About TEAMS

	Program Outcomes Effectively shows students the real-world applications of math and science. Raises student confidence in their ability to participate in engineering activities. Inspires students to consider engineering majors and careers. Removes social barriers and negative attitudes about engineering. Promotes collaboration and problem-solving in a team environment.

The JETS TEAMS program is an annual high school competition challenging students to work collaboratively and apply their math and science knowledge in practical, creative ways to solve real everyday challenges.  

In recent years, countless reports have identified troublesome science and math achievement gaps in America, and signaled the need for renewed efforts to cultivate a competitive 21^st century workforce.  These reports point to the necessity of programs that foster STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) literacy in effective ways, and across a broader range of young people. 

The TEAMS Competition helps develop “STEM-capable” students in an engaging way by showing them how math and science, with an engineering focus, are used to make tangible differences in the world.

Focused on a theme each year, original academic and innovative concepts are developed for the competition based on the National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges. Tackling these challenges requires critical job-readiness skills such as collaboration, analytical thinking, and multidimensional problem-solving.

What will students tackle in 2011? Energy and the global need for diversification, efficiency, security and ecological sustainability.

Working in a written competition format, teams of four to eight students to face off during two ninety-minute parts:

• Part 1: Eight scenarios with 10 multiple choice questions each, requiring team members to apply math and science knowledge to novel situations.  
• Part 2: Eight tasks to be answered in a short essay format, expanding students' ideas as they explain their ideas for engineering solutions.

The one-day competitions take place at over 100 locations between February 14 and March 15, 2011 through a partnership with high school educators, universities, corporations, and professional organizations.  Involving more than 10,000 students, schools and groups compete just one day during the four-week period vying for competition day, state, and national rankings and awards. 

To prepare for the competition, each registered school and group receives preparatory materials including a Coach Guide, competition scenarios, or topics that will be presented during the event, supplemental hands-on activities, lesson plans and tips for group decision-making and problem-solving strategies.  These materials are available in the Coach online account.

Participation Divisions, Levels and Sublevels

Schools, homeschools and groups participate and are ranked in different divisions and levels to allow for more equal competition.  Divisions are assigned and levels are selected during during the online registration process.

Homeschool and Group Divisions

Students from homeschools must select the "Home" option.  Students from youth organizations (Boy/Girl Scouts, 4-H, Junior Achievement, YMCA, etc.) must select the "Group" option.

Students may only compete once and not in more than one division.  If a student participates as part of a group or homeschool, he/she may not also participate with a school.

School Divisions
The eight school divisions are based on the following criteria:

1. Admissions Policy
   Open: Schools admitting all students regardless of academic excellence or competitive academic criteria (e.g. Public Schools, Charter Schools, Lottery Schools, and Private Schools where the "selective" definition does not apply).
   Selective: Schools in which students are only admitted based on their demonstration of academic excellence, meeting a set of academic standards, or competitive academic criteria (e.g. Magnet Schools, Governor's Schools or Science and Math, Private Schools).
2. Senior Class Enrollment Size
   The number of 12th grade students enrolled in the school as of September 30.

Levels

To give all students with varying academic experiences a chance to compete, TEAMS has two levels of competition: a 9/10 Level and 11/12 Level. Questions posed are academically modified per the corresponding grades in each level.  Students in grades 9/10 may participate in the 11/12 Level but will compete using those questions and be scored within that Level.  Students in grades 11/12 may not participate in the 9/10 Level. View sample questions by level.

Sublevels

Schools and groups with multiple teams in each level are each assigned team letters (A, B, C...) to differentiate among teams and ensure proper scoring, rankings and awards.

Competition Sites

Schools and groups may choose where to compete. All teams receive the same competition materials and are eligible for state and national rankings regardless of where they participate.

1. Participate at a Host Site, a location with more than one school or group competing (typically hosted by another school, university, organization or corporation).
2. Participate as a Remote Site, with only one school or group competing at a community location (school, library, community center, etc.)

Registration

Online registration opens in September through JETS.  Schools and groups choose their competition site when registering.  Spaces fill quickly, so register early to ensure all teams can participate.  Registration fees average $15-$20 per student fees are determined by the comeptition site. All payments are submitted directly to JETS and can be made with a credit card, check or purchase order.

Recognition and Awards

JETS awards all participating students on competition day with certificates of participation, competition t-shirt, and an Explore Engineering magazine. Additional competition day awards may be presented to teams at the discretion of the competition site.

'Best in State' awards (team banners, student medals and certificates) are given to the 1st place team in each state and level and as determined by Part 1 scores. State rankings of all teams are announced online in February and March.

'Best Overall' national awards are given to the 1st - 3rd place teams in each level as determined by the team's national score (Part 1 plus Part 2). The two 1st place 'Best Overall' teams (one per level) receive a $2,500 cash prize, team trophy, student medals and certificates. National rankings of all teams are announced online in April.

Want to know more? Get involved and learn how you can coach a team, host a competition or participate as student.

Frequently Asked Questions