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FAQ's
What is the NEDC?
The JETS/AbilityOne National Engineering Design Challenge (NEDC) is an engineering design competition open to students in grades 9-12. Design teams from high schools or other groups are invited to apply. Accepted teams will design and build an ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY device to help a person with severe disabilities from their community succeed in his or her workplace. The NEDC is a cross-curricular, collaborative competition in which teams of students use their creativity, problem solving, math, science, research, writing, presentation, drafting and design skills to create a real-life assistive technology device to help individuals with disabilities in their community. The NEDC is a service-learning program that educates young people about careers in engineering, increases disability awareness, promotes community involvement and inspires a spirit of engagement and a willingness to help others. The NEDC helps high school students learn first-hand how engineering can make a positive difference in someone's life! NEDC teams can win prizes, including a free trip to Washington, DC, and cash prizes for their schools.
Who can start an NEDC Team?
Any math, science or other teacher, advisor or group leader who is willing to coach a team of students may start a team. A team can be an entire class, a select group within a class or a group participating in an after school program (i.e. boy scouts, after school engineering club, home school group). Your team can be any number of students however we recommend teams of five to twenty-five.
What can my team win?
Finalist teams will be awarded a trip to Washington, DC to present their designs and compete at the annual NEDC Finals Competition on February 26, 2009. The team selected as the best overall design will win $3,000 for their school's sponsoring department, plus a trip to 2009 NISH National Training and Achievement Conference — April 14-16, 2009 in Atlanta, GA. Two additional winning finalist teams will be awarded $1,500 for their school’s sponsoring department. Various awards will be presented to select Semi-Finalist teams. Coaches from the five winning teams will be automatically accepted as Excite Award recipients and Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams finalists.
What do I submit?
The submission is in two parts: Part I — Internet Scavenger Hunt and Part II — Final Report on Device Design, Construction and Testing. The Final Report on Device Design, Construction and Testing will be uploaded on the submission page. The report may be written in any word processing software but we can only accept a file in a PDF format on the submission page. The score on each team's Internet Scavenger Hunt AND Final Report will impact their eligibility to continue to the semi-finals.
What the submission deadline?
The submission deadline is December 10, 2008.
Who Judges the NEDC submissions?
Judges are professionals in a variety of engineering disciplines and experts in disability workplace issues.
Where do I find information about disabilities?
The JETS NEDC Internet Scavenger Hunt has been provided to help teams begin their disability research. You may also find information at:
NISH
National Organization on Disability
U.S. Department of Labor
Infinetec
Assistive Technology Solutions
Job Accommodation Website
What is the financial cost to participate?
There is no registration fee to compete in the NEDC. There is no cost to participate in Round I. There will be some cost in building the prototype for Round II. The NEDC offers a $150 scholarship to help with this cost. The five finalist teams will receive airfare and lodging for the five team members and one coach to the national finals. This includes all expenses and shipping of your device.
How much time will a team have to devote to the project?
It is the coach's responsibility to schedule time for the students and time will vary from team to team. Teams are allowed four months to complete the project submissions.
Must all students on a team be from the same school or group?
Yes.
Can more than one team per school compete?
Yes. You may have as many teams from one school as you like as long as a student is not on more than one team.
How many copies of Solidworks are available for each registered school?
JETS has partnered with SolidWorks Corporation to provide your JWOD/JETS NEDC team with a complimentary copy of SolidWorks 3D CAD software. Each registered school will receive one copy Solidworks.
Will using Solidworks influence judging of my submission?
Using SolidWorks software will in no way influence the judging of your submissions. You are welcome to use any CAD (or other) software you choose for your NEDC submissions. It is highly recommended that you use CAD for your design drawings.
Is it necessary to have a technical mentor work with the students?
No. While students will benefit from the help of a technical mentor, we understand that it is difficult to find a professional to help with the competition.
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