job(s) before and during the presentation? 

  • How will you decide you speaks up to answer any questions from judges?

Relax and share your enthusiasm for your project. Remember, at Reginoals you and your project teammates are the teachers... and judges are your students! 

Setting Expectations:

• STLP Coaches should help other teachers know students may miss all/part of class to give presentations.

Dealing with Technical Difficulties:

• If technical issues occur making it impossible to present, don’t worry…Judges have the power to:

  • Give that team another time slot later in the day (for teams that are delayed due to technical difficulties)

  • Refer team to a Make-up presentation day (for teams that cannot overcome technical difficulties)

• Judge Teams will consist of 3-4 adult educators from around the state all connecting to Google Meet from different locations. 

• Judge Teams will work as together to provide one set of feedback/scores for each project.

• Judges have the power to help your students be successful. They strive to provide specific, meaningful, and kind feedback appropriate to your students’ division.

• If you as the STLP Coach also signed up to be a Judge, make plans now to recruit assistance from another adult educator. Plan to pick one role or the other: STLP Coach supporting teams with their presentations or STLP Judge focused on giving presentation teams from other schools’ full attention for entire Regionals event.

• All judges should look at their schedule to determine if they can give undivided attention throughout the Regionals event. (Yes, getting a sub is helpful).

• Touch base with the judge you submitted on your registration. Make sure they are receiving the emails from STLP regarding their role.

The Project Feedback Report:

• After all presentations are concluded, Judges will collaborate as a team to enter specific, meaningful, and kind feedback for each project. 

• STLP Leaders will review and compile a Feedback Report for each project to be displayed using Looker Studio

• Once all scores and feedback are available, instructions for securely accessing feedback reports will be sent via email to the STLP Coach.

• STLP Coaches will determine the best way to share results with student teams.

• As outlined in the Project Toolkit, teams will receive 1 of 3 possible designations on their Feedback Report: 

  • On Track (advancing to Level 2 at STLP State Championship),

  • Not Yet  (opportunity to still earn a place in Level 2 at STLP State by submitting a plan addressing judges concerns about project. Not Yet deadline Dec. 19th)

  • Reboot (after presentation, judges believe project idea should go back to the drawing board and consider starting over for next year). 

  • For more detailed description of the Feedback Report designations, visit the Project Toolkit here.

Teams that advance to Level 2 Projects at the STLP State Championship should:

• • Celebrate your accomplishment! Share on social media, alert your principal, tell the world!

  • Immediately begin planning for the trip to Lexington on April 24th (out of district travel permissions, bus reservations, subs, etc.)

  • All schools are expected to attend the full State Championship (you could be a State Champion! You can’t miss the awards at the end!)

  • Continue working on projects and review the Level 2 Project rubric to prepare your team