This is something that will actually help you in life. Nobody has had this opportunity, and for us to have it, it’s just something like—it’s like a blessing. 
This is something that will actually help you in life. Nobody has had this opportunity, and for us to have it, it’s just something like—it’s like a blessing.
The Connecticut Student Innovation Expo, which generally occurs on the second Friday and Saturday in May at the Connecticut Convention Center, is the culminating event for CCC and other STEM Pipeline programs for HS and middle school students. While the Connecticut Student Innovation Expo is a celebratory event for the CCC courses, it is not the “end” of the creative process. The Expo offers an opportunity for students not only to demonstrate their projects, but to shine in other ways as well.
At the Expo, student teams prepare and present their projects at a trade show booth, make an oral presentation before a panel of judges, and have their white paper, business plan and other project materials reviewed. Teams and team leaders are evaluated and recognized for their achievements.
More information about the Connecticut Student Innovation Expo is available at the Expo Web site: http://ctxpo.org where updates are periodically posted as the Expo date approaches.
Mentors can offer advice in the follow areas and also volunteer their time as judges.
Booth Set-up
The team should decide the best way to organize its 8’ x 10’ x 8’ area. One 3’ x 6’ table and two chairs are provided. How will the space be utilized? How does the team envision the display as far as colors, signs, etc.? (Signs with school names will be provided.) Students should keep in mind the restrictions listed in the student program guides. Booth set-up is done Friday afternoon with the main event on Saturday. See student program guides or the Expo Web site for this year’s dates.
Marketing
How will the team draw visitors to its booth? Remember, no food or candy of any kind may be displayed, but there are other inexpensive promotional items the team can consider. Some teams even choose to do fundraising in order to rent or buy costumes or decorations or giveaways that require more money than the Expo supply stipend given. Finally, how will team members explain the project to visitors? What facts would they like visitors to remember?
Presenting
Who will present the project? Each team should choose two students by mid-year so that they can begin practicing. Students have five minutes to present, so the presenters should set a timer each time they practice. Students should practice making and maintaining eye contact with an audience, speaking at a steady rate, projecting their voices, smiling, and breathing. Repeated practice gives the presenters confidence. Students should be dressed in business/business casual style. (If not, points are deducted, so students should change from their company t-shirts before presenting.)
Judging
Judges are asked to evaluate student work both online (up to one week in advance of the Expo) as well as face-to-face. Online work may include one or more of the following (depending upon the curriculum): a company Web site, a company white paper, a curriculum-specific product (such as electronic commerce functions, a computer game, science research project, or student film). Each aspect of the student work is evaluated using a common rubric.