(STATE FAIR EXHIBIT)

The 4-H computer science project is designed for youth to engage in an interactive project to learn all levels of familiarity with computers. 

State Fair Entries:

3 per county; one per level.

Visit State Site

 

There are three exhibit grade level divisions; Grades 3-5, Beginner; Grades 6-8, Intermediate; and Grades 9-12, Advanced.  Exhibits are to be skill appropriate for the member’s grade level.

 

Contact Us

Lauren Fenneman, Youth Development Educator
Purdue Extension Dubois County
505 W 5th Street 
P.O. Box 588
Jasper, IN 47547
812-482-1782
lhaase@purdue.edu

Exhibits for all years are due at Purdue Extension-Dubois County by June 15.

Please enter project into FairEntry by June 15.

 

Youth enrolled in the computer project will select one of the below subject categories to study, regardless of grade.  Youth may choose to create an exhibit demonstrating skills learned during the year.  Check with your county Purdue Extension Office to determine if a computer will be available during judging and if there will be an opportunity to explain your exhibit to the judge. Exhibits qualifying for state fair are to be submitted on a thumb drive securely attached to a notebook/portfolio describing accomplishments, skills learned, design ideas, budget, a summary of what was done, screenshots showing the development and final project, etc. as the exhibitor will not be able to discuss their work with a judge. Poster and display board exhibits are permissible.  Posters are to be 22”x28” and displayed horizontally and placed in a clear plastic sleeve or covered with clear plastic to protect contents. Display boards should be designed to sit on a table using no more than 36” of tabletop space. Space should be left in the lower right hand corner to place an exhibit tag provided by Purdue Extension staff.  Youth may continue in the same subject category in subsequent years expand on the previous year’s topic, or choose a new topic.  Subject categories are:

  • Block Based Programming
  • Text Based Programming
  • Web Design and Computer Entrepreneurship
  • Computer Forensics
  • Hardware and Networking Design/Install/Repair
  • Graphic Design and Computer Art
  • Robotics

 Software submitted to be reviewed by a judge must be compatible on both PC and Mac platform. If additional software other than Microsoft Office Suite is required to view the member’s work, that software must be provided by the member and comply with all manufacturer copyright laws.  Apps can be Android or IOS compatible.

 

Judges evaluating exhibits should recognize individual differences and creativity, therefore using information in this document as a guide rather than a requirement.

Project Rules by Category

Manual Information: See page 16 for project manual information. Project Manual completion is not a requirement.

 

References: All posters, notebooks, and display boards must include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit. See References under General Exhibit Information on page 17 for additional guidelines

Beginner – Grades 3-5 – Create a block-based program using Scratch, Code Studio, Alice, or another graphic programming language of your choice. You should comment your work and it must include at least ten different commands.  Skills this program could use are:

 

  • Sequence
  • Iteration
  • Conditionals
  • Variables
  • Loops
  • User input
  • Any other similar skill

 

 

Intermediate Grades 6-8 – Create a block-based program using Scratch, Code Studio, Alice, or another graphic programming language of your choice.   You should comment your work and it must include at least ten different commands.  Skills this program could use are:

 

  • More robust demonstration of beginner skills
  • Modularization
  • Lists
  • Any other similar skill

 

 

Advanced Grades 9-12 – Create a block-based program using Scratch, Code Studio, Alice, or another graphic programming language of your choice.   You should comment your work and it must include at least ten different commands.  Skills this program could use are:

 

  • More robust demonstration of Intermediate Skills
  • Parameters
  • Recursion
  • Any other similar skill

Beginner Grades 3-5 – This option is not available.

 

Intermediate Grades 6-8 - Create a text-based program of your choosing using any text-based language you are comfortable in.  The code should demonstrate an understanding of at least 4 of these skills:

 

  • Commenting
  • Correct syntax
  • Variables
  • Loops
  • Conditionals
  • User Input
  • Lists
  • Functions
  • Algorithms
  • Any other similar skill

 

 

Advanced Grades 9-12 - Create a text based program of your choosing using any text based language you are comfortable in.  The code should demonstrate an understanding of at least 8 of these skills:

 

  • A more robust understanding of the intermediate skills
  • Interact with databases
  • Classes
  • Objects
  • Methods
  • Inheritance
  • Integrate multiple languages into one program
  • Any other similar skill

Beginner Web Design and Computer Entrepreneurship – Grades 3-5 - Build a website demonstrating a knowledge of:

  • Use a website builder to create your website
  • Insert non-stock image into your site
  • Use a template to achieve a unified look
  • Explain CSS in your documentation, what CSS is and why it’s important
  • Must have at least two pages and include all items listed above

