Overview

ExploraVision is a competition for K12 students of all interest, skill, and ability levels. The competition encourages students to combine their imaginations with the tools of science to create and explore a vision of a future technology.
Students work in groups of two, three or four, simulating Research and Development (R & D) teams, and are guided by a team coach and an optional mentor. Each team selects a technology, or an aspect of a technology, that is present in the home, school, and/or community, or any other technology relevant to their lives. For example, they may choose something as simple as a pencil or as complex as a quantum computer. They will explore what the technology does, how it works, and how, when, and why it was invented. The students must then project into the future what that technology could be like 20 years from now and determine what scientific breakthroughs need to occur to make it a reality. Finally, the students must convey their vision in both a written description and five simulated web page graphics. All inventions and innovations result from creative thinking and problem solving. Students look at the tools and technologies in use every day to seek ideas for their project.They identify a problem that a current technology does not solve, and they investigate possible solutions. Original ideas and creative approaches are encouraged. Students are recognized for their innovative ideas.

Jan 28 Entries Due

KEY DATES

March 2 Regional Winners Announced

May 4 National Winners Announced

Jun 37 ExploraVision Awards Weekend

Teacher, Grades K3 >>> I cant say enough about the value of ExploraVisions approach to teaching young students to become technologically aware and to think like inventors/engineers. It is a great activity. Teacher, Grades 46 >>> The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards program provides a great opportunity to create lifelong winners; it encourages young people to explore and discover answers to complex problems. Student, Grade 8 >>> My interest level in the sciences has been growing steadily since becoming involved in ExploraVision and I have gained a lot of confidence in my capabilities, in large part as a result of this tremendous program.

Prizes
For ThE STUDENTS
Every student team member who enters the competition with a complete entry will receive a certificate of participation and a gift. Student entry certificates and gifts will be sent to the coach for distribution. Coaches are encouraged to submit all completed ExploraVision projects so that every student can be recognized for his or her efforts. Each student on the 24 regional winning teams will receive a special prize such as a portable Toshiba DVD player or other Toshiba branded product. Students on the 500 Honorable Mention teams will also be recognized for their creative vision with a unique ExploraVision prize. Up to $240,000 in savings bonds is awarded each year. Student members of the four first-place national finalist teams will each receive a US Series EE savings bond worth $10,000 at maturity. Second-place winners will each receive a $5,000 US Series EE savings bond. US Series EE savings bonds issue price is half their face value. First - and second-place Canadian winners will receive Canada savings bonds purchased for the equivalent issue price in Canadian dollars. Canada bonds face value may vary based on the current exchange rate at the time of purchase. National finalist team members and their parents/guardians will receive an expense paid trip to Washington, DC in June for ExploraVision Awards Weekend where they will be recognized for their outstanding achievement.

entry CategOries
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PrIMArY LEVEL (GrADES K3) UPPEr ELEMENTArY LEVEL (GrADES 46) MIDDLE SchooL LEVEL (GrADES 79) hIGh SchooL LEVEL (GrADES 1012)

Each grade level entry category will be judged separately, based on the abilities of students in those grades. Students in a lower grade may be part of a team competing in the next higher entry category. However, students may not move down to a lower grade-level entry category.

For ThE SchooLS

Schools of the 24 regional winning teams will each receive a Toshiba laptop computer that will be used by the team to create their web site for the finalist phase of the competition. An awards ceremony will be held for each team at their school where they will receive a winners banner, plaque and other gifts.

WINNErS PrEPArE To MEET ThE PrESS AT ThE ExPLorAVISIoN ScIence ShowcaSe In waShIngton, dc.

For ThE coAchES AND MENTorS

The coach and mentor of each national finalist team will receive an expense paid trip to Washington, DC in June to attend ExploraVision Awards Weekend. Each coach and mentor of the 24 regional winning teams will also receive a special Toshiba branded product. Each coach and mentor who sponsors a team with a complete entry will receive an entry gift and a certificate of participation. The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards program provides a great opportunity to create lifelong winners; it encourages young people to explore and discover answers to complex problems. teacher, grades 4-6 This project stimulates learning of a number of skills that students can use in experimental research, and it provides intrinsic motivation. teacher, grades 10-12

For inFor mation call 1-800EXPLor-9 or email e x p lo r a v is io n @ n s t a .o rg or visit our web site d m a il. e x p lo r a v is io n .o r g

