What is the NZTA Primary Years Competition?

This year the NZTA ran three competitions for Year 1-8 students with a theme of 'Safer Journeys for Children'.

In 2012 the primary school competitions offered children and teachers three ways to explore the understanding that good choices are the basis of safe journeys. These included the popular storyboard competition.

The first option was a Pick-a-Path, an interactive story where the reader faces choices as they make their way to school. Hyperlinks enable the reader to explore the results of the different choices made.
Illustrations are through the use of either art or photographs.

Option two was an electronic book which explores safe journey ideas using text, images, video, audio or animation clips.

The final option was a storyboard for an animation or video sequence that addresses safe journey ideas and options.

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About the 3 competitions

The NZTA ran three competitions in 2012  for Year 1-8 students with a theme of ‘Safer Journeys for Children'.

They were

1. Storyboard - for a movie or animation. 
2. Digital Journeys - developing an ebook. 
3. Pick-a-Path – the choices we make as we travel to or from school.
   

The competition was open to all schools with years 1-8 students. 

Each competition had 2 winners who, in addition to their NZTA prize vouchers, will receive direct in-school support to develop and refine their entry.

Each entry reflected best practices as detailed in resources on the NZTA website including:

• the Roadmap of road safety resources (PDF, 2.9MB)
  

Competition 1: Storyboard

A group of students (years 1-8) created and submitted a storyboard which would make a two minute video or animation demonstrating ideas around Safer Journeys for Children. Entry guidelines were:

• The storyboard can be submitted in any form such as drawings on paper, photos, SlideShare, Keynote, PowerPoint.
• The storyboard should provide a clear storyline. 
• It must also include a title page  and a credit page.
• Maximum length is two minutes, excluding titles and credits.

The completed storyboards were sent to NZTA for judging, in either digital or printed form.

What makes a good storyboard

The storyboard conveys the idea of safer journeys for children, especially around the theme of transport to and from school. It does this in an interesting, engaging way that grabs and holds the viewer’s attention.

The storyboard informs the viewer/reader about safe travel practice and the storyboard portrays safe ways of travel. For example, entries featuring characters riding bikes must show characters wearing appropriate safety gear and sticking to road safety rules.

The storyboard and the video/animation footage reflect the multicultural nature of New Zealand society.

There is a strong link between the words and images within each frame.

The storyboard has a gripping story that will make the reader want to read or view it to the end.

The four successful schools will then be supported to turn their storyboard into reality with the completed products being displayed on the NZTA website and promoted through a range of channels.

Here are some helpful hints on SlideShare:

• Storyboard hints and tips 2012 

Competition 2: Digital Journeys, an ebook on the theme “Safer Journeys for Children”

Read, click, listen and watch are all components of the digital book experience where the elements of a good story are enhanced by illustrations, images, audio commentary and multimedia clips. These put the e into ebooks.

Each entry needed to submit the text of the story that will make up their final product PLUS an outline of the multimedia components. Judging was based on these two aspects.

Maximum length 25 pages and no more than 10 linked media files. The text may include drawn or photographed illustrations.

Creating an ebook involves students in:

• the writing process
• developing linked images or illustrations
• recording related audio
• creating associated movies or animations
• engaging the reader
  
• producing something that can be celebrated and shared.
  

Judging included:

• The relevance of the story to the topic of safe journeys for children.
• Showing a strong relationship between the text and the proposed additional media that support, explain or add to this.
• a clear outline of the multimedia components that will be added.

Competition 3: Developing a Pick-a-Path for the theme “Safer Journeys for Children”

This Pick-A-Path process enabled children to discuss and describe the impact of decisions as they think through their way to school.

Teachers supported their class in developing the twists and turns that result in expected and unexpected paths. Along the way children:

• dabble in the planning process
• examine writing, editing and authoring
• explore mind maps and sequencing
• build collaborative sections.

The final entry put forward for judging included the completed story line and the hyperlinked choices that are made. It may have included drawn or photographed illustrations.

Advice included: 

Stories can be developed separately (from a clear plan, of course) in applications such as Keynote or PowerPoint and then merged into one file. You would then order the story according to the plan and insert appropriate links.

Think about the use of navigation buttons to ensure choices can be revisited and different opportunities explored.

Here are useful hints on SlideShare:

• NZTA Pick-a-path hints and tips
  

Have a look at these examples of pick-a-path stories:

• http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/hippohelper/integrated/pap_galaxy/index.html
• http://fantasticfairytales.wikispaces.com/

There are online resources exploring structure and content options for branching stories. Try these:

• Pick-a-path on TKI for instructions and samples.

• http://tewaihoracluster.wikispaces.com/file/view/Pick-a-path+(Mac)+notes.pdf

• http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/hippohelper/pdfs/pickApath.pdf

• http://centre4.core-ed.net/viewfile.php/users/10/1965015605/Pick_a_path_instructions.pdf

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Terms and Conditions NZTA_Primary

References, resources and tools

Here are a few ideas which supported the NZTA Primary Years competition.

Mind mapping

Try mind mapping to plan, link and sequence. There are a wide range of options in this area. A few are noted here.

Online
A new application on the block is Spiderscribe. It allows an online collection of text, images, linked documents, URLs and maps.

• Spiderscribe
  

Computer based

• Freemind is a free, powerful computer based option.

Inspiration is another excellent application that some schools might have – not free.

Tablet based

• Simplemind It also links to a desktop application – cross platform.

Non digital – and very cheap!
Large sheets of paper are excellent for planning, recording and tracking in ways that all can see progress.