 

Intermediate Web Design and Computer Entrepreneurship – Grades 6-8 - Build a website demonstrating a knowledge of:

  • Create your own site or use a website builder
  • Modify existing HTML
  • Use HTML5
  • Modify existing CSS
  • Have a unified theme throughout
  • Use a photo editing software to create custom images
  • Must have at least five pages and include all items listed above

 

Advanced Web Design and Computer Entrepreneurship – Grades 9-12 - Build a website demonstrating a knowledge of:

  • Create a custom site using appropriate industry tools
  • Have a responsive website
  • Add useful and appropriate plugins
  • Test for and eliminate bugs
  • Include links for social media
  • Include custom audio/video
  • Must have at least ten pages and include all items listed above

Computer Forensics (id theft, online bullying, ethical use of technology, responsible social media use)

Beginner Computer Forensics – Grades 3-5 – Research and create a 3-5 minute presentation on one of the following topics.  Present to a group of peers and have an adult leader verify, create a YouTube or MP4 instructional video, or printed slides and notes using PowerPoint or similar presentation software. 

  • Media Balance and Well Being
  • Privacy and Security
  • Digital Footprint and Identity
  • Relationships and Communication
  • Cyberbullying, Digital Drama and Hate Speech
  • News and Media Literacy
  • Any other similar topic

 

Intermediate Computer Forensics – Grades 6-8 – Research and create a 6-8 minute presentation on one of the following topics.  Present to a group of peers and have an adult leader verify, create a YouTube or MP4 instructional video, or printed slides and notes using PowerPoint or similar presentation software.  Digital Citizenship:

  • Media Balance and Well Being
  • Privacy and Security
  • Digital Footprint and Identity
  • Relationships and Communication
  • Cyberbullying, Digital Drama and Hate Speech
  • News and Media Literacy
  • Cyber Security
  • Ethics and Society
  • Security Principles
  • Classic Cryptography
  • Malicious Software
  • Physical Security
  • Web Security
  • Any other similar topic

 

Advanced Computer Forensics – Grades 9-12 – Research and create a 10-12 minute presentation on one of the following topics.  Present to a group of peers and have an adult leader verify, create a YouTube or MP4 instructional video, or printed slides and notes using PowerPoint or similar presentation software. 

  • Digital Citizenship:
    • Media Balance and Well Being
    • Privacy and Security
    • Digital Footprint and Identity
    • Relationships and Communication
    • Cyberbullying, Digital Drama and Hate Speech
    • News and Media LiteracyCyber SecurityEthics and Society
    • Security Principles
    • Classic Cryptography
    • Malicious Software
    • Physical Security
  • Web Security
  • Any other similar topic

Beginner – Grades 3-5 – Choose 1-2 items from the list and create a report/presentation (including images) of what you did.Deconstruct and reconstruct a computer

  • Learn and report how binary works and how computers use numbers
  • Troubleshoot hardware problems
  • Explore operating systems
  • Investigate open source resources
  • Install/upgrade operating systems
  • Design a dream machine (give reasons)
  • Any other similar design/install/repair

Intermediate – Grades 6-8 – Choose 1-2 items from the list and create a report/presentation (including images) of what you did.Identify network hardware

  • Design a computer network
  • Explain Internet Protocol
  • Explain different types of servers
  • Use different protocols to communicate
  • Add peripherals to a network
  • Secure a networked computer
  • Share applications simultaneously
  • Setup a Raspberry Pi or other micro-controller
  • Any other similar design/install/repair

Advanced – Grades 9-12 - Choose one or two items from the list ad create a report/presentation (including images) of what you did.

  • Design and implement a computer network
  • Secure your network
  • Understand technology needs in your community.
  • Help to solve these needs by organizing a committee or team to work on identified issues.
  • Teach a computer science class to younger 4-Hers.
  • Build your dream computer
  • Network multiple micro-controllers
  • Research careers in technology
  • Any other similar design/install/repair

 

There are three divisions; Beginner (Grades 3-5), Intermediate (Grades 6-8) and Advanced (Grades 9-12). Youth are to use a software program to create or design an item that requires graphic design or artistry. The name of the software and version is to be included with the exhibit. Exhibits are to be age/grade appropriate. Ideas include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Logo design
  • T-shirt or apparel screen printing design
  • Promotional brochure
  • Marketing materials
  • Computer generated art
  • Computer altered photographs/images – Photographs taken by the 4-H member and altered by the 4-H member using a computer are to be entered in the Photography project as a creative/experimental exhibit. Youth must obtain permission from the owner before altering someone else’s photograph/image and include a copy of that permission with the exhibit to insure there is no copyright violation.

