Q & A

Q & A

Have a question you need answered about The Tech Challenge? Email your questions or comments to challenge@thetech.org. We will be happy to provide you an answer within 2-5 business days.

Questions and answers sent via email will be added anonymously to this page.

Advisor Questions

Advisor Support


Q: Do you have any materials for advisors?

A: You can download these guides from the website.

Q: Where can the team find consultation on their interpretation of the rules?

A: Read the guides available on this website to understand the rules, or look for an answer in this Q and A section. If you can't find an answer to you question there, email challenge@thetech.org, call the hotline 408-795-6351, or ask The Tech Challenge staff at the Challenge Trials.

Building


Q: What considerations should I make when working with kids and power tools?

A: Spend a meeting training the team on shop safety. Insist on absolutely no horseplay while in the shop. Everyone must work with a spotter. Let the team do as much as is safe, and remind them that every tool, even glue guns, have safety issues.

Q: My team's design may require two pieces that need power tools and what not. There are some tools that I may not feel comfortable with my 7th graders using. Can I help the kids build it?

A: Get the kids to do as much as possible. If there are issues with tools, then step in. If you are doing something for them for the sake of safety, (i.e. ripping something on the table saw) then have them give you the precise instructions. (Where and what to cut etc.) Remember that judges like knowing that the kids made their device themselves.

Miscellaneous


Q: Do you track which teams come up with original ideas that other teams incorporate into their designs?

A: No. Seeing and executing the same idea is very difficult. Some teams do not come to the test trials because they're worried that other teams will steal their ideas. Testing is a very important part of the process and seeing how other teams approach the challenge can be inspiring. When working with your teams, down play the competition part and play up the learning they can get from each other.

Q: Can I advise more than one team?

A: Yes, in the past we have had quite a few advisors guide two or three teams through their process.

Q: Can a team have more than one advisor?

A: Yes, although we do not recommend having more than two. The Tech Challenge project should be designed, built, and tested by the students. Advisors are there to guide the process along. Too many advisors will get in the way!

Working with students


Q: What if my team is completely stuck for ideas?

A: Get the team in another environment: go outside or go to a store. You can explore the shelves of a toy store or hobby store and sometimes get ideas just from looking at what is on the shelves.Or rent a video from National Geographic or Discovery Channel - there's lots of excellent TV and video material available that's relevant to this year's Challenge and it might be very inspirational.

Q: How do you balance what is most important: journal, device or interview?

A: All parts of The Tech Challenge are equally important. Different team members have different personalities - the talker will shine during the interview, the writer for the journal, the cool head will keep the team grounded during the stress of demonstrating the device. Utilize the strengths of each team member.

Q: What skills can an advisor teach the team?

A: The most general skills the teams need are brainstorming and decision making strategies, how to prototype and how to stay focused.

Q: What kinds of rules should I put in place for my team?

A: The team members should make all the decisions, although there are a few rules that the experienced advisors recommend other advisors to insist on. 1-The main goal is "can you meet the challenge." 2-Take notes on every meeting, and start that right away. 3-The team attends as many trial dates as they can regardless of where they are in the process of building their device.