Contest Guidelines

Projects

Projects for each category must be unique and cannot be entered in more than one category. A student can only participate in a maximum of one project. Projects may consist of an individual student or a team of two students. Students may use existing projects created for in-class assignments. Projects do not have to be created just for the Murray Technology Competition.

Projects are to be designed and created by students. Some adult guidance is allowed, but it must be clear that all work entered by students was done by the students.

Students MUST document any work they did not create. In many cases, they will also need to receive permission and show documentation. See this video for more information. 

Submissions

All contest submissions must be strictly virtual. Regardless of the category, students are required to submit a video or screen recording that not only showcases their project but also explains the process behind it. This should include a detailed, step-by-step explanation of how the project was created, the tools or software used, and the reasons behind their design choices. This video will serve as the primary means of demonstrating your project to the judges, so be sure to clearly articulate both the technical aspects and creative process behind your work. Please refer to the example video projects on the Categories page for a better idea of how the video submissions should be presented.


Here are some sample questions students could address in their virtual video submissions:

• What inspired your project?  Explain the idea or concept behind your project and why you chose to create it.

• What tools and software did you use?  Detail the specific programs, tools, or equipment used and why they were chosen.

• Can you walk us through the creation process?  Provide a step-by-step breakdown of how you developed your project from start to finish.

• What challenges did you encounter, and how did you overcome them?  Share any difficulties you faced during the project and the solutions you implemented.

• How does your project reflect creativity and innovation?  Describe how you incorporated unique ideas, problem-solving, or creative elements into the project.

• What skills did you develop or improve while working on this project?  Talk about the technical, creative, or problem-solving skills you gained or enhanced during the project.

Judging

All projects will be judged by the following:

(10%) Documentation - Did students include citations for sources and permissions for non-student-produced material?

(15%) Complete and Functional - Was the entire project complete and did it function as intended?

(20%) Creativity - Did the student(s) use a higher level of creativity throughout the design process and presentation?

(25%) Understanding - Did the student(s) demonstrate a solid understanding of the software used for project development?

(30%) Intended Purpose - Did all elements of the project work together to serve the intended purpose?

Projects are evaluated by the judges to determine the best project in that category. Judges will provide each student with a feedback form listing strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for each project. Actual scoring materials will NOT be released. All decisions by the judges are FINAL.