Schuylkill County Regional Computer Fair

The Computer Fair is an annual event that highlights  school students' application skills and computer knowledge.

Due to the Snow... Registration for the Computer Fairs has been extended to Friday February 19, 2010.

WHEN AND WHERE

Date:	Friday, March 26, 2010
Snow Date:	Monday, March 29, 2010
Location:	Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit Maple Avenue Campus
Time:	7:15 AM - 1:30 PM

The Middle School and High School Computer Fairs are two separate events operating under two separate sets of rules but held the same day at the same place under a common schedule.  Be sure to follow the regulations posted at the respective Middle School (grades 6-8)and High School (grades 9-12) web sites.  Be careful, the categories and rules are DIFFERENT!  Entrants must follow the 'Current Rules...'  and 'Specific Regional Rules...' listed below.

COPYRIGHT, COPYRIGHT, COPYRIGHT All projects must follow the strict guidelines posted under "Copyright Requirements" within the "Rules and Categories" sections of the state web sites.  Fair Use Guidelines DO NOT apply to Computer Fair Projects.    All non-original work must include written permission from the creator / owner of the work. Projects must not contain music written or performed by popular artists.  All original work should be documented as being original to eliminate any doubt.  Simply signing a Copyright Sign-off Form does NOT satisfy any requirement for compliance with these regulations. Also, please see the Regional Rules below.  These Regional Rules are in addition to the rules posted at the state web sites.

NEW for 2010

A *new* all-in-one Computer Fair Participation Packet containing ALMOST all of the required forms is posted on the PA Computer Fair web page. That packet lacks a photo release form for the Regional Fair and has some instructions that could result in 'lost' forms.  Please use this COMPLETE and hopefully less confusing Packet instead of the packet posted on the state web page.

Additional breaking news items will be posted here.
 

PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS

If any of the participating districts are on a delayed start or closed on the day of the Fair, the event will be held on the snow date. (Use WINTERWATCH link)

(watch this list of participating districts)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

7:15 – 9:10	Registration and Project Setup
9:15 – 9:25	Opening Ceremony
9:30	Judging Begins
9:30 – 10:10	Breakout Session
10:15 – 10:55	Breakout Session
11:00 – 11:40	Breakout Session
11:40 – 12:10	Lunch is Provided
12:15 – 12:35	Award Ceremony
12:40 – 1:00	Viewing of Projects
1:05 – 1:25	Video Viewing and Award / Closing
1:26	Project Teardown

Look for the 2010 Computer Fair Schedule in February 2010

CURRENT RULES, REGULATIONS & REQUIRED FORMS

Rules are available at the Official PA High School Computer Fair Website www.pacomputerfair.org and the Official PA Middle School Computer Fair Website www.middleschoolcomputerfair.org.  
To obtain Required Forms, please use this COMPLETE and hopefully less confusing Packet instead of the packet posted at the above web sites.

SPECIFIC REGIONAL RULES

Entries will be limited to two projects per category per high school and two projects per category per middle school.

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.

A student may submit multiple entries and may participate in both individual and group projects subject to the following restrictions: 1) An individual student may not submit more than one entry in each Category. 2) An individual student may not compete both as an individual and as a member of a group within the same Category. 3) The same group of students may not submit multiple entries in the Fair. 4) An individual student may not be a member of more than one group within one Category.

No live internet connections will be available at the regional level or state level.

All hardware and software must be provided by the student or school district.

All entries must designate a faculty member or sponsor. All communication will go through that person. The faculty member or sponsor must accompany students to the regional and state competitions. All entries must register online and be submitted by the faculty member.

There will be no entrance fee charged to either the school district or student to participate.

JUDGING CRITERIA

We will follow the Rules and Scoring Guides posted on the Rules and Categories pages at the www.pacomputerfair.org and www.middleschoolcomputerfair.org websites.

Be sure to follow instructions on the Rules and Categories page - especially the "A project WILL NOT be judged if any of the following occur" section.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Each Computer Fair entry must display a project summary. 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 must be displayed 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's feel the judges should be aware of while evaluating the project.

COPYRIGHT SIGN-OFF FORM

A copyright sign-off form must be prominently displayed with each entry in the Computer Fair. The form must be signed by all students of the project team and the sponsor.  All projects must follow the strict guidelines posted under "Copyright Requirements" within the "Rules and Categories" sections of the state web sites.  Fair Use Guidelines do not apply to Computer Fair Projects.  All non-original work must include written permission from the creator / owner of the work.  All original work should be documented as being original to eliminate any doubt.  Simply signing a Copyright Sign-off Form does NOT satisfy any requirement for compliance with these regulations.

AWARDS

First and second place winners will receive trophies.

All participants will receive a participation award.

All first place winners will advance to the State Competition.

IMPORTANT DATES

February 19, 2010 - All registrations for the regional fair are due to be completed by sponsors at the Registration page within the respective web site: www.pacomputerfair.org www.middleschoolcomputerfair.org

April ??, 2010 - Deadline for IU29 staff to enter Regional first place winners in the State Computer Fair .

May ??, 2010 - High School State Computer Fair Dickinson College,  Carlisle, PA 17013

May ??, 2010 - Middle School State Computer Fair Dickinson College,  Carlisle, PA 17013

DIRECTIONS

Click here for driving directions to Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29
It is recommended that participants arrive before 7:50 A.M. or after 8:15 A.M. to avoid normal congestion at the Center Exceptional Children. We plan on having all participants back on the road again before Center transportation vehicles line up at 2:00 P.M.
Each group is responsible for unloading and loading their own equipment. Equipment carts will be available on a first come first serve basis in the morning and afternoon. Projects will be displayed on assigned tables in the gymnasium with access to electrical power.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact the Technology Help Desk 570-544-9131 ext 1840

List of past winners