EXPO FESTWelcome to Expo Fest 2017, the 15th iteration celebrating inspired learning, creative design, and student solutions! Skills21 is beyond excited to be back at Toyota Oakdale Theatre for this epic weekend.

On Friday, the Red Carpet Film Fest is bigger and better with four new challenge categories! Featuring an extended day allowing for multiple full length showing rooms, the Red Carpet Celebration with photo opportunities, and the much anticipated Award Show. Who will take home the fi rst Schaussie Awards of the weekend!

Saturday opens with a fl urry of activity right away with the energetic opening ceremony. The energy stays alive on the exhibition fl oor where students are prepared to show off their prototypes and innovative marketing campaigns. Saturday wraps up with the third annual Big Pitch on the main stage with newly incorporated audience input to help determine the Ultimate Expo Fest Champs.

What is your role? Tap into the frenzy of projects and prototypes! Most of all ask questions, diffi cult questions that challenge students to push their limits. Skills21 students are prepared to engage in meaningful interactions and show off their incredible work.

EXPO FEST SPONSORS! Skills21 brings together educators and leaders in corporate, nonprofi t, and government sectors. Together they work to help students develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today’s diverse workplace. Expo Fest and the programs provided by Skills21 are road-tested models of learning for advancing 21st century skills in STEM, digital media, and entrepreneurship.

Expo Fest inspires collaboration and engages students and business leaders in designing strategies that can help solve the education and workforce development challenges facing our nation. It is our hope you will join us in supporting this remarkable student work.

Consider a leadership role with your support in Expo Fest 2018. Visit skills21.org/sponsors for more info.

EXPO FEST 2017 SPONSORS:

Film. Television. Digital Media.

LEVEL 2 NGSS8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 10:40AM Presentations in Xfinity Room10:40 - 11:00AM Exhibition Space11:00 - 11:20AM Lunch on the Patio11:30 - 1:00PM Exhibition Space

LEVEL 1 STEM8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 10:40AM Exhibition Space10:45 - 11:40AM Presentations in West Panel12:30 - 12:20PM Lunch on the Patio12:30 - 1:00PM Exhibition Space

LEVEL 2 STEM8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 10:35AM Presentations in West Panel10:45 - 12:00PM Exhibition Space12:00 - 12:20PM Lunch on the Patio12:30 - 1:00PM Exhibition Space

NEW MEDIA8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 11:30AM Exhibition Space11:30 - 11:50PM Lunch on the Patio12:00 - 12:40PM Presentations in West Panel12:40 - 1:00PM Exhibition Space

SIKORSKY STEM8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 11:30AM Presentations in CT Room12:00 - 12:20AM Lunch on the Patio

TECHNOLOGY8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 11:00AM Exhibition Space11:00 - 11:20AM Lunch on the Patio11:30 - 12:30PM Presentations in East Panel12:30 - 1:00PM Exhibition Space

FRIDAY OVERVIEW · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 1:00PM Expo Fest Doors Open1:30-4:00PM Full Length Screenings3:30-5PM Red Carpet Reception 5:15-7:50PM Award Show

SATURDAY OVERVIEW · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·7:00AM Expo Fest Doors Open8:00AM Setup, Tech Check & Pres Media Load9:00AM Opening Ceremony 10:00AM Presentations & Exhibition Floor Open1:30PM Judges Scoring Due1:30PM Big Pitch1:30PM Awards Ceremony

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 11:30AM Exhibition Space11:30 - 11:50AM Lunch on the Patio12:15 - 12:40PM Presentations in CT Room12:40 - 1:00PM Exhibition Space

BUSINESS8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 11:00AM Presentations in East Panel11:00 - 11:30AM Exhibition Space11:30 - 11:50AM Lunch on the Patio12:00 - 1:00PM Exhibition Space

CAPSTONESee Insert for time Exhibition SpaceSee Insert for time Lunch on the Patio

LEVEL 1 NGSS8:00 - 8:40AM Load Media & Tech Check10:00 - 11:00AM Exhibition Space11:30 - 11:20AM Lunch on the Patio11:45 - 12:30PM Presentations in Xfinity Room12:30 - 1:00PM Exhibition Space

RED CARPET EVENT FILM FESTIVAL The Challenges:

90 SECOND: Students Students are to envision, write, create, edit and produce films corresponding to the theme of Fresh Perspectives. The biggest challenge is that NO sound may be recorded during production! Narration as a voiceover, sound effects, and a musical score can be added during post production. • Middle School 90 Second Film Challenge • 90 Second Live Action Narrative Film Challenge ANIMATION: Middle Students have the opportunity to experiment with many different types of animation for this challenge whether it be traditional/cell animation, 2D/Flash animation, motion graphics, computer 3D animation or stop motion!

PRESERVING OUR HISTORIES OF CT VETERANS: POH meet with veterans from different eras to learn firsthand about veterans before, during, and after service and the issues veterans face as they transition from active duty back to civilian life. Throughout the year students meet with experts in the fields of film, digital media, and journalism. As a culminating project, students create a 5-minute documentary highlighting a veteran or veteran issue to be judged on three categories: Historical Content, Technical Literacy, and Creativity.

TOBACCO FREE PSA: The goal of the the Tobacco-Free Student Leadership & Advocacy Club is to prevent initiation of tobacco use in youth in their local community. High and middle school students each produced a 90 second PSA as part of their leadership and advocacy role to be the generation that ends tobacco-use.

