Our Innovate for Good competition challenges 6th – 12th-grade girls to team up and work together to develop an app, website, computer program, 3D printer template, or anything innovative (that incorporates technology) that they’re inspired to create to help solve a problem in their community. Innovate for Good allows girls to use their tech skills to make something that helps others! Each year, we pick a different topic area to focus on. This year, we’re tackling cybersecurity.
Innovate for Good 2025: Overview/ FAQs
Intent to Submit Form Here!
2025 Innovate for Good Challenge Overview: Cybersecurity
Create a technology-focused Public Service Announcement (PSA) on a cybersecurity topic. Your PSA should be informative and inspiring, targeting a specific audience