Recognition of Sensational 6: Student Web Design Contest (Career and Technical Education)

Initiative: The Sensational 6: Web Design Contest was initiated to provide an opportunity for Web Design students to work on an authentic project for a non-profit community organization. In late 2007, the District was approached for website development assistance by Voices for Children, an organization that works on behalf of Guardian ad Litem which provides legal assistance to homeless children. In order to meet the needs of this organization, the Business Technology Education department worked in conjunction with The Centre Club to create a web design contest in which teams of four to six students could work on a class project that would be submitted for consideration as the Voices for Children website. From January to March 2008, students in Web Design classes worked on this project. In March 2008, 17 teams of students submitted their website to be judged by members of Voices for Children and Guardian ad Litem, who selected the top six teams to become the Sensational 6. These six teams came from the following five high schools: Alonso, Bloomingdale, Freedom (2 Teams), Hillsborough and Wharton. Each of these six teams delivered a 10-minute presentation of their website in front of a live audience at the Sensational 6 event on April 23, 2008. Teams were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges made up of business, education and community leaders. The event culminated by naming the outstanding team from Wharton High School as the event’s winner. This began the tradition of the annual Sensational 6 Web Design contest.

Goals:

Provide an opportunity for students to participate in an authentic learning project

Partner with a non-profit community organization

Showcase student skills and abilities to the community-at-large

Targeted Population: All Web Design students in Hillsborough County were eligible for participation. The Web Design program is offered in grades 9-12 at all 25 High Schools.

Timeline: The Web Design contest has been in place for two school years. The first contest was in collaboration with the Big Brother-Big Sister Organization in the 2006/2007 school year. Plans are in place to once again hold the Sensational 6 in April 2009. This year’s partner will be the SERVE Volunteer Organization.

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* Demonstrate consistent and effective teaching methods, * Motivate students to become responsible learners