Presentations

The Makeathon works towards its final moment when the students come together to present their group projects to each other and, if possible, to an external audience. That audience may include teachers, parents or other interested stakeholders. An important consideration is that the students are encouraged both to explain their project and demonstrate it in action.

Having students present their work provides them with a target and encourages them to make something that is both ambitious and presentable. We do not grade the students’ work or assign a pass/fail result. The presentation is simply the opportunity for the students to use their prototype to communicate their idea: the problem they have identified and their proposed solution.

Some students may wish to create a PowerPoint presentation that supports their demonstration. This is perfectly acceptable (assuming the presentation technology is available), but it should not be a requirement.

Some important considerations:

1. Set clear expectations: Before the Makeathon begins, make sure that all students understand what will be expected of them during the final presentations. Provide guidelines for the format, length, and content of their presentations. Encourage them to be creative and to showcase their projects in the best possible way.

2. Create a schedule: Set up a schedule for the presentations, allowing each group enough time to present their project and answer questions from the audience. Make sure that the schedule is realistic and allows for breaks between presentations.

3. Provide necessary equipment: Make sure that all necessary equipment and technology is available for the students to use during their presentations. This may include tables or floor space for robots to navigate, laptop computers, projectors, microphones, and other audiovisual equipment. It helps to test all of the equipment beforehand to avoid any technical difficulties.

4. Encourage engagement: Encourage the audience to ask questions and provide feedback to the presenters. This will help the students to understand what worked well and what could be improved in their projects.

5. Celebrate success: Celebrate the hard work and creativity of the students by highlighting their achievements and acknowledging their successes. You might even award prizes, but it is a good idea to have all groups receive them. The Makeathon is not a competition and prizes are to recognise progress and success for each group - not to declare one project better than the others. Celebrating every group’s success will help boost confidence and inspire them to continue to pursue their passions and interests.

By keeping these considerations in mind, you can help to ensure that the student group presentations at the end of your Makeathon are engaging, informative, and enjoyable for everyone involved.