My interest level in the sciences has been growing steadily since becoming involved in ExploraVision and I have gained a lot of confidence in my capabilities, in large part as a result of this tremendous program. student, grade 8

entry rULes
K12,currently enrolled in and attending a public,private,or home school intheUnitedStatesorCanada.Studentsmustbenoolderthan21yearsofage. National Science Teachers Association employees, NSTA Board Members, ExploraVision Awards judges, and their respective families are not eligible to enter the competition. Entries must be submitted by teams of 24 students. Any project entry that has won at ExploraVisions regional and/or national levels may not be re-submitted in future years. Any project entry previously awarded a prize in another competition may not be submitted. Any student who was previously selected an ExploraVision Awards regional or national finalist prior to the current program year can compete in subsequent years only with student team members who have not previously been selected as ExploraVision Awards regional or national finalists. Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Entry Form, including all requested information and signatures of the students, coach and mentor; an Abstract; a Project Description; Bibliography; and Five Simulated Web Page Graphics. Mail complete entries to: ToShIbA/NSTA ExPLorAVISIoN AWArDS NATIoNAL ScIENcE TEAchErS ASSocIATIoN 1840 WILSoN boULEVArD arlIngton,Va 22201-3000

teaM aDvisOrs
Entries will not be returned. The volume of entries makes it impossible to give individual critiques to entrants. Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association reserve the right to use a students, coachs or mentors name, photograph, quote, likeness, descriptive essay, or Simulated Web Page Graphics materials for publicity and promotional purposes.

ENTrANTS MUST bE FULL-TIME STUDENTS in grades

coAch EAch STUDENT IS LIMITED To oNE ENTrY per year. Each student team must have one coach who teaches at a school
attended by at least one of the team members. The coach cannot be a parent/guardian of a team member but may coach teams other than his/her childs team. Coaches are not limited in the number of teams they may sponsor.

The role of the coach is to guide the students. Coaches should not perform work on the project. It is expected that coaches of primary level (K3) students may offer extra assistance to ensure that teams adhere to the competition guidelines. Assistance for primary students may take the form of typing the entry, reading to students about the history of their technology, and constructing grammatical sentences. Coaches are encouraged to register online at dmail.exploravision.org to receive tips for participating and optional instructions for submitting entries online.

EAch coMPLETE ENTrY MUST coNSIST oF a

(or visit dmail.exploravision.org for for instructions on how to submit entries online)
To ensure fair consideration, entries that are not submitted with all the required information and do not adhere to the rules on this page and the next page will be disqualified. will not be returned. Please retain a copy for your records.You may photocopy any part of the entry kit. Do not include student, teacher, or school names on the Abstract, project Description, Bibliography, or Simulated Web Page Graphics pages. Participant information should only be included on the Entry Form.

Do NoT USE report covers, binders, or folders. Entry materials MENTor

WINNErS rEVIEW ThEIr WEbSITE.

Teams have the option of selecting a mentor as an additional adult advisor. The role of the mentor is that of a resource person. This individual may represent an organization or business, be a parent/guardian of a team member, or be another school staff member or community member.The mentor, if one is selected, must be listed on the original entry form.

2009. To confirm receipt of your entry, send by guaranteed mail (e.g., UPS or Federal Express) or submit entries online. Do not attempt weekend delivery. Late entries and faxed materials will be disqualified. NSTA and Toshiba are not responsible for lost, stolen, late or misdirected mail or deliveries.

coMPLETE ENTrIES MUST bE rEcEIVED AT ThE hoMESchooLS NSTA headquarters by 5:00 pm EST, Wednesday, January 28, We welcome and encourage the participation of home-schooled teams

in the ExploraVision Awards program.To meet the coach requirement, we suggest you ask another home-school parent to act as the coach for your childs team or enlist a teacher at a local school that interacts with your students in some educational capacity. A home-school parent may act as the team mentor.

reQUireD entry COMPOnents

I. AbSTrAcT
An abstract of no more than 150 words (typed, double-spaced and clearly labeled) that summarizes the proposed future technology and other relevant information must precede other entry components. The abstract should be on a separate page and does not count as part of the description.

F) coNSEqUENcES10 PoINTS

Recognizing that all technologies have positive and negative consequences, describe the potential positive and negative consequences of the new technology on society.

III. bIbLIoGrAPhY5 PoINTS

II. DEScrIPTIoN

Each team must prepare a written description of its project no longer than 11 pages. The description may be a combination of text and artwork. It must include the following sections with headings clearly labeled and must be in the order listed below:

A) PrESENT TEchNoLoGY10 PoINTS

Give an overview of the present form of the technology, including scientific principles involved in its functioning.