NZTA hints and tips SlideShares

• http://www.slideshare.net/nztaeducation/storyboard-hints-and-tips2012

• http://www.slideshare.net/nztaeducation/pick-apath-hints-and-tips

NZTA online resources

You can find ideas on safe travel practice from the following resources.

• Roadmap of Road Safety Resources (PDF, 2.9MB)
• Bikewise website
• Info Sheets. These printable posters have safety tips for walking, riding, rail and being a passenger.
• Point of view videos. These help students identify hazards and discuss safe practices.
• More safety resources. Extensive range from bus safety to skateboarding skills.
  

More SlideShares

• http://www.slideshare.net/feetfirst

• http://www.slideshare.net/feetfirst/nzta-skateboarding-skills-2011

• http://www.slideshare.net/feetfirst/safe-system-from-nzta-for-schools

Webcams

• Live trafffic webcams from the highway network.
  

Creative Commons Resources

Creative Commons provides a range of copyright licences, freely available to the public, which allow those creating intellectual property – including authors, artists, educators and scientists – to mark their work with the freedoms they want it to carry. Creative Commons allows content creators to give explicit permission for use and reuse of their work.

To find out more about how CC licensing works visit:

• Creative Commons Aotearoa NewZealand 

Or watch this video:

• Creative Commons Kiwi 

There are a number of sites that allow you to search Creative Commons licensed content. Here are a few you can use to look for CC images, video and music.

Images

• Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons

• Google images - http://images.google.com/advanced_image_search

Video

• YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/editor (select the CC tab)

• FedFlix - http://www.archive.org/details/FedFlix

Music

• Jamendo - http://www.jamendo.com

• CcMixter - http://ccmixter.org

Mixedmedia

• Spin Express http://www.spinxpress.com/getmedia

• Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org

• Digital NZ http://digitalnz.org (select the Open Filters tab)
  

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Terms and Conditions NZTA_Primary

2011 winners

Terms and Conditions NZTA_Primary

Judging criteria

The competitions were judged by a panel of experts.

The judges selected the winning entries based on the following criteria:

• The entry conveys the idea of safer journeys for children (with a transport theme) in an interesting, engaging way that grabs and holds the viewer’s attention.
  
• The entry informs the viewer/reader about safe travel practice (there are no catastrophes) and the entry portrays safe ways of travel. For example, entries featuring characters riding bikes must show characters wearing appropriate safety gear and sticking to road safety rules. 
  
• The entry reflects the multicultural nature of New Zealand society. 
  
• There is a strong link between the text or voice or sound and images /animation.
  
• The entry has a gripping story that will make the reader want to read or view it to the end.

Prizes

Storyboard to Movie Competition (two winners and two runners up)

Winners (2)

• Four days of in-school professional development with Stuart Hale and Innes Kennard to turn their storyboard into reality with the completed movies /animations online.
• Plus each winner will receive $3000 of vouchers of the school's choice.
  

Runners Up (2)

• Two days professional in-school professional development with either Stuart Hale or Innes Kennard to turn their storyboard into reality with the completed movies/animations online.
• Plus each runner up will receive $2000 of vouchers of the school's choice.
  

Digital Journey (two winners)

• Each winner will receive in-school support and professional development from either Stuart Hale or Innes Kennard for up to four days.
• Each winner will also receive $3000 of vouchers of the school's choice.
  

Pick-a-Path (two winners)

• Each winner will receive $3000 of vouchers of the school's choice.
• Each winner will receive in-school support and professional development from either Stuart Hale or Innes Kennard for up to four days.
  

All entries for the three competitions will then be put into a draw to win one of 10 $1000 vouchers of the school’s choice.

Each school can enter as many times as they choose, with different entries. Schools are encouraged to submit entries in all three creative categories.

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Terms and Conditions NZTA_Primary

FAQs

When can we start creating entries?

Entries have now closed for the 2012 NZTA Primary Years competition.

Can any school enter the competition?

Yes, all New Zealand schools with Years 1-8 students were able to enter the primary years competitions. Judging will take age into account when deciding on winning entries.

Where can I find content to include, and what tools can I use?

There is a list of NZTA and related online resources, as well as guides to possible applications on this website.

Who is judging the competition?

The judging panel were selected for their expertise in relation to the criteria for each competition. They included NZTA representatives, teachers, external members with specific expertise and a member of the delivery team.

When do competition entries open and close?

The competition closed at 9 pm on July 27th 2012.

Winning schools were notified in mid August.

How can schools enter?

Schools will be able to enter using a downloadable form from the NZTA website. These forms will be available by June 2012 and the entries must be entered by a teacher from the school and signed by the principal of the school.

Entry forms should accompany the files relevant to the competition being entered.

Who owns the copyright of entries?

Copyright remains the property of the school that enters.

Can I use photographs in my entry.

Yes, however a signed clearance (available from NZTA) must be obtained from all individuals in the photograph.

What about sound tracks?

All sound tracks should either be copyright-free music or the students’ own creations. Origin of music tracks should be referenced in the entry form.

How can I contact the organisers?

If you would like to contact the NZTA's education team with any further questions please email safeschooltravel@nzta.govt.nz

What might my digital journey entry look like?

While not wanting to get in the road of children's creativity the final entry could be a story that clearly details a child's (real or imaginary) journey to or from school.

It could be made up of a sequence of pages detailing events of the journey and would be illustrated by photos and drawings.

At key points additional media could be inserted that could add information, provide a commentary, reflect on what has just happened.

In the final process the media would be blended into the story to provide to provide a rich interactive story where the reader can read, look and listen to the different components as they story progresses.

Check out the description, judging criteria and tips for more information.

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Terms and Conditions NZTA_Primary