BDPA seeks to have 20 high school students and 20 college students in the 2011 BDPA IT Showcase to be held in Chicago later this year. This is the 16-page IT Showcase Guide that answers all of the questions about the event.
Version 1.0, Issued 1/27/11
2. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
Table of Contents
About Black Data Processing Associates............................................................................. 2
About National IT Showcase ............................................................................................... 3
Overview of National BDPA IT Showcase Conference ........................................................ 4
Call for Participation ........................................................................................................... 5
Participant Registration ...................................................................................................... 7
IT Showcase Requirements ................................................................................................. 8
IT Showcase Suggested Technologies/Subject Areas ......................................................... 9
IT Showcase Writing Style Guidelines ............................................................................... 10
IT Showcase Content Delivery .......................................................................................... 12
IT Showcase Conference Program Schedule .................................................................... 13
IT Showcase Prep Time line - Milestones .......................................................................... 14
Local IT Showcase Coordinator Role ................................................................................. 15
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3. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
About Black Data Processing Associates
BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates) was founded in 1975 by Earl A. Pace, Jr. and the
late David Wimberly after the two met in Philadelphia to discuss their concerns about
minorities in the data processing field. There was a lack of minorities in middle and
upper management, low recruitment and poor preparation of minorities for these
positions, and an overall lack of career mobility.
Through ceaseless drive and personal networking, the founders built an organization of
35 members, hosted presentations to improve data processing skills and launched a job
opportunities announcement service. This nucleus has grown to over 55 chapters
throughout the United States and thousands of members.
Today, BDPA is a global member focused organization that serves the professional well-
being of its stakeholders. BDPA remains committed to excellence and providing a wide
spectrum of resources to members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational
institutions and the community. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth
and technical development for those in the IT industry.
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4. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
About National IT Showcase
BDPA IT SHOWCASE
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – August 3-5, 2011
The BDPA IT Showcase is an advanced technology forum where High “Attendees will be
School and College students from across the nation demonstrate amazed at the
their research and theories in the fields of information technology. thoroughness of the
Papers will be published in the IT Show Proceedings research and the
advanced topics
The projects will focus on various “advanced thought” topics presented at the IT
including; intelligent technologies (i.e., robotics, machine learning, Showcase. The IT
evolutionary algorithms, etc.), wearable computing, web Showcase treats the
technologies, high performance computing (HPC), grid technologies, audience to
cloud technology, computational science, etc. challenging “outside-
the-box” thought.”
The Showcase presentations will consist of demonstrations where
applicable. Three awards (First, Second and Third Prize) will be made in each of two
categories: High School and College (undergraduate).
IT Showcase Schedule At-A-Glance
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 Prep for IT Showcase
Morning Students Arrive
Afternoon YTC Presentations
Evening Dress Rehearsal
Evening Poster Setup
Thursday, August 4, 2011 9th Annual BDPA IT Showcase
Morning Poster Presentations (Judging; Closed)
All Day Paper Presentations (Student/Adult Audience)
Friday, August 5, 2011
Morning Paper/Poster Presentations (Adult Forum)
Afternoon Presentation of Certificates
Friday, August 6, 2011
Evening Awards Banquet
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5. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
Overview of National BDPA IT Showcase Conference
The BDPA IT Showcase evolved from a one day event to an event which has activities
spread across three days (Wednesday through Friday) at the BDPA National Conference.
IT Showcase activities are a part of the Youth Technology Camp (YTC) and Adult Forums
on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
The main IT Showcase occurs on Thursday. The activities include presentations, both
paper and poster, of advanced computing topics. Participants are high school and
undergraduate students. The focus is leading edge technologies, hardware and software
methodologies, research proofs of concepts encompassing, but not limited to,
intelligent technologies (i.e., smart toys, machine learning, and genetic algorithms),
wearable computing, web technologies, green IT technologies, virtual IT technologies,
high performance computing (HPC), computing curricula, computational science, etc.
Demonstrations are incorporated in the presentations where applicable.
Presentations/projects are judged in two categories, college (undergraduate) and high
school. Three awards will be made in each category.
Wednesday activities are geared to HSCC and local high school students attending the
Youth Technology Camp (YTC). Students presenting are a subset of the total IT
Showcase participant population. The IT Showcase activity during Thursday Adult Forum
is a morning paper and poster session.
Presentations at previous showcases have answered questions such as the following:
What is a smart toy?
Can machines actually learn?
Is there a difference between virtual humans and avatars?