Suggested exhibits include, but are not limited to, a notebook including a printout of code with requirements marked, a flowchart showing how the robot works, images of the robot being built and the final robot in action, a video, a live demonstration, or other applicable exhibits including a poster.

Beginner – Grades 3-5

  • Create a flowchart
  • Build a robot
  • Use block-based program to operate
    • Sequential programs
    • Events at beginning
  • Use at least one basic sensor

Intermediate – Grades 6-8

  • Create a flowchart with

sub-routines

  • Include at least two sensors in robot
  • Use at least three events in code
  • Create 2 loops in code
  • Operation of robot should be smooth

Advanced – Grades 9-12 - Above guidelines plus:

  • Use text-based language
  • Use advanced logic including
    • Multiple (three or more) events
    • Multiple (three or more) loops
    • At least three sub routines
    • Special consideration if robot is not a kit.

Poster Preparation Guideline

Poster Guidelines

All poster exhibits must be 22" x 28", displayed horizontally, and have a stiff backing (corrugated cardboard or foam core board preferred) and be covered with clear cellophane, plastic or in poster bag unless otherwise stated in project requirements. Quiz Boards are not considered posters and do not require a clear covering. Leave space in the lower right hand corner of poster for project label affixed outside of covering. (Poster board, foam core board, and poster bags are available at the Extension Office at cost.) 

Leave space on exhibit for label. Label size is 2 7/8” wide x 5 ½” long and will be attached in readily visible position.

References:  All posters, notebooks, display boards must include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit.  This reference list should/might include web site links, people and professionals interviewed, books, magazines, etc.  It is recommended this reference list be attached to the back of a poster or display board, be the last page of a notebook, or included as part of the display visible to the public.  The judge will not discredit an exhibit for the manner in which references are listed.

 

All pictures and wall hangings, etc. should be ready to hang or display. Use strong hangers (not can tabs) attached with nails or screws (not glue or tape) or provide a suitable stand. Label the stand with your name.

 

Exhibit labels supplied by the office are to be attached securely. There may be specific other instructions for certain projects. See individual project requirements for these instructions. Be sure all exhibit items can be identified with 4-H member name and 4-H club. i.e. notebooks, exhibits with multiple items, etc. Be sure all parts of your exhibit have your name on them.

Secrets of a Successful Poster
A successful poster will:
· Catch the eye of the passerby
· Be simple and clear
· Impress an idea or a fact upon the viewer
· Stimulate the viewer to support your idea, get more information, or take appropriate action.
· Have space left over—Posters that are uncluttered are easier to read.

An effective poster: attracts attention, focuses on a main interest or idea, and motivates you.

Planning A Poster
A poster should have one main idea. Have the reason clearly in mind before you start.
· Consider who your viewer will be
· Decide what you want them to know
· Decide what you want them to do
· Think of a clever theme or slogan
· Limit your effort to one main idea
· Make a small rough sketch
· Visual communication is an aid to what you are trying to teach with your project.

Choosing Colors
Color combinations affect how easily the message is read and the overall appearance of the poster.
· Consider the Contrast: This means you use dark letters on a light background, and light letters on a dark background.
· Let the most important items be the most important color.
· Colors that are close to the background shade will not show up well and cannot be read at a distance.
· Avoid using too many different colors. Two or three should be sufficient. You don’t want to overwhelm your main point!
· Avoid putting red and green next to each other—this is hard to focus on if a person is colorblind.
· Avoid bright neon colors—they may catch the eye, but they are hard to focus on.

Lettering
· Lower case letters are easier to read than all CAPITALS. Use capitals only for emphasizing an important phrase or word to give variety.
· Save fancy or script lettering for catching the attention of the viewer.
· When hand lettering, always use guidelines. Using a ruler, lightly pencil in straight lines that can be erased when your poster is complete.
· Letters may be cutout and glued on, or precut letters may be purchased.
· Keep written material to a minimum. Use only headings, captions and signs necessary to tell the story.

Use different size lettering for items of varying importance.
· Allow margins to keep things from running together and looking too cluttered.
· Below is a table of letter sizes and their effectiveness:

*Ask your parents, 4-H Leader, or older 4-H member to look at your poster and tell you what they think.

Revise-Re-Do-Rearrange
1. Cut out all your letters, pictures and graphics.
2. Draw guidelines and place or draw in letters.
3. Lay all your pieces of your poster out on the poster board.
4. Ask yourself, “How does it look?”
5. Revise and rearrange as needed. Re-Do anything that should be a different size or color.
6. Move things around until you are happy with the overall effect and message of your poster.
7. Glue everything in place.
9. Remember—NEATNESS COUNTS!