THEMES AND PROBLEMS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
When a decision is made by a member to compete in an event, it is imperative that the member thoroughly read and understand the rules, regulations, procedures, and evaluation criteria for the chosen event(s). National TSA is responsible for addressing mistakes or discrepancies in the competitive event guides and accomplishes this through competition updates on the TSA website. National TSA is not responsible for interpreting, advising, or suggesting ways that a member might develop a viable response or solution to a competitive event challenge.
- Microcontroller Design
- Off the Grid
- Prepared Speech
- Promotional Marketing
- Robotics
- Solar Racer
- STEM Animation
- Structural Engineering
Microcontroller Design
Theme: Wearable Technology
Off the Grid
Design Brief: Resilient Housing Unit in Cabo San Lucas
Overview:
A family of six lives in an informal settlement, or colonia, on the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The family consists of two parents, one grandparent and three children.
Their current home is self-built using salvaged materials such as scrap wood, corrugated metal, pallets, and tarps. The home is single-level and crowded, with limited privacy between generations. The family does not have reliable access to running water, sewage, electricity, drainage, or waste collection. Water is delivered by truck and stored in a small cistern, while electricity and sanitation systems are often improvised.
The region’s arid desert climate creates year-round challenges, including extreme heat, strong seasonal winds, and persistent dust. In addition, many informal settlements are located near arroyos, flood zones, or unstable terrain, placing families at serious risk during hurricanes and flash floods.
Challenge:
The family needs a safe, affordable, and resilient single-level housing unit that can support multi-generational living in an informal settlement in Cabo San Lucas. Your task is to design a housing solution that improves comfort, safety, dignity, and long-term livability while responding to the region’s climate, limited infrastructure, and economic realities.
Requirements:
• The housing unit must be single-level and designed for a multi-generational family.
• The design should include passive cooling, natural ventilation, and strategies to reduce heat and dust inside the home.
• The structure must be more resilient to hurricanes, strong winds, flash flooding, and unstable ground conditions.
• The home should include solutions for water collection, water storage, and water conservation.
• The design must address sanitation, drainage, and waste management in areas without reliable public infrastructure.
• The proposal should use affordable, durable, and locally available materials when possible.
• The home should be simple to build, repair, and maintain using realistic construction methods.
• The design should allow for incremental or phased construction so the family can improve the home over time.
• The layout should include flexible spaces for privacy, family gathering, sleeping, cooking, and daily activities.
• The design should be scalable so it could potentially be adapted for other families in similar communities.
Budget:
Your team has a limited budget equivalent to the income of a working family in Cabo San Lucas. The design should prioritize affordability, durability, and realistic implementation. The budget must account for building materials, water storage, basic sanitation, ventilation, flood protection.
Prepared Speech
2027 National TSA Conference Theme: “Forward to Fifty”
Promotional Marketing
Theme: You have been asked to develop a promotional marketing campaign for Discover TSA: Open House & Recruitment Night. The purpose of the event is to introduce prospective members and their families to the opportunities available through the Technology Student Association. The event will feature student demonstrations, interactive STEM activities, competitive event displays, and opportunities to meet current TSA members.
Use the following information when creating your promotional materials:
Event Name: Discover TSA: Open House & Recruitment Night
School: Edison Middle School
School Mascot: Emus
School Colors: Green and White
Date: Friday, August 1, 2027
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Edison Middle School
Address: 1840 Innovation Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819
Printable Design
A promotional graphic suitable for both print and social media advertising that promotes the event.
Wearable Design
A collectible lapel pin for the Edison TSA chapter.
Digital Design
An auto-advancing digital welcome presentation highlighting event activities, chapter accomplishments, and opportunities available through TSA
Robotics
Solar Racer
A model solar track on top of carpet will be the floor surface at the 2027 National TSA Conference
STEM Animation
Theme: Think. Design. Create. An animation centered on the engineering design process.
Structural Engineering
HIGH SCHOOL
- Video Game Design
- Virtual Reality Simulation (VR)
- Vlogging
- Webmaster
Video Game Design
Theme: Create a deep space-themed RPG where the primary method of progression is puzzle-solving rather than combat.
Challenge: Your game must include core RPG elements (such as character stats, a leveling system, or branching dialogue), but you may not include traditional combat. Instead, players must use their character's skills and stats to solve environmental, logical, or social puzzles to survive the dangers of deep space.
Virtual Reality Simulation (VR)
Theme: High-speed first aid immersive simulation
Challenge: You are tasked with developing a virtual reality experience that evaluates a user's ability to perform life-saving interventions under pressure, such as addressing anaphylaxis, obstructed airways, or traumatic hemorrhaging. The simulation must feature a comprehensive Training Mode that provides instructional support and immediate guidance in a controlled setting. Additionally, your project must include a rigorous Certification Mode that simulates a realistic, time-sensitive emergency with no assistance. Your final product must produce a performance analytics dashboard summarizing the user's technical proficiency and response efficiency.
Vlogging
Theme: The Butterfly Effect
Small actions can create extraordinary change.
Create a three-episode vlog series, not to exceed six minutes total, that explores how one decision, act of kindness, innovation, challenge, or moment can lead to a chain of events that produces a meaningful impact. Your vlog should demonstrate how seemingly small actions can inspire growth, influence others, and create lasting change.
Your series should follow a connected storyline across all three episodes, capturing authentic experiences, thoughtful reflection, and engaging storytelling. Through creative videography, editing, and presentation, illustrate how one small action can spark a ripple effect that extends far beyond its original moment.
Webmaster
Theme: Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning portal
Challenge: You have been tasked with designing and developing an interactive Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning portal aimed at high school students (grades 9–12). The purpose of this site is to demystify AI by providing a foundational understanding of the technology, showcasing practical tools, and teaching techniques to leverage AI effectively and ethically in an academic setting.
Your website must include the following:
- Educational Content Modules: At least three distinct learning sections covering fundamental AI concepts, practical AI tools/techniques, and ethical AI usage
- Gamification & Progress Tracking: An interactive, gamified user interface (e.g., digital badges, experience points, or a progress dashboard) designed to engage students and visually track their completion of the learning modules.