Tech N Grits

The 2020 Tech Fair

It is an exciting time for the students and staff in the Georgetown County School District, as we begin to engage in our Technology Fair preparation.  In 2011, we started the tech fair with the intent to allow students to showcase projects that they were doing for classes.  Nobody is real sure of the number of projects at the first Tech Fair, but estimates from those around at that time say there were about 60 projects.

 

The Tech Fair, like technology itself, has evolved rapidly over the last ten years.  Wow…did I say ten years?  In 2011, students were presenting projects using the traditional folding “project boards” that propped behind their computers.  On their computer screens, they were showing power points or Word documents of class projects they had researched. 

Fast forward to 2020:  The folding presentation boards are thing of the past.  Students are creating digital portfolios using Google Slides, Google Drawing, Google Forms, Google Docs, Websites, robotics, programmable cars, drones, and even 3-D printers.  Students and staff have the opportunity to choose from several categories:  Creativity, Communication & Collaboration, Decision Making & Problem Solving, Innovation and Educator based projects. 

In 2011, Judges were scoring projects using pen and paper.  Now two judges score student projects using iPads on a Google Form, with an Array code that scores and separates the categories by age groups.

What started as an initiative to boost technology, has become THE premier event in the district…involving over 600 students in 2019, 62 Judges, 68 teachers, and some 500 community members and parents.

This year, our projects will be better, our Fair will be better, and the different technologies are exponentially growing.  April 9, 2020 is the date.  The location is 320 Wildcat Way at Waccamaw Intermediate School…Pawleys Island, SC  29585.  Come and be a part of the excitement as we invest in our young people.

To sign up to help Judge, click and visit the link below.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd99NiG3QPAN6VCGkLqeg6QIvHb_M01pRMTC-kz7TcH52riIQ/viewform