Rethinking Civic Engagement with Tech Innovation

Earns

+400 Points

Get ready for some political fireworks with the presidential election just around the corner! This Challenge is all about how technology can be used to light up the world of civic engagement. Election season can be a polarizing time, for example: left vs right; Democrats vs Republicans; young voters vs older voters. But, does it need to be? How can technology be used to foster healthy dialogue and engage in political action? Get those creative juices flowing, as you brainstorm out-of-the-box ideas for products, businesses, and marketing campaigns that use emerging technologies to transform youth civic engagement. Pitch your idea to Lenovo with a 3-5 minute video and win big $$$!

In this Challenge, you’ll address the question: How can we leverage emerging technologies to help more young people get involved in civic life (e.g. vote, run for office, etc)?

Note: This Challenge is still available to earn points!! The prize money was awarded to past winners.

Earn Points!
lenovo civic challenge image
Lenovo Logo - Red

Skills you'll develop

  • Problem Solving
  • Communication
  • Social Awareness
pitch graphic

Pitch

You’ve done it! You've created your solution, gotten feedback, iterated, and are ready to impress the world. You're almost done! In this step, you'll prepare your 3-5 minute video that showcases your idea. Be sure to review the Final Pitch Score Sheet and:

  • Plan (storyboard) your video

  • Practice before recording

  • Record using Zoom, Canva, Screencastify, YouTube, or any tool of your choice

  • Share with the judges

Understand the Pitch Phase

⏱️Time: 3-4 Hours (Week 4)

✏️Use the optional KNOtebook to help you plan

💼 Mentor: Get feedback from a mentor on your video

🎯 Future Ready Skills: Communication

3 choices

Three Approaches: Your Choice

One important part of The KnoPro Challenges is choosing the type of solution for your idea and ultimately creating a video pitch. You have three choices: a new product idea, a business concept, OR a marketing campaign. Check out some examples from other Challenges:

A Product Idea

A Unique Business

A Marketing Campaign

You can also get inspiration from all the winners.

Step 1: See Examples & Get Ideas

A “Pitch” is telling a story in a way that others can grasp. Good pitches have some commonalities. See some examples.

Pitch Characteristics

Select each tab to watch the videos to get ideas about the characteristics of a pitch. And, remember, it’s not about how the pitch looks, it’s about what it says!
microdrone2

A Hook

A hook is something that grabs the viewer’s attention right away. It should inspire the viewers’ curiosity and their desire to continue watching the video. This could be a story, words on the screen, images, etc.

See how the Micro Drone 2.0 video uses a hook.

thermometer (1)

What? Who? Why? How?

A pitch video includes (may not be in this order):

  1. What it is: A clear explanation of the product, service, business, campaign

  2. Who: Who are the users, audience, etc.

  3. Why: Why did they create this? What are the benefits?

  4. How: How does it work and how do the features support the benefit?

See how the Smart Thermometer video addresses the What, Who, Why, and How of the product.

teachwell (1)

A Story

Stories get people excited and motivated, by touching people’s emotions and helping them to start seeing and believing what you want them to. If you tell your story well, it will stick; people will remember and share it. Stories can be powerful. The most challenging part of creating a pitch video is coming up with a story that clearly explains the value of your idea while enticing the viewers. 


See how the TeachWell video uses storytelling.

Empowerment (fixed)

Personal

People get excited about new ideas when they can connect to the creators behind it. When creating your video pitch, be sure to:

  1. Speak directly to the camera, as if you are speaking directly to the audience. You can do this, even without showing your face.

  2. Be honest - don’t misrepresent yourself or your ideas

  3. Show your passion - If you believe in something, others are more likely to believe in it too!

See how this Instagram video appeals to people’s emotions.

furbo (1)

Sound & Visuals

After all this work, you want to be heard! Make sure to record in a quiet space and use clear and loud voices. You may wish to use music if it enhances your story. Photos, graphics, video, and drawings are almost as important as the spoken words. Some people will pay more attention to what they see than what they hear. 

See how the Furbo video uses sound and visuals.

Pitch Style

The most challenging part of the video is coming up with a story that clearly explains the value of your idea while enticing viewers. 

As you plan your video for your product idea, business concept, or marketing campaign, think about the tone of your solution. Is your solution happy and bubbly? Is it smart? Is it serious and beautiful? Consider your target users and their everyday lives. What tone would capture them? Watch some videos to see pitch styles with different tones.

A Day in the Life (2:34)







Voiceover (1:07)




Design Story (2:08)




Problem and Solution (3:37)

Step 2: Plan Your Video

Compile all your notes and prototypes to plan your video. You may want to create a storyboard (make a copy of this) or script. Remember to refer to the Final Pitch Checklist for your 3-5 minute pitch.

Video Guidelines

Use the following criteria, from the Judging Score Sheet, to guide your scripting of the pitch. Select each tab to learn more about the criteria.
Purpose

Purpose

When you plan your video, consider:

  • What is the problem you are addressing?

  • Why does the issue matter?

  • Why should people care about the issue?

  • How does your idea address the problem and the group it serves?

KnoPro R

Results

When you plan your video, make sure it's clear:

  • How your idea will have an impact

  • How your product, business, or campaign will work

  • How the results from testing and feedback guide your idea

KnoPro O

Originality

Not only should your idea be unique, but it's even better if the presentation of your idea is creative. Maybe, it's:

  • A skit that shows your product, business concept, or campaign

  • A day in a customer's life

  • Interviews with users

  • A music video

  • Voiceover with slides in the background

Make your idea stand out!

Step 3: Rehearse and Record

You now have a script or storyboard, be sure to practice your video before recording. Then, record!

Free Video Creation Tools (in addition to YouTube)

Get Feedback from a Mentor

mentor feedback

Mentor Moment: Share Your Pitch

Get feedback from a mentor, who may be judging your project! Share your script, storyboard, or your final pitch video. Consider the feedback you'd like from a mentor. Remember to refer to the KnoPro Pitch Checklist in requesting feedback.

Share your pitch with a mentor and get professional feedback before you submit it!

Step 4: Submit Your Video

Are you ready to submit your final 3-5 minute video to the KnoPro judges?

Ready to Submit Your Pitch?

Check if you're ready to submit your video pitch. If so great work! The judges are standing by to review your video! Flip each card to see if you're ready to submit.

KnoPro PRO

PRO Criteria

PRO Criteria

Does your pitch meet the PRO criteria? Purpose: Clearly shows the problem you addressing and why it's important; Results: Shows how your idea will have an impact; and, Originality: Unique idea and it is presented creatively.
Rehearse

Rehearse & Feedback

Rehearse & Feedback

Did you rehearse your video and get feedback? Did you improve it based on the feedback?
Test

Test

Test

Did you test the video so that it can be viewed by anyone? You can open an incognito / private browser to test this. Make sure your video is 3-5 minutes.
submit project

Submit Your Video!!!

Submit your 3-5 minute pitch link in your project area. Be sure to test that your video link can be viewed by anyone on the Internet. You can open an incognito / private browser to test this. Watch a video to see how to do this.

Only one student needs to submit the link to the video, but every other student (if part of a group) needs to also click “Submit Finished Project” on their student dashboard and complete a short reflection survey before the project will be officially submitted.

Note: If you've had problems joining a group for the project, add the names of the students who worked on the project in the comments area below the link to the video.