All sources used in researching the chosen technology should be referenced in the bibliography. Sources must be clearly labeled and include title, author, publisher, and copyright date. Internet sources, interviews, and non-original graphics should also be referenced in the bibliography. Footnotes are encouraged, but are not required. The bibliography is not counted as part of the description and is not counted toward the 11-page limit for the description.

IV. SIMULATED WEb PAGE GrAPhIcS 20 PoINTS

b) hISTorY10 PoINTS

Research and describe the history of the technology from its inception.

c) FUTUrE TEchNoLoGY20 PoINTS

Describe the teams vision for what this technology will be like in 20 years, including scientific principles involved in developing the technology.

D) brEAKThroUGhS15 PoINTS

Research and describe breakthroughs that are necessary to make the future technology design a reality. (i.e., Why doesnt this future technology exist today?)

E) DESIGN ProcESS10 PoINTS

Describe three alternative ideas or features the team considered for their ExploraVision project. The ideas and features should be directly related to the entry, not a list related to other entries submitted in previous years or by other participants. Describe why the team rejected each feature and idea in favor of the ones in the submitted ExploraVision technology. Describe the teams design process.

To communicate and promote their future technology vision, teams must prepare five (5) simulated web page graphics. Each of the five graphics must be presented on a separate photocopy of the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Simulated Web Page Graphics Form provided in the entry kit, on standard 8 1/2 x 11 white paper. The simulated web page graphics should relate to material presented in the written description and illustrate the attributes of the chosen technology. The pages should relate to one another as if the team was actually designing a web site to promote their future technology. Simulated web page graphics may be hand-drawn or computer-generated and may include text, pictures, photographs and diagrams. A collage of graphics or photographs may be pasted onto the form. Please remember to give proper credit in the bibliography to any non-original artwork. It may be helpful to view actual web sites prior to beginning work on the five simulated web page graphics. Past ExploraVision winners web sites may be viewed at dmail.exploravision.org.

STYLE rEqUIrEMENTS
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The Description MUST also meet the following style requirements to avoid disqualification: Title on first page of Description Typed, double-spaced Eleven or fewer pages On standard 8 1/2 x 11 white paper with 1 margins In English A standard font in minimum12-point size or larger up to a maximum 18-point size

Student, coach, mentor, and school names must not appear in the Abstract, Description, Bibliography, or Simulated Web Page Graphics for blind judging purposes.

regiOnaL JUDging natiOnaL JUDging

Judging is organized into six regional areas of the United States and Canada. Points will be allocated to each part of the Description, to the Bibliography, and to the Simulated Web Page Graphics. The 24 regional winning teams will have use of a Toshiba laptop computer with a modem and web site design software. This laptop will be awarded as a regional winner prize to the school listed on the entry form. Each of these 24 teams will create a web site for their future technology using their original entry as a guide.Web sites must relate to the original project description and incorporate at least one original video of 1-2 minutes.The remainder of the web site must be able to be viewed within approximately five minutes, keeping the time limit in mind if adding additional videos, fancy graphics, and/or numerous links, and must relate to the original project description. All team members must contribute to the production of the web site.Web sites will be judged on creativity, originality, and the substance of the promotional message and not on the professional quality of the web site. Regional winning teams must also create a prototype of their technology. Prototypes may be actual models or visual representations of the technology. They do not have to be working devices. Drawings or photographs or videos of the teams prototype should appear on the team web site. A national judging committee, made up of leading science educators and science and technology experts, will review original entries and actual web sites and select eight national winner teams (four first-place and four second-place), two from each grade-level category. All decisions of the judges are final. The eight finalist teams will be notified in May and will be invited to attend ExploraVision AwardsWeekend where they will be recognized and receive their $10,000 or $5,000 savings bonds. Bond values are at maturity. For a complete list of winners and winning entry summaries, visit the ExploraVision web site:

exPLOravisiOn entry rating systeM

(100 PoINT ScALE)
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Present Technology History Future Technology Breakthroughs Design Process Consequences Bibliography Simulated Web Page Graphics

10 points 10 points 20 points 15 points 10 points 10 points 5 points 20 points

The judging criteria for assigning points are based on creativity, scientific accuracy, communication, and feasibility of vision. Judges award higher scores to entries that are unique and different from those that have won previously. A regional judging committee will select 24 regional winning teams, one team in each of the four grade-level categories in each of the six regions. To ensure an impartial selection process, the judges do not receive entry forms bearing the teams or the schools information. Student, teacher, and school names must not appear anywhere on the Abstract, Description, Bibliography, or Simulated Web Page Graphics pages. Regional winners will be notified in March and will advance to the national judging phase of the competition. The regional judging committee will also select 500 teams who will receive Honorable Mention recognition.

