Judging Criteria

Minimum Criteria: Each project must consist of the following:
1. Web site
2. Goals & objectives (in relation to the needs of the partner)
3. Project management (teams may use any project management tool)
4. Multimedia presentation compatible with Microsoft Powerpoint or Adobe Flash

Assumptions: 1. Each team has access to a personal computer and a printer. 2. Each team has access to the Internet. 3. Each team has access to project management tools. 4. Each team’s computer has presentation software. 5. Each team will research and select host and publish a website to a third party location.

A school district will not be permitted to serve as the site host. This would not happen in a “real world situation.” Also hosting a for-profit website on a school website may violate ethics regulations.

Expected Result: Students are to partner with an actual business or non-profit organization and research, design, and develop a web site for their business. The web site may be informational or transactional in nature. Teams must publish their entries to the Internet.

Entries will be evaluated and scored in terms of the following: 1. Design Criteria – judges will subjectively assess web sites on the aesthetic design of the homepage, sub-pages, common elements, uniformity of the web site, and Web 2.0 element(s). Judges will analyze the programming style and code. A member of the team should be able to answer questions about the programming process. A list of criteria the judges will evaluate in this area may include the following:

• Must Contain Homepage
• Common Navigation Element
• Live Links (No dead links)
• Graphics/Images Dynamically, Relatively Linked
• HTML w/ CSS
• CSS is External
• Doctype Defined
• SEO – Title
• SEO – Keywords
• SEO – Description
• SEO – Image Alt Tags
• No Script Errors
• Cross Browser Compatible (Tested in Internet Explorer 7, 8, Firefox, and Safari)
• Web-Standard Fonts
• Web-Standard Images (Sized for the web)
• Load Speed
• Spelling / Grammar Errors
• Consistent Logo/Nav Placement
• Web 2.0 Implementation (Technical)
• Can the business partner update the website themselves with little or no knowledge of HTML?

2. Partner Component – the business or community partner will be asked to determine if the team met the following: -Were the students professional? -Did the students effectively communicate with frequency? -Were all students involved in the planning of the project? -Did each student invest time and energy into the project? -Were the expectations of the community partner set and met? -Overall, was the community partner satisfied with the project and the team? **the partner is urged to attend the contest

3. Project Management Component - -Initiation -Planning & timeline -Resource utilization -Flexibility -Teamwork -Closing -Other

4. Exhibit Hall Presentation Component Judges will subjectively assess teams to determine if each team member can intelligently discuss the team’s web site and team process.

5. Group Presentation Component - -Team participation (did all participate?) -Quality of presentation aides -Project management process (description provided) -Design process (description provided) -Programming process (description provided) -Timeframe (not to exceed five minutes) Contest Format: 1. Each team will display entries for judges and guests to review (PC’s will be provided by host of event). 2. Teams will give informal presentations to the judges in an exhibit hall format. 3. The top five teams will present their entries to the audience. 4. The judging committee will select the winners. NOTE: Teams that are selected to present to the audience will be limited to a five minute presentation. Presentations that are longer than five minutes will be penalized. So practice your timing beforehand.

************** ADDITIONAL RULES

• Each team will be responsible for securing third-party hosting.
• Hosting may not be provided by the school district. The goal of the contest is to have teams create a website for a business. It is not possible for businesses to be hosted on a school host. It is an important part of the web development process to research and secure hosting for clients. Preferred vendors will be provided shortly.

Use of Content Management

• Use of content management software, such as Wordpress, Drupal, or Joomla is strongly encouaged.
• Use of “packaged” design templates (free or purchased) is prohibited.*
• Custom templates are allowed.
• IF a content management system is used the contest entry must include an administrative login and password.

* It is OK to use a CMS default template as a base for customization. Business Contact

• A good relationship with the business owner is important. A log of contact with the business and copies of correspondence should be kept in the project portfolio.
• The use of a team member’s relative’s business is strongly discouraged.

Submission of Contest Entries

• In the past, teams have submitted their websites on CD. This year, websites will be submitted as URLs of the “published site” – No CDs will be sent.
• The team’s project plan and portfolio must be published to the website and the URL to download it must be provided.
• The team’s powerpoint presentation must be brought the day of the contest on a CD clearly labeled with the school and team number. It is strongly suggested that you bring a copy of the presentation on a USB memory stick. Presentations will be collected at the beginning of the day.

Day-of-Rules

• Student Laptops will be prohibited. (Teams should test the functionality of their websites in multiple browsers from a public computer – like at a computer lab or a library – that the website has never been accessed from for final testing.)
• Advisors, Chaperones and Teachers will not be allowed in the contest area after judging has started. A separate room will be provided. Chaperone, Teacher, and Advisors may bring laptop computers. We are unable to guarantee the availability of a Wi-Fi connection at this time.