Competitions.

TSA offers a wide variety of competitive events for every interest.
From animation to STEM careers, and from music production to photographic technology, TSA allows anyone to compete in their own interest.

TSA Offers the following Competitions:
​

Animatronics

Participants (one [1] team per chapter) demonstrate knowledge of mechanical and control systems by designing, fabricating, and controlling an animatronics device that will communicate, entertain, inform, demonstrate and/or illustrate a topic, idea, subject, or concept. Sound, lights, and a surrounding environment must accompany the device.

Architectural Renovation

Participants (one [1] team, or one [1] individual, per chapter) develop a set of architectural plans and related materials for an annual architectural design challenge and construct a physical, as well as a computer-generated model, to accurately depict their design.

Biotechnology Design

Participants select a contemporary biotechnology problem (that relates to the current year’s published topic) and demonstrate understanding of it through documented research, the development of a solution, a display, and an effective multimedia presentation.

Career Preparation

Students will pick a career and charter that to use
​within a TSA chosen event. ​

Chapter Team

Participants take a written parliamentary procedures
test in order to qualify for the semifinals, in which
they complete an opening ceremony, items of business,
parliamentary actions, and a closing ceremony within
​a specified time period.

Children's Stories

Participants create an illustrated children's story
of high artistic, instructional, and social value. The
narrative may be written in prose or poetry and take
the form of a fable, adventure story, or other structure.

Computer Aided Design 2D, Architecture

Computer Aided Design 3D, Engineering

Debating Technological Issues
Participants use complex computer graphic skills, tools,
and processes to develop representations of architectural
subjects, such as foundation and/or floor plans, and/or
elevation drawings, and/or details of architectural
​ornamentation or cabinetry.
Participants use complex computer graphic skills,
tools, and processes to develop three-dimensional
representations of engineering subjects such as a
machine part, tool, device, or manufactured product.
Participants work together to prepare for a debate
against a team from another chapter. The teams
will be instructed to take either the Pro or Con side
​of a selected subtopic.

Digital Video Production

Participants (three [3] teams per state; an individual
may participate solo in this team event) develop a
public service announcement and a digital video
​(with sound) that focuses on the given year’s theme.

Dragster Design

Participants design, produce a working drawing for,
​and build a CO2-powered dragster.

Engineering Design

Participants develop a solution to a National
Academy of Engineering grand challenge that is
posted on the national TSA website. The solution
offered will be informed and designed by precise
problem definition, thorough research, creativity,
experimentation. Semifinalist teams present and
​defend their proposed solution to a panel of judges.

Essay on Technology

Participants (three [3] individuals per state) write
a research-based essay (using two or more sources
provided on-site) that makes insightful connections
​about a current technological topic.

Extemporaneous Speech

Participants (three [3] individuals per state) verbally
communicate their knowledge of technology or TSA
subjects by giving a speech after having drawn a
​card on which a technology or TSA topic is written.

Fashion Design

Participants research, design, and create a portfolio
and wearable prototype that reflect the current
​year’s theme. Semifinalist teams participate in a
presentation/interview in which they present their
​garment designs to judges.

Flight Endurance

Participants (two [2] individuals per chapter; one
[1] entry per individual) analyze flight principles
​with a rubber band-powered model aircraft.

Future Technology Teacher

Participants (two [2] individuals per chapter)
investigate technology education preparation
programs in higher education and test their
​potential as a future technology educator

Music Production

Participants (three [3] teams per state; an individual
may participate solo in this team event) produce an
original musical piece that is designed to be played
during the National TSA Conference opening or
​closing general sessions.

On Demand Video ​

Photographic Technology

Prepared Presentation
Participants (one [1] team of two to six [2-6]
members per chapter) write, shoot, and edit a
​60–second video onsite during the conference
Participants (one [1] individual per chapter) demonstrate
understanding of and expertise in using photographic
and imaging technology processes to convey a message
based on a theme. Semifinalists record images and then
utilize graphic editing software to prepare a single final
​image as a solution to an onsite prompt.
Participants (three [3] individuals per state) deliver an
oral presentation, using a digital slide deck, on a topic
​provided onsite.

Promotional Graphics

Participants (three [3] individuals per state) use
computerized graphic communications layout and
design skills in the production of a promotional
​resource for TSA.

SciVis

​Participants (three [3] teams per state; an individual
may participate solo in this team event) use either 2D
or 3D computer graphics tools and design processes
to communicate, inform, analyze, and/or illustrate a
​STEM topic, idea, subject, or concept.

Software Development

Participants (one [1] team per chapter) use knowledge
of cutting-edge technologies, algorithm design,
problem-solving principles, effective communication,
and collaborative teamwork to design, implement, test,
and document a software development project of
​educational or social value.

Structural Design & Engineering

Participants (one [1] team of two [2] members per
chapter) work as a team to build a designated structure
that is posted on the TSA website. Teams apply the
principles of structural design and engineering through
research, design, construction, destructive testing, and
assessment to determine the design efficiency of the
​structure.

System Control Technology

Participants (one [1] team of three [3] members per state)
work on site to develop a computer-controlled
model-solution to a problem, typically one from an
industrial setting. Teams analyze the problem, build a
computer-controlled mechanical model, program the
model, explain the program and mechanical features of the
model-solution, and write instructions for evaluators to
​operate the device.

Technology Bowl

Participants (one [1] team of three [3] members per chapter)
demonstrate their knowledge of TSA and concepts addressed
in the technology content standards by completing a written,
objective test; semifinalist teams participate in
​question/response, head to head team competition.

Technology Problem Solving

Transportation Modeling

Video Game Design
Participants (one [1] team of two [2] members per chapter)
use their skills in problem solving to develop a finite
​solution to a problem provided on site.

Webmaster

Participants (three [3] teams per state) develop a
game that focuses on the subject of their choice.
The game must have high artistic, educational, and
social value and be interesting, exciting, visually
​appealing, and intellectually challenging.
Participants (one [1] individual per chapter) research,
design, and produce a scale model of a vehicle that
​fits the annual design problem.
Participants (three [3] teams per state) develop a
game that focuses on the subject of their choice.
The game must have high artistic, educational, and
social value and be interesting, exciting, visually
​appealing, and intellectually challenging.