Categories
The Barrow County School System uses the same categories as the Georgia Student Technology Competition created by the Georgia Educational Technology Consortium.
There are 14 project categories in which students complete their project in advance of the competition date.
Click to expand each category for detailed descriptions, example softwares, rubrics, exemplar videos, and rubrics.
This category is defined as any original work digitally created and modeled in three dimensions using specialized software.
Models are NOT required to be printed on a 3D printer. Project must be presented in the software used to create the model(s). Judges will ask questions to determine the level of understanding of the software and design process.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Blender
- Zbrush
- Maya
- AutoCad
- SketchUp
- GollyGee Blocks (iOS)
- LightWave
- OnShape
- Tinkercad
This category is defined as any original project that generally consists of a sequence of images of the motion of objects to create a video.
Animation can involve programming sprites to talk, move, and interact. This can include, but is not limited to, short movies, music videos, comical shorts, and others by using a variety of animation techniques.
Animation can also be stop-motion animation; the technique of photographing successive drawings or positions of puppets or models to create an illusion of movement when the movie is shown as a sequence.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Scratch
- Alice
- Adobe Animate
- Crayola Easy Animation Studio
- Toontastic
- iFunFace
- PowToon
- Flipnote Studio 3D
- iStopMotion
- StikBot
- Stop Motion Studio
This category is defined as any original audio production that has been edited/produced with digital tools. Projects may include speaking, singing, music, sounds effects, and other audio components.
The project must be displayed on a device using the program in which it was created. The student should be prepared to demonstrate to judges how the software was used to create the finished project.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Audacity
- Garage Band
- Wavosaur
- EarSketch
- Adobe Audition
- Wavepad
- Acoustica
- Soundtrap
- Pro Tools
This category is for devices engineered and/or modified by students to serve a specific purpose or meet a specific goal. Device and parts do not have to be new. However, the device must be fully functional.
Examples of hardware that may be used include those listed below, but students may use hardware not on this list as well:
- Arduino
- Raspberry Pi
- Makey Makey
Digital Game Design projects should include original content, design, and rules of an interactive game.
Students may use the software program of their choice in order to demonstrate creativity, originality, organization, and interactivity. Students should be able to explain to judges what inspired their game idea and how they programmed their game to achieve project goals.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Scratch
- Hopscotch
- GameSalad Creator
- Minecraft
- Android Studio
- Tynker
- Unity 3D Game Engine
- Gamemaker Studio 2
- MS MakeCode Arcade
This category is defined as any project using a single original student photograph where digital editing tools were used to enhance/modify the image. Images containing non-original content or collages fall under the Graphic Design category.
The project must be displayed on a device using the program in which it was created.
The student should be prepared to demonstrate to judges how the software was used to create the finished project. A hard copy of the finished project may be displayed but is not required.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Adobe Photoshop
- BeFunky
- GIMP
- Gravit Designer
- PicMonkey
- Photoscape
- Pixlr
- Pixelmator
Projects in the category use a combination of static images and/or words into a single design to convey information or an idea with an intended effect.
Digital Photography and 3D Modeling are NOT part of this category.
The project, including all images and content, must be displayed on a device using the program in which it was created.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Microsoft Publisher
- Crayola Color Alive
- Adobe Spark Post
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Canva
- CorelDraw
- Inkscape
- Gravit Designer
- Photscape
- Sketchpad
- ToonBoom
Projects in this category are network based applications including, but not limited to, websites, chat rooms, forums, and blogs.
The project must be displayed on a device. Judges may ask to view elements of the design and production process. Source code must be available where applicable.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Dreamweaver
- Adobe Spark Page
- Wordpress
- Weebly
- Cloud9
- Google Sites
- Campus Suite
An entry in this category is an app that is specifically developed for a mobile device. The app can be developed for any mobile operating system. Students should be able to explain to judges what inspired their idea and how they programmed their app to achieve its intended purpose.
Projects designed as mobile-friendly web pages fall under the Internet Applications category.
The student must be able to run the app on the day of the competition on a device or a mobile simulator.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Android Studio
- MIT App Inventor
- Xcode
- Appery.io
- Appy Pie
- Sketch
Projects in this category are defined as any multi-page creative presentation using any combination of media including audio, video, images, or text.
Videos fall under the Video Production category. Animated movies fall under the Animation category.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- PowerPoint
- Google Slides
- Adobe Spark Page
- Apple Keynote
- Microsoft Sway
- Prezi
Projects in this category can be developed from various non-multimedia application programs such as desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheets, databases or any other non-multimedia software.
Hard copies of projects may be displayed at original size to show the judges, but no large displays are allowed.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Microsoft Publisher
- Microsoft Office
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Access
- File Maker Pro
Projects in this category are executable programs created by the student using a programming language. All parts of the program must be the author’s own design. Programs must be functional and have a specified intended purpose.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Java
- Python
- Javascript
- C++
- PHP
- Swift
- Scratch
- Blockly
Projects in this category are autonomous machines engineered and programmed by the student from their own concepts and designs, or published drawings/kits.
Devices controlled through direct, real time remote control by the student are not appropriate (ie: remote controlled cars). Once started, the robotics project should operate as a standalone independent machine without human interaction.
Examples of robotics platforms that may be used include those listed below, but students may use other robotics platforms not on this list as well:
- Lego (Mindstorms, EV3, Spark Prime, etc)
- K'Nex
- Capsella
- VEX
- Technics
Student engineered robot designs and concepts are encouraged.
Video Production includes any original video project that has been edited on a computer with digital video editing software and exported into a digital video format. The project must be displayed for viewing on a computer. Judges will ask questions to determine the level of understanding of the software and production process.
Stop-motion and animation projects fall under the Animation category.
Examples of software that may be used include those listed below, but students may use software not on this list as well:
- Canva
- Kapwing
- Adobe Premier
- Final Cut
- iMovie
- Corel VideoStudio
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