Keeping a Record
Working on a TeenTech project provides valuable experiences and the opportunity to develop transferable skills. Keep a record of everything you’ve learned so you can evidence this when applying for internships, apprenticeships or university places. It’s a powerful way to help you stand out from the crowd. You can draw on the skills you learned from TeenTech and other experiences to showcase your unique talents and abilities.
When writing these things down, you don’t need long explanations. Use bullet points you understand and can expand on if asked in interviews or applications.
If you showcase your project, this document will help support your presentation and provide talking points.
Include a short summary of your project and when you worked on it.
Record the feedback you received from virtual judges and anyone who saw your project.
We’ve put together suggestions for how you might record this. You can download a copy of this for your own use here.
Technical Skills
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Digital Skills
Did you develop or experiment with new technical skills? New software tools, AI, coding, different platforms, social media.
Research Skills
How did you go about researching? How did your research enhance your project? Did you consult potential end users of your idea? Were you able to review similar ideas and show why your approach was different and more valuable?
Design/Presentation Skills
How did you decide to organise and present your project? Did you choose a presentation deck or a report?
Data Skills
What methods did you use to gather data? Did you use Primary data (data you collected yourself from surveys/interviews) or Secondary data (existing data set). How did you avoid bias?
Personal Skills
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Creativity
How did you begin your ideation process? Where did you get your ideas? How did you adapt your project to your funds and access? What solutions did you come up with to solve your problems? Did you build a model, if so what inventive methods did you use?
Teamwork
If there was a disagreement that you and your team had and how you resolved it, how you divided the workload, were there times when you had to accommodate others in your team?
Critical Thinking
Did your research show expected results and how did you use the results to support your argument? Did you have to challenge popular assumptions? Did you consider both sides of the argument? How did you remove bias from your research?
Tenacity and Adaptability
Sometimes things don’t go according to plan. What challenges did you face? How did you work through them? Did you ever feel like quitting? Did you adjust your project based on new info or unexpected challenges? Maybe you had to manage without all the original team members? Or make compromises to meet deadlines.
Collaboration with Industry
Did you talk to experts? Did you adapt your project after hearing their advice? This shows how you consider and take feedback.
Communication
A key part of teamwork. Were there times that you and your team/anyone you worked with misunderstood each other or disagreed? Did you have to adapt to different means of communication, such as online, in person, talking or writing?
Ethical Thinking
Did you consider the impact of your idea on people and the planet? Did you think about making your product accessible to everyone? This can show a critical, open and considerate mindset that people want in their workplace.
Presentation/Public Speaking
Did you give presentations about your project to people in the industry, your friends, classmates, teachers, or judges? Did these experiences improve your confidence?
Working to a Deadline/Time Management
Did you have to prioritise some aspects of your project instead of others? How did you manage the pressure and stress, if you felt any, and how did you juggle school/exams and your project?
Designing Your Stand and Presentation to Judges
How did you design your stand to attract the attention of judges, VIPS and other students at the final showcase? Did you use any marketing skills?
Initiative
Did you step out of your comfort zone to try something new? Did you challenge yourself to adapt and grow? Did you hold yourself to a timeline?
Leadership
If working in a group, did you take responsibility for organising tasks, guiding your team, or supporting others? Did you motivate your teammates?