CTSO 3 - TSA Competitive Events [LESSON]

Competitive Events

Introduction

Why TSA? Georgia Technology Student Association (TSA) chapters prepare students to be successful inventors, designers, creative problem solvers, responsible citizens and leaders in a technological society. TSA is dedicated exclusively to students enrolled in engineering and technology education pathway programs.

Georgia TSA prepares its members to be successful leaders in a technological society through co-curricular activities such as communication, leadership, teamwork and competitive skill development.

TSA Events

TSA events are offered to develop the leaders of tomorrow. Student participation provides opportunities for students to develop skills through experiences in leadership, teamwork, technologies, and problem solving. Through it all, TSA students develop the sought after interpersonal, leadership, and problem solving skills highly sought by industry.

Students in a TSA chapter are not limited to just TSA events, but the individual TSA chapter can choose to participate in other STEM based curriculum events. Some engineering challenges are initiatives offered by engineering corporations, engineering associations, and engineering schools to foster student skills and experience through real world projects paired with guidance by engineering mentors. Students will not only learn the technology behind the engineering project, but business skills for startup and project management.

TSA Leadership Events

Students are exposed to leadership learning and opportunities through officer participation, committee participation, and leadership activities that are incorporated into the classroom and chapter meetings.

See the following leadership development events within TSA.

TSA Competitions

Engineering challenges are the linkage of TSA to the engineering curriculum. Engineering projects can be worked on during class and also after school. The projects integrate the learnings from an engineering class and very often will allow the student to incorporate learnings from other STEM classes as well as Art.

Many of the TSA challenges are team efforts. These projects require solid teamwork and project management to be successful. Sound interpersonal relationship skills and competent leadership are necessary to keep the team on track.

Knowledgeable mentors and engineering professionals might work with students in an afterschool environment for guidance through complicated projects. They will also provide assistance to the student or team with untried technologies needed for the specific competition. The students expand their engineering and technological knowledge through this mentoring and often learn skills or technical concepts beyond the requirements of the TSA challenge project.

Photo of an engineering challenge  

Technology Day is an annual Georgia TSA event which focuses on engineering design competitions. It is held in the fall at Georgia National Fair Grounds in Perry, Georgia. Students have competitions but can also have fun at the fair. Some events are submitted early and pre-judged during the CORE conference. Other engineering design challenges are on-site.

Photo of the State Fairgrounds 

All the TSA and GA TSA competitions offer a wide variety of opportunities. Go through the following to see highlighted events. 

Review

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Takeaway

TSA Recognition and Affiliation:

  • US Department of Education
  • Georgia Department of Education
  • Local Education Agencies
  • National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
  • Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)
  • Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO)
  • Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP)
  • American Cancer Society (TSA national service project partner)

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