NETA 2023 Spring Contests

Written by Shelly Mowinkel

Every project has a story. Are you looking for a great way to showcase your students’ stories? Consider entering a spring NETA contest! 

We encourage you to hone in on your creative ideas and help your students share their stories! First-place winners in each category and age division will receive a non-transferable complimentary NETA 2023 Spring Conference registration. 

The student contest will be open to all Midwestern K-12 students. All K-12 student entries must include the principal’s consent and contact information. Each teacher may submit a maximum of 3 student entries per contest category, eg. 3 student entries to the video contest for the 6-8 grade division. A maximum of 5 minutes will be allocated to judge each entry.

Below is information regarding the spring contests:

Four Contest Categories

• Still Images/Photography:  This category allows students to showcase their work in the area of still images. Students will submit completed products such as digital images, photographs, infographics, logos, and graphic designs that were created as part of a classroom project.
• Video: This category allows students to showcase their work in the area of video. Students may submit completed non-interactive video projects. Examples of projects that could fall into this category include but are not limited to: newscasts, movies, video podcasts, and animations. 
• Audio/Podcast: This category allows students to showcase their work in the area of audio. Students will submit completed audio products such as podcasts, radio shows, and original music/poetry. 
• Coding/Gaming: This category allows students to showcase their work in the area of coding and gaming. These projects could be apps that have been coded/designed by the student, or a game that can be interacted with/played that was designed and created by the student. Students will submit completed coding projects such as websites created by the student, apps developed by the student, games designed by the student, and more. 

Contest Age Divisions

K-5 Grades
6-8 Grades
9-12 Grades

To be eligible for judging, each student contest entry must:

• Connect to Nebraska Curriculum Standards (includes NCE standards)
• Follow educational fair use copyright guidelines
• Demonstrate creativity and original thought
• Be completely produced by entering student

Judging and Awards

Contest entries will be judged on criteria that include connection to curriculum, originality, creativity, quality of product, and innovative use of technology. This rubric will be used by the judging panel. One award per category per age division will be given. The winning teachers along with their students are strongly encouraged to present their work at the 2024 NETA Spring Conference about their project and to be recognized for their achievement. 

• 1st Place Winners in each category and grade level band will receive a non-transferable, complimentary NETA 2023 Spring Conference registration and the teacher’s school district will be reimbursed the actual cost for the substitutes for both days.
• All entrants should refer to the NETA website (http://netasite.org) on or after February 3, 2023, for contest results. We request that teacher entrants not register for the conference until the winners are announced. Application materials will not be returned to entrants.
• All submitted projects may be distributed freely by NETA under a Creative Commons license. Educators submitting entries need to follow all of their district’s policies regarding the distribution of student work. The online submission form must be completed in full.
• Student winner certificates will be mailed out to the school address provided on the entry form.
• All entries must be submitted online. Any accompanying documents must be submitted digitally as well. Please ensure that all sharing privileges are such that the entries will be able to be viewed by the judging panel. 

Now it is up to you, do you want to share your students’ stories? Contests open on November 18, 2022, and close on January 19, 2023.