Onsite Only Competition
Club Competition
The Engineering competition is designed for a team of three to five students to use innovative problem solving techniques, encourage hands on exploration, foster creativity, and an understanding of basic engineering principles. Teams will use items from a specified list and will be required to interact with judges during the competition.
A club may have only one entry.
Elementary Betas are eligible to compete in Elementary competitions only.
Junior Betas are eligible to compete in Junior competitions only.
Senior Betas are eligible to compete in Senior competitions only.
No spectators allowed during or following the competition.
| Division | Time Limit to Build | Build | Demonstrate/Explain |
| Elementary | 45 Minutes | Racetrack | 90 seconds |
| Junior | 45 Minutes | Tower | 90 seconds |
| Senior | 2 Hours | Rube Goldberg | 90 seconds |
Competition Guidelines for all Divisions
- These guidelines apply to all divisions. Additional competition guidelines will accompany the build for each division.
- Each club may enter one team of three to five students.
- The invention may have parts that suspend beyond the board but cannot be braced/tethered/supported by anything (i.e. wall or floor) other than the board.
- The team must use ONLY items from the specified list. Materials must fit into a closed 18 gallon plastic storage container with a lid.
- All construction must be done on-site. No steps can be preassembled, construction pieces must be separate, and the board must be free of any writing, marking, stickers, etc.
- An onsite challenge will be assigned during the competition.
- Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
- Liquids, sand, glitter, or other substances that would leave a mess may not be used in any form of the entry.
- SAFETY - Participants using a battery powered glue gun MUST use silicone finger protectors or wear gloves when using the glue gun.
Educational Connections
- Engineering and Innovation
- Communication and Collaboration
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Scale and Measurement
- Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)
- Students will investigate and find solutions, designs, and strategies from an infinite number of possibilities using inquiry, collaboration, and process-based learning.
| Engineering | 16-20 | 11-15 | 6-10 | 1-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complexity and Creativity | Excellent complexity and creativity in the structural integrity of the build. | Good complexity and creativity in the structural integrity of the build. | Average complexity and creativity in thestructural integrity of the build. | Minimal complexity and creativity in thstructural integrity of the build. |
| Application of Engineering Principles | Critical selection and application of engineering principles to ensure a well designed build. | Critical selection and application of engineering principles to ensure a good build. | Somewhat critical selection and application of engineering principles to ensure an average build. | Minimal critical selection and application of engineering principles for the build. |
| Critical Thinking and Analysis | Students exhibit excellent ability to consider alternatives to the design's construction; team completely explains their thinking behind the design. | Students exhibit a good ability to consider alternatives to the design's construction; team somewhat explains their thinking behind the design. | Students exhibit an averagae ability to consider alternatives to the design's construction; team provides little explanation behind the design. | Students exhibit minimal ability to consider alternatives to the design's construction; team provides no insight into the design. |
| Team Communication and Collaboration | Team displays excellent communication during the build; all members contribute equally. Throughout the entire construction. | Team displays good communication during the build; most members contribute equally. Throughout the construction. | Team displays an average communication during the build; some members contribute during the construction. | Team displays minimal communication during the build; one member particiaptes during the construction. |
| Overall Quality | Structural integrity and stability were demonstrated; quality is excellent in the build. | Structural integrity and stability were demonstrated; quality is good in the build. | Structural integrity and stability were somewhat demonstrated; quality is average in the build. | Structural integrity and stability were missing in the demonstration; quality is in the build. |
| Deductions | This will be taken one time by the coordinator. | Did not follow competition guidelines-10 |