DESCRIPTION:

The DEPCO Teaching Lesson Contest allows an individual or pair of students to teach others about a technological topic.  The topic is provided well in advance of the TECA competition.  All preparation for the specific lesson must be done by the student or team.  During the actual competition, the lesson is timed and instructional media is  reviewed.  The scoring is based on teaching / learning effectiveness, organization, information presented, use of media, and handouts.  The handout(s) could be in the format of a design brief, in?class worksheet, and / or similar items.

TEAM:

A team of up to three students may be involved in planning and developing the formal lesson.  However, only one or two students may be designated as the primary teacher(s).  Each school may enter one Lesson Planning team entry.
 

1. All students must "check in" at a designated time and place to be scheduled for their teaching performance.

2. The lesson should be a "live", interactive teaching unit.  It should not be videotaped (other than brief segments of commercial or personal videotapes shown for instructional purposes).

3. The student or duo will be teaching to the team of judges (plan on a maximum of three judges at any contest site).

4. All planning is to be completed prior to the conference.

5. Each formal teaching segment should be designed for a maximum delivery period of 10 minutes.  Lessons extending over 10 minutes will incur penalty points.  Note: Lessons that continue beyond 12 minutes will be stopped.

6. The total cost for developing the unit of instruction should not be excessive.

7. Students and teams are responsible for their own media requirements beyond an (a) overhead projector and screen and (b) a VCR with color monitor.  While other media are permitted, these are the primary types of equipment supplied at each competition site.

8. A set-up time of 5 minutes is provided prior to starting the scheduled technical presentation.  Note: Exceeding the set?up time will also incur penalty points.

9. Videotaped segments or portions of commercial tapes may be used but should not exceed three minutes in length.

10. Each individual or team should prepare four copies of a typed or word processed instructional handout.  Student handouts should not exceed six pages!

Suggested items to used as handouts include:

    (a) A Design Brief that introduces a lesson.
    (b) Worksheet with special graphics related to the main topic
    (c) A formal lesson plan (in a format of your own design)
    (d) A listing of resources or related materials.
    (e) Other

11. Likewise, if teaching aids are to be used plan on at least three (3) students in the class.

12. The presentation must not create a hazardous situation.

13. Both the presentation and handouts will be reviewed by the judges.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

1. For the benefit of the judging team, the formal teaching segments (i.e., student performances) may be videotaped and timed.

2. Conference participants are encouraged to observe the lessons, as are other contestants . . . but other contestants will not be permitted to view performances prior to their scheduled time to compete!

3. Videotapes already queued to the proper place of the tape and other media arrangements are the responsibility of the contestant(s).

JUDGING CRITERIA:

The DEPCO Teaching Lesson Contest is based on students effectively teaching a topic to a live, interactive group of students.  To maintain consistency, the "class" will be the team of judges.  This means the judges (a maximum of 3 individuals) may be engaged as normal students, responding to questions and completing tasks during the teaching unit.

The exact values are outlined on the Judge's Score Sheet.  The percentages are included below.

1. Paperwork & Teaching Aids — 30% of over-all score

Format, content, instructional value, and completeness of documentation, etc.

2. Teaching presentation— 70% of over-all score

Live performance including the introduction, the interesting delivery of content, organization of the lesson, and personal appearance.

Points may be deducted due to violation of any guidelines or rules!

TOTAL POINTS  100 points

TOPICS FOR THE ITEA CONFERENCES:

In our digital age, information is power, information is knowledge, information is influence!  Basically it helps move commerce and shape society.  The ability to process information in a variety of formats (audio, raw data, video, etc.) is a critical trait.  Many devices and systems (including some amazing gadgets!) are designed to handle multimedia.

Today, we understand general terms such as material processing or energy processing . . . . but what is meant by the term "information processing"?  For your DEPCO Teaching Lesson at the annual ITEA Conference in Kansas City, you are to introduce the concept of INFORMATION PROCESSING.  What is this term, phrase, or concept?  And how do we "teach" information processing in modern schools?  You need to develop a lesson that achieves that simple goal.

Prepare your lesson and media following the contest guidelines outlined in the DEPCO Teaching Lesson packet.  Remember, you have only a limited time to “teach” a unit on INFORMATION PROCESSING.  So what are the key points, major processes, and best means of addressing this topic?  Note: All materials must be ready for collection at the start of your scheduled presentation.