DMaiL.exPLOravisiOn.Org
dmail.exploravision.org

2008 ToShIbA/NSTA ExPLorAVISIoN AWArDS NATIoNAL WINNErS INTErAcT WITh EDUcATIoN coMMUNITY IN waShIngton, dc.

tOsHiBa/nsta exPLOravisiOn awarDs entry FOrM

Please type or print neatly in black or blue ink.

Title of Project
_______________________________________________________________

Entry No.
For office Use only Optional* In order to determine the degree to which segments of the population are served by this program, NSTA requests information on the ethnic background of each of the team members and the team coach. Winners will be selected on merit, regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, or the type of school that is attended. Judges do not receive the entry form.

Student Team Members (Team must consist of 2-4 members)

1) _____________________________________________
First Name First Name First Name First Name MI MI MI MI Last Name Last Name Last Name Last Name Grade Grade Grade Grade

____ ____ ____ ____

2) _____________________________________________ 3) _____________________________________________ 4) _____________________________________________

Students 1 M African American F Asian Caucasian 2 M F 3 M F 4 M F Coach M F African American Asian Caucasian African American Asian Caucasian African American Asian Caucasian African American Asian Caucasian

Hispanic Native American __________ Hispanic Native American __________ Hispanic Native American __________ Hispanic Native American __________ Hispanic Native American __________

Coach

_____________________________________________________
First Name MI Last Name

____________________
Grade Level(s)Taught

________________________________
Subject(s) Taught

School _______________________________________
School Name School Address School Phone # city School Fax # State/Province

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Zip/Postal code coachs Email Address
( ) ( ) _______________________________________________________________________________________

Type of School:
(check all that apply)

Public

Private

Parochial

Home School

Rural

Urban

Suburban

Mentor

(optional) __________________________________________________________________________________
First Name Middle lnitial Last Name

We affirm that this entry for the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Program is original, and has been independently conceived and developed by the student members of the team who are all US or Canadian citizens or legal residents.We also affirm that we have read and understand the rules of the competition and have ensured that this entry satifies the requirements listed in the Entry Check List included with the official entry form. We further affirm that we are not related to NSTA staff, ExploraVision judges or board members of the National Science Teachers Association.

complete entries must be received at NSTA by 5:00 pm EST, Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Use one entry form for each team entry. only one entry per team. Mail completed entry (entry Form, abstract, description, Bibliography, and five Simulated Web Page Graphics) to:

Signature of coach:__________________Date _________ Signature of Mentor: _________________ Date ________ Signatures of Students: 1) _____________________ 3) ______________________ 2)______________________ 4) ____________________ _____________________
date date date date

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards National Science Teachers Association 1840 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 222013000
For information or instructions for submitting entries online, visit the exploraVision web site at dmail.exploravision.org; or send email to exploravision@nsta.org or call

1-800-EXPLOR-9

Continued on back...

WEB09

Would you please take a moment to help us? Your input is important to us and will be useful in improving the program in future years. completion of this page is encouraged. all responses will remain confidential and will not be shared with the judges. How did you hear about the ExploraVision competition? (Check all that apply) NSTA Publications: NSTA reports Science and children Science Scope The Science Teacher Other Publications: Education canada Scholastic Instructor American Teacher Education Week Teach Magazine canadian Teacher Magazine Educational Leadership Technology Teacher Learning Magazine Technology & children Email ExploraVision web site

COaCH sUrvey:

Other Sources: colleague on-line advertisement

convention/Workshop TV/radio

Direct Mail

Student

USA Today

Internet

other Newspaper: _________________________________________________ other: __________________________________________________________ Have you sponsored teams in this competition in previous years? Yes Have any team members participated in previous years? Yes If yes, how many team members? _______ No No

How many teams are you sponsoring in this years competition? _______ Approximately how many hours did your team(s) spend on the project? Less than 20 2040 4060 6080 more than 80

Work on this project was performed: in class outside of class both in and outside of class No

Were the rules in the entry materials clear? Yes

How would you rate the educational value of this competition? 1

(poor)

3
(fair)

5
(excellent)

Did the competition enhance your teaching of science? Yes

No

As a result of this competition, have you seen an improvement in student attitude and interest in science? No Yes As a result of this competition, have students enhanced their understanding of science? Yes No No

As a result of this competition, have your students learned to work better collaboratively? Yes Would you like to receive information about NSTA and its programs? Yes No

Comments: ________________________________________________________________________________

tOsHiBa/nsta exPLOravisiOn awarDs siMULateD weB Page graPHiCs FOrM

Please photocopy this sheet

In the space below, please describe any special effects that might accompany the graphics on this form.

