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Tournament of Innovation 2012 - Regional Competitions

Schools, Districts or Individuals register one of the regional Tournament of Innovation events. Projects are selected from the regionals for the finals. Homeschool groups may register as schools (virtual schools may register as one school in each region.) Please review District and school entry forms for details.

Southwest Idaho Regional

February 17-18

BSU College of Engineering, Boise

East Idaho Regional

February 24-25

Museum of Idaho, Idaho Falls

Please double check with Regional coordinators on dates and locations.

• Working Inventions
• Non-Working Inventions
• Science Experiments

• Kind - 2nd
• 3rd & 4th
• 5th & 6th
• 7th & 8th
• 9th - 12th (see additional information)

Regional Coordinators

State Entry Forms will be distributed by regional coordinators to students who qualify at regional conventions. Projects qualify at regional by placing in one of the following ways:

Best of Show - Primary level (grades K-4)

Best of Show - Intermediate level (grades 5-8)

Best of Category

1st or 2nd Place in Category/Grade Level Divisions

Projects must be preregistered for the state competition by February 26th. Walk-in entries will not be allowed or displayed. Teachers who collect these state entry forms for students who are not in attendance must be sure to deliver them to students/parents immediately.

Finals

The Tournament of Innovation Final will be held at the Discovery Center of Idaho. Project set-up will be on Friday afternoon, March 9th with the Awards Ceremony at 3pm Saturday, March 10th.

Projects must be present until end of ceremony to receive award.

State Registration deadline: February 26th, 2011

2012 Regional Guidelines

To go on to State, projects must qualify at one of the regional conventions (see above for details).

How do I register for a Regional Convention?

Individuals may register up to 1 project at a regional convention. The fee is $10.

Schools may register up to 15 projects at a regional convention. The fee is $20.

Districts may register up to 45 projects at a regional convention. The fee is $50.

Districts registering must involve at least three of their schools in the process. Otherwise the schools must enter separately as 'schools' (i.e. one or two schools may not register as a 'district' in order to get more than the 15 allowed entries each.)

If more than 1 individual in a school enter, they must consolidate into one 'school' entry of 15 inventions and if more than 3 schools in a district enter, they must consolidate into one 'district' entry of 45 inventions. (Your regional coordinator can tell you if your district is one of these).

These rules help prevent the volunteer-run regionals from being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

When must I register?

The Intent to Register form, along with registration fee, must be mailed to the Registration Center of the appropriate region. This form and fee are due DECEMBER 1, 2011. No purchase orders. You do not have to list the projects you are entering, or even have selected them at this point. That comes later. This form merely informs the Regional Coordinator that you are attending their Regional Tournament of Innovation, gives them contact information, and provides them with the entry fee they will need to prepare to host the event.

How do we choose our projects for entry?

Ideally, you'll hold your own tournament that is open to as many students as possible in your school or district. A tournament is highly recommended, but each school or district may choose their own selection criteria. Your regional coordinator may be able to give you advice on holding your convention.

What happens next?

Your regional coordinator will contact you with forms and information necessary for your school's participation in the regional. They will provide convention details, a tracking form to list student entries, and a deadline for its submission.

Districts and Schools may enter only one regional convention. Projects will be judged in grade-level divisions (Kind/1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, and 7th/8th) within the three Tournament of Innovation categories.

Tournament of Innovation Rules

• The project must be student initiated: Help from parents or friends is acceptable but must be fully documented in the Journal.
• The overall theme of the project must enhance the quality of life and be humane.
• A free-standing display (not wall poster) is required. Display must include name of the project, goal or problem it solves, and how it works/solves problem or conclusion.
• No student names/faces/schools on project, worksheet, journal or free-standing display.
• Cost of new materials, not to exceed $20.00, including free standing display, and all sales receipts must be attached to the journal or display.
• A journal must accompany the project. This allows students to document the process and show judges they have met the criteria.
• Projects may be entered by individuals or pairs only. Mixed grade pairs must register in the grade division of the oldest member.
• Projects from prior years will not be accepted.

Tournament of Innovation Judging Criteria

Useful Links

• Google Patent search allows you to find other patents similar to your idea to help refine your's and make it unique: http://www.google.com/patents
• Kids Invent is an educational program that uses inventing to teach science: http://kidsinvent.org
• Do you know of others? Let us know: education