How will high performance computing change IT as we know it?
Will genetic algorithms put more programmers out of work?
Can neural networks actually be trained?
Why would anyone want to wear a computer?
Should I get an Internet phone?
Are those movie/video scenes actually computer-generated?
Can I make maps on my computer?
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6. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
Call for Participation
Greetings Chapter Presidents and SITES Coordinators!
We are now actively recruiting high school and college students to participate in our
upcoming 2011 National IT Showcase in Chicago!
This year’s goal is to recruit 20 high school students and 20 college students! We
would like to encourage each chapter to identify qualified students. Register your
students today at http://www.www.bdpa.org/ITShowcaseRegistration.
About BDPA National IT Showcase
The Annual BDPA National Information Technology (IT) Showcase allows student
presenters from educational institutions all over the United States to showcase their
research papers and posters by presenting and demonstrating their research. The
presentations will represent advanced computing topics presented by highly
motivated high school and college students to an audience of students and IT
professionals.
Student Research
The focus is leading edge technologies, hardware and software methodologies,
research proofs of concepts encompassing, but not limited to, intelligent technologies
(i.e., smart toys, machine learning, and genetic algorithms), wearable computing, web
technologies, green IT technologies, virtual IT technologies, high performance
computing (HPC), computing curricula, computational science, etc.
The National IT Showcase Coordinators will work with chapter volunteer and
students to help them develop their research project. Dr. Jesse Bemley will make
the final recommendation on the student's participation after the research paper is
completed.
Event Days
College and high school students have the opportunity to participate in this 3 day
event held in conjunction with the Annual National BDPA Technology Conference
held in Chicago, August 3-6, 2011.
The student's Presentations/Research Projects will be judged in two categories,
college and high school by a panel of judges. Three awards will be made in each
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7. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
category for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. . Each participant will be recognized with a
Certificate of Appreciation at the end of the IT Showcase session. The awards will be
presented at Awards Banquet.
Let’s make this another successful National IT Showcase!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jesse Bemley,
National IT Showcase Coordinator
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8. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
Participant Registration
All interested students must register at the National IT Showcase registration site link
provided below.
http://www.www.bdpa.org/ITShowcaseRegistration
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9. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
IT Showcase Requirements
These are requirements for students who wish to participate in the IT Showcase. The IT
Showcase is an event that is a part of the BDPA National Technology Conference.
Participants are expected to complete the following by the dates indicated.
1. Research paper (6 page minimum) See IT SHOWCASE - Writing Style Guidelines
2. PowerPoint presentation from the paper (10 min. for IT Showcase) Due 3 weeks
before Conference.
3. Poster display (3ft by 4ft, i.e., science fair) graphically depicting research topic
Content due in May
4. Photo (B&W) and Bio Submitted with the paper,
5. Trip Report Due one week after the conference. If trip report is not submitted,
student will not be allowed to participate in future showcases.
The presentation and poster are driven by the paper. The PowerPoint presentation is
given at the podium and poster presentations are given in the poster display area.
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10. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
IT Showcase Suggested Technologies/Subject Areas
The example technologies/methodologies/subjects below are only to be used as a
guide. If there is another leading edge topic that you would like to present, contact Dr.
Jesse Bemley at jlbemley@yahoo.com and itshowcasecoordinator.com to discuss.
Some examples are:
Virtual Reality,
Computer Gaming
Artificial Life
Neural Networks
Robotics
Fuzzy Logic
Operating Systems (UNIX, Linux, MS Windows)
Cluster Technology
Grid Technology,
High Performance Computing (HPC)
Cloud Technology
Green Technology
WEB Technologies (Perl, CGI, XML, VRML, Webcams, WEB Services)
Storage technology (magnetic, optical, SANs, NAS, etc), and
Printer Technologies (laser, inkjet, 2D, 3D, etc.)
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11. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
IT Showcase Writing Style Guidelines
Author Name
School Name
City, State
INTRODUCTION
This document outlines the style for the papers required for the BDPA IT Showcase.
These guidelines are being provided to make sure that all the papers are in the same
format for a professional looking proceeding book.
GUIDELINES
Using Microsoft Word document, please follow these guidelines as closely as possible.
Margins: 1 inch top/bottom, left/right
Font: Times Roman, 12pt, Proportional
Font
Justification: Left and Right
Title: CAPITAL LETTERS and BOLD,
Centered on the 1st line
Author Name/School Name: Centered
City, State: Centered
Do not include the ZIP Code
Headings: CAPITAL LETTERS and BOLD, 2 blank
lines before, 1 after
Paragraphs: One blank line between each, no
indentations
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12. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
Page Numbers: NO page numbers.