Graphics Page #____ of 5 (must include 5 forms)

entry

CHeCk List
Entry includes a Bibliography (not counted as part of the Description). Simulated Web Page Graphics are on photocopies of the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Simulated Web Page Graphics Form. Exactly five Simulated Web Page Graphics Forms are submitted, using only the space provided on the front of the form. Text may be typed, word processed and pasted on the form, or neatly handwritten directly on the form. Student, coach, mentor and school names do not appear in the Abstract, Description, Bibliography or on the Simulated Web Page Graphics Forms. Entry is submitted in English. Description is typed and double spaced, on standard 8 1/2 x 11 white paper, with 1 margins. The font is a standard 12-point size or larger, up to 18-point size. Complete entries, including all graphics, must be received at NSTA by 5:00 pm EST, Jan. 29, 2008.
S WARDM ION A R RAVIS ICS FO EXPLO E GRAPH STA B PAG IBA/N TOSH LATED WE SIMU

MANY crEATIVE AND ExcELLENT ENTrIES ArE DISqUALIFIED EAch YEAr DUE To TEAMS NoT FoLLoWING ThE rULES. Please ensure that teams check-off and adhere to each item below before submitting entries to help ensure a qualified entry. We encourage you to ask someone who has not been involved with the entry to review for compliance. Entry includes a Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Official Entry Form signed by the students, coach and mentor. Information on the Entry Form is complete (names, grade levels, school name, address, zip code and telephone number). Team consists of two, three or four student members and a coach. (Teams of less than 2 or more than 4 will be disqualified.) The mentor is optional. Abstract is clearly labeled and precedes the Description on a separate page (not counted as part of the Description). Abstract is 150 words or less. Project title is at the top of the first page of the Description. The following sections in the Description are clearly labeled and presented in exactly the following order: Present Technology, History, FutureTechnology, Breakthroughs, Design Process and Consequences. Entry will be disqualified if sections are missing or out of order. Description is at least one page and no more than eleven pages, including optional artwork (other than Simulated Web Page Graphics Forms).

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PAGES ShoWN Do NoT rEPrESENT A coMPLETE ENTrY. PLEASE VISIT DMAIL.ExPLorAVISIoN.orG To VIEW A coMPLETE ENTrY.

WhAT STUDENTS AND TEAchErS SAY AboUT ExPLorAVISIoN

ExploraVision embodies the best of what we want students to learn about collegial scientific effort: a vision, a dream, and working together to make it a reality.
teacher, gradeS 1012

ExploraVision truly allows children to think and act like scientists

teacher, gradeS K3

One of the most important things I learned is that teamwork is awesome and that science can be fun. ExploraVision enables you to enjoy a lot of skillsfrom art to science. Its all there.
StUdent, gradeS 79

ExploraVision has taught me lessons I will carry with me into college and beyond.
StUdent, gradeS 1012

ExploraVision is a way to get a tiny sense of excitement and drama in life that people like Galileo or Isaac Newton must have felt. Its a chance to have your own aha. Its a chance to be consumed with an idea and take it as far as you want it to go.
teacher, gradeS 46

What a great idea to incorporate many learning styles to work together in cross-curricular research. I had groups of artists working with science buffs and language arts gurus.
teacher, gradeS 46

ExploraVision makes students stretch their minds. They begin to realize that their learning and their abilities have so much potential. ExploraVision improves their research, speaking and presentation skills, and ignites their imagination. The most important thing it does is to make the students look for things that need solutions. They look at things differently, like inventors: How does it work? Why doesnt it work? How can it be better? What will it be like in the future? ExploraVision encourages students to be lifelong learners and problem solvers.
teacher, gradeS K3

Because of ExploraVision, I have discovered students talents that are not used in the day-to-day experiences of middle school science. ExploraVision also complements my classroom objectives where I stress many different learning and study skills that need to be mastered at this age.
teacher, gradeS 79

The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards program is a hands-on/minds-on project. It is what science is all about.
teacher, gradeS 46 the toShIBa/nSta exploraVISIon awardS prograM IS FUnded By toShIBa corporatIon, toShIBa aMerIca coMpanIeS, toShIBa oF canada, ltd., and toShIBa aMerIca FoUndatIon, AND IS ADMINISTErED bY ThE NATIoNAL ScIENcE TEAchErS ASSocIATIoN.

non-profit org. U.S. Postage PAID Merrifield,Va Permit No. 1276

NATIoNAL ScIENcE TEAchErS ASSocIATIoN 1840 wIlSon BoUleVard, arlIngton,Va 22201-3000