Important Announcement:
Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, CIE/USA-DFW has decided to CANCEL SECC for the safety of all contestants, judges, volunteers, and their families. Please email cie-secc@cie-dfw.org if there are any questions, and thank you for your understanding in this matter. We hope to see you all next year!

2020 SECC:

Interested in exploring the basic concepts of Math and Physics through a DIY project and playing a “Catapult Game”? Or a STEM coding project on school calculator to program TI Rover-robot for a prediction race? Or design and 3D-print an object using free-access software “Altair365” to explore the concepts of Math and Physics? Or hear STEM professionals on cool STEM topics? If you are, register to attend DFW 2020 SECC for a tons of STEM experience and fun! Scroll down to see event details.

SECC Program is designed for grades K to 12th to inspire students’ interest in STEM through hands-on & creativity projects, recognition, real world challenges, and interaction with industry. This is a STEM event that supports the National Discover-E Engineers Week. SECC consists of three programs: Free hands-on workshops (pre-competition), Competition, and STEM Seminars & Fun.

Eligibility & Divisions:

For SECC Competitions:
Students currently enrolled in grades K to 12th in fall 2019. Three divisions as listed below.
For STEM Seminars & Free Workshops:
Students in grades K to 12th and parents are welcome !!

Division-B:
“Rover-robot Prediction Race” — Grades 6th to 8th (middle-school). See bottom for project details.

SECC Awards:

Competition winners on 3/28/2020 will receive following cash awards.
Division-B (6-8th):    1st place: $350     2nd place: $300     3rd place: $250

* The winners of each division will also receive a trophy at the event award ceremony, presented by corporate sponsors. Award recipients will also be recognized at CIE website and eNewsletter, local news media, and showcased in CIE Annual Convention in August.

Registration & Fees:

For Workshops on 1:30PM-4:30PM on SUN 12/15/2019 and 1/26/2020: FREE
For Competition on SAT 3/28/2020:
— Division-A: $25 per team whose parent is CIE or SHPE member; $35 per team for others
— Division-B & C: $30 per team whose parent is CIE or SHPE member; $40 per team for others
— Accept both individual and team registration.
— Students are encouraged to form a team to learn team work and share responsibility & cost.
For STEM Seminars on SAT 3/28/2020: FREE
— STEM education, fun, and projects
— Prize drawing : TI Calculator for high-school, TI-Innovator Hub, and more.
To become a CIE member, visit http://www.cie-dfw.org/members/memberinformation.php

Tool Kits and Costs:

Division-B (6-8th): The Rover-robot Prediction Race
o  One TI-Nspire or TI-84CE calculator, $120~$140.
— Students can use own school calculator with matched model.
— These calculators are commonly used in high-school.
— CIE does not reimburse this item.
o  One TI-Innovator Rover, $130~$150.
— CIE will reimburse $70 to each team attended the competition (purchase receipts required).
o  One TI-Innovator Hub, $60~$70.
— CIE will reimburse $35 to each team attended the competition (purchase receipts required).
— Students attended 2019 SECC can reuse the same TI-Innovator Hub.
o  TI-Innovator Rover and TI-Innovator Hub IS available for loan
— TI-Innovator Rover and Hub both must be returned to CIE/USA-DFW after the competition.
— Email cie-secc@cie-dfw.org for more information if interested. Please title subject line as “SECC
Division B Rover and Hub Loan”.
o  Each team IS required to turn-in a project poster that shows the logic flow chart of how Rover races.
— Poster: 36” (height) x 48” (width) white tri-fold corrugate project display board.
o  Oral presentation IS NOT required.
o  Scroll down to see project details.

Project Details:

Tournament Rules:

o Each team is required to turn-in a poster that shows the logic flow chart of how Rover races.
o Each team gets a maximum of 3 chances till successfully finishing the race.
o Rovers should run the whole race by itself except for the green line portion.

Designs will be judged based on the following guidelines and order of importance:
1. Team that finishes the race with a time as close as the target.
2. Team that finishes the race.
3. Program and execution robustness (minimum # of trial till success).
4. Code efficiency.

Resources:

Students are encouraged to search for resources on-line. Here are some URL links for reference.
TI-Innovator Rover
Youtube Video
Projec