What is the Toshiba Multimedia Christmas Card Project ?

The Toshiba Multimedia Christmas Card / Season's Greetings Project is a project in which students develop a multimedia Christmas card or Season's Greetings card and display it on the World Wide Web. All entries are encouraged, from those containing still graphics to those containing a number of multimedia elements such as image, sound, music, video, animation and interactivity. All entries must convey a Christmas or Season's Greetings feel.
Students can combine their creative talents and knowledge of various software tools to create an interesting and eye catching Multimedia Christmas Card.
All entries will be displayed on the web at the close of the project. Participants will be asked to critique one other entry so that all participants receive useful feedback and ideas from their peers.
Any aspect of Christmas can be used as inspiration for the project, from Christmas Trees to the concept of giving. Aural and visual effects eg ringing bells or twinkling stars can be employed to create a Christmas feel. Have fun!

Who Can Be Involved?

Individual students or groups of students who have been registered by their school can be involved in the project.
The project will be run in two categories:

1 Still graphics - for any students who are interested in publishing their work online. HTML experience not necessary. Can incorporate the use of sounds, marquees etc
2 Animated graphics - Suited to Computing Studies, Design and Technology, Media and Visual Arts students, and other students who have a particular interest in HTML and online publishing.

How does this Project fit in the Curriculum?

Category 1 Still Graphics

Primary students who are studying cross curricula themes relating to Christmas, Media, Publishing.
Secondary English students who are developing the verse or message within a card.
Design and Technology students who have a design brief relating to the conveying of a traditional Christmas message in a new medium.

Category 2 Animated Graphics

Primary - as part of the Science and Technology syllabus "Still and Moving Pictures" section.
Computing Studies - a project for the Graphics and Images section of the syllabus
Design and Technology - develop a design brief based on this project for the Information and Communication context areas.
Visual Arts - a project for graphic design or animation students.

Guidelines/Rules

• All work in the design and construction of the Multimedia Christmas/ Season's Greetings Card must be that of the student/ students registered in the project.
• A teacher must register the student's entry in the project and provide a school or teacher's email address. A mailing list will be set up so that teachers can contact each other for help and ideas.
• The completed Multimedia Christmas Card must include a button (link) to a Narrative Page which records the learning experience. It is anticipated that other schools will be able to learn and gather fresh ideas through browsing entries and their accompanying Narrative Pages. The Narrative Page should be jointly constructed by the teacher and student(s) and may include headings such as:
  - The Process
  - The Tools I Used
  - Things I Learnt
  - About the Theme/Message of My Card
• The completed Multimedia Christmas Card must include a URL link back to this project site at the bottom of the Christmas Card.
• The completed Multimedia Christmas Card must be available for viewing on the school's web page for at least 3 weeks from the close of the project. The URLs submitted at the time entries are submitted will be provided on this site as a gallery listing at the close of the project to allow viewing of entries.
• Each entrant will critique someone else's entry at the close of the project, using the judging criteria supplied, and supply written comments and suggestions via email.
• It is a condition of entry that Toshiba reserve the right to the use of the winning entry in any promotional material.

Prizes

Software prizes and award certificates will be awarded.

How to Participate

1. Seek permission from your school.
2. Ask a teacher to complete the online registration form and join the teachers' mailing list.
3. Develop your Multimedia Christmas Card. Include a link back to this site and a link to your Narrative Page.
4. Put the Multimedia Christmas Card onto your school's web site.*
5. Email the project coordinator to notify that your entry is on the web. Include your entry's URL so the project coordinator can include your entry in the gallery.
6. Browse other entries.
7. Critique another entry - email ideas, suggestions, criticisms to that school. (You will be notified which entry you are to critique.)
8. Check the Awards Page!

* If your school does not have a web site and you want to participate we can provide a temporary one for you.! Email the project coordinator for details.

Timeline For Participants

Plase note the revised Timeline.

Registrations close	Friday 1st November 5 pm
Entries close	Friday 29th November 5 pm
Judging	2nd - 6th December
View Entries	2nd December - 20th December
Results announced	Monday 9th December

Judging Criteria

The following criteria will be considered in the judging of the entries:

Design

Effectiveness of the design.
Use of elements such as colour, text, image.
Christmas message.
Appropriate language.

Multimedia Elements

The use and quality of elements such as:
Images
Animation
Audio/Sounds
Active X, Java, downloads
Video
Text

HTML (Web Page Design)

Speed of download
Use of Internet resources
Browser support

Interactivity

Interaction with the user
Open endedness
Ease of use
Maximum appeal
Logical pathing

Online Support

If you have further questions about the competition please email the project coordinator.

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