84 HOUR: Students are given 84 Hours (7am Friday through 7pm Monday) to gather as a team or individuals and execute the ideation, creation, production and completion of a short film. The film must incorporate specific criteria given by the Skills21 Team including character names, scenarios, quotes, props, shots and more!

DOCUMENTARY: Students are expected to connect with their community and together produce a documentary short. Our student filmmakers not only create exceptional films but, also create scripts, interviews, shot lists, and research resources and test audiences to enhance their filmmaking skills from pre to post-production.

BRAND NEW CHALLENGES! This year we have expanded the number of categories that students can participate in. We’re very excited for these added challenges! • 3-2-1 Comedy - (3 minutes, 2 characters, 1 location) • Action Sequence - (1 minute action sequence) • News Story - (1 minute news story) • Open - (any genre or type of film under 5 mins)

FRESH PRESPECTIVESCHALLENGEThe Challenge:

Create and implement a new product, service, or community action that addresses the overall Expo Fest theme of Fresh Perspectives.

TEAMS WILL: • Identify a problem that will be addressed by the project idea.• Investigate the topic via research, development, experiment or testing method, and data analysis.• Develop an innovative solution (product, service, or community action) that addresses the problem.• Demonstrate application of the solution with experimentation and/or prototype.• Thoroughly document the project, and promote it using digital media and online presence.• Showcase the project via a professional exhibition booth and presentation at Expo Fest on May 19th & 20th, 2017.

Teams will incorporate the following requirements in the project with consideration of the overall theme of Fresh Perspectives as it applies to the following:

SCIENCE & MATH:All teams must identify and show a quantifiable element of the project, and collect, analyze, and display data.

TECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS:All teams must identify, design, and develop a product or service with the end user as the driving force of innovation.

NEW MEDIA:All teams must identify their production company and it’s innovative approach to topics or the media industry.

HEALTH:All teams must identify and design a product or service that will benefit the global healthcare consumer.

THANK YOU, JUDGES!Skills21 would like to thank this year’s Expo Fest judges for dedicating their time and expertise to evaluating the 2017 projects. In addition to volunteering their time on a Saturday Expo Fest judges participate in a training session and preliminary judging in the weeks leading up to the event. These industry professionals and higher education faculty provide student competitors with invaluable feedback on their projects and choose award winners based on each project’s merit and viability.

TEAM PROJECTS WILL BE JUDGED BY ACADEMIA AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

• Project Idea Viability & Creativity• Evidence of Theme: Fresh Perspectives• Research & Development• Mathematical Thinking• Written Documentation• Online Presence: Website & Social Media• Marketing & Image• Presentation• Professionalism

EXPO FEST AWARDSFRIDAY• 90 Second Middle School Award• 90 Second - Live Action Narrative Award• Animation Award• Concept and Cutting on Action Award• Creativity in a Comedy Award• Story and Execution of News Content Award• History Short Award• Anti Smoking PSA Award• Documentary Short Award• 84 Hour Film Challenge Best Editing Best Acting Best Cinematography Best Screenplay Best Picture• Parent Choice Award• Audience Choice Award

SATURDAY• Sikorsky STEM Challenge• Advanced Manufacturing Challenge, Outstanding Contribution • Level 1 STEM Challenge, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Places• Level 2 STEM Challenge, Outstanding Contribution• Level 1 NGSS Challenge, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Places• Level 2 NGSS Challenge, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Places• New Media Challenge, Outstanding Contribution• Technology Challenge, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Places• Business Challenge, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Places• Capstone Exemplary Community Outreach & Involvement Outstanding Application of Research Outstanding Project • Director’s Challenge Award• Sustainability Challenge Award• The Big Pitch Award - The Ultimate Expo Fest Award

ABOUT SKILLS21Skills21 is a nationally known leader in digital learning and recognized by the US Department of Education as an exemplary model for delivering STEM achievement.

Skills21 delivers a flexible, affordable, and road tested model for driving student success. Using a variety of learning technologies, Skills21 programs help increase rigor and relevance at school.

Nearly a decade of research has demonstrated that Skills21 programs increase academic achievement, lead to improved 21st century skills, impact students interest in STEM, and help students collaborate with peers from different backgrounds.

As Skills21 transitions from a research-based learning lab to an integrated suite of PreK-16 offerings, the program is positioned to impact a diverse population of students in a wide variety of settings. Skills21 welcomes you to Fuel, Quest, Track, and Launch.

Matt Mervis Director, Skills21

FUEL - mindful tech tools for young learners, teachers, and parents. School Fuel is dedicated to equipping adults and children with tools to embrace the digital age in a mindful, successful way. With School Fuel's hands-on training and contemporary learning platform, parents, students, and families are fueled-up for school!

QUEST - mobile tools for NGSS aligned learning explorations. Skills21 STEM Quest delivers a drag-and-drop learning design tool that opens new and exciting worlds for students. By bundling the latest technology, including Virtual Reality and mobile apps, Skills21 STEM Quest helps teachers engage students in classroom and field-based expeditions that bring NGSS to life.

TRACK - real-time assessment for academic events Skills21 Trackpad is a purpose-built assessment tool for challenge-based learning, academic competitions, and events. This web app can be used on any device and teachers can provide immediate feedback while assessing student projects. Skills21 Trackpad is easy to use, eliminates cumbersome record keeping, and generates live results for your event.

LAUNCH - project tools, courses, and connectionsSkills21 Launchpad is a digital-learning platform supporting student led innovation and design. Skills21 Launchpad provides seamless collaboration between teachers, students, and mentors as student teams complete innovation and design challenge projects.

More Info At Skills21.org