DO handwrite the number and your
name on the back of each page in
pencil.
Printing: Single Spaced, Single Sided, Laser
Printer.
Reference, Endnotes, and On the last page of the paper
Footnotes:
Size: 6 pages, minimum
This document is an example of the format of the document that you should
submit to Dr. Jesse L. Bemley at jlbemley@yahoo.com and itshowcasecoordinator.com.
SUBMITTING THE PAPER
Please send a copy of the paper in MS WORD to the addresses above. Please remember
to spell check your documents before you submit them.
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13. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
IT Showcase Content Delivery
Content Delivery Methods by students consist of:
Paper Presentations (PowerPoint)
Poster Presentations
Demonstrations, and
Various combinations of the above
Papers are presented by students via PowerPoint presentations from a podium. The
students are provided with a laser pointer to assist the audience in following the
presentation. It is anticipated that the audience will be seated and standing if seating is
not available (as in overflow). Papers are published in the IT Showcase proceedings.
Posters are preferably developed using HP Design Jet or comparable technology. If the
student does not have access to the technology, arrangements are made to print the
poster. Copy services such as Kinkos can provide the service. If that fails contact the IT
Showcase Coordinator for assistance. Poster presentations are done for the judges
(closed) and the audience (open to the public).
The individuals in the audience will gather around the poster of interest while the
student presents. Posters will be available throughout the IT Showcase for conference
attendee walkthroughs.
Students will demonstrate project concepts at designated times during the IT Showcase.
The room/area will be setup in classroom style for approximately 100 people. The rear
of the room will contain two six foot tables. There will be 1-2 stand alone conference
workstations (computers) on each of the tables.
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14. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
IT Showcase Conference Program Schedule
Schedule Time Activity Day
AM Students Arrival August 3, 2011
PM Youth Technology Camp August 3, 2011
Presentations
PM Practice Session August 3, 2011
PM Poster Setup August 3, 2011
AM IT Showcase Poster Judging August 4, 2011
AM Paper Presentations ITS August 4, 2011
PM Paper Presentations ITS August 4, 2011
AM Paper Presentations ITS August 5, 2011
AM Paper Presentations ITS August 5, 2011
PM Presentation of Certificates August 5, 2011
PM Awards Banquet August 6, 2011
AM Students Departure August 7, 2011
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15. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
IT Showcase Prep Time line - Milestones
Owner Action Item Due Dates
IT Showcase First Call for Papers January 26, 2011
Coordinator/Chapter
IT Showcase Second Call for Papers February 26, 2011
Coordinator/Chapter
IT Showcase Third and Final Call for Papers March 20, 2011
Coordinator/Chapter
IT Showcase Acceptance Notification May 15, 2011
Coordinator
Chapter PowerPoint May 25, 2011
Presentations/Posters
Development Completion
SUBMITTING THE PAPER
Please send a copy of the paper in MS WORD to Dr. Jesse L. Bemley at
jlbemley@yahoo.com and itshowcasecoordinator.com.
Please remember to spell check your documents before you submit.
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16. National BDPA IT Showcase Coordinator Guide
Local IT Showcase Coordinator Role
Chapter Volunteer(s) – We Need You!!
Persons desiring to volunteer for this event must be highly motivated and willing to venture
into computing areas that quite possibly are new to them. The National IT Showcase
Coordinators will provide training materials and support.
Volunteers will:
Work with high school and/or college students(s) in advance computing areas such as
intelligent technologies (i.e. smart toys, machine learning, genetic algorithms), gaming,
wearable computing, web technologies, green IT technologies, virtual IT technologies
parallel computing, cloud computing, computing curricula, etc.
o Identify and register students at http://www.bdpa.org/?page=ITShowcaseReg .
o Closely monitor the student’s progress in preparation for the event
o Provide assistance in the event problems or issues arise
o Tutor students in oral and written communication skills, technical and graphic
design skills
o Meet with the IT Showcase Coordinator on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 3d,
to conduct a practice session to enhance the event.
o Provides onsite support of the event on Thursday and Friday, August 4 – 5th
Volunteer names and email address should be sent to itshowcasecoordinator@yahoo.com.
Volunteers are granted access to the National IT Showcase Project Groupsite for training,
posting materials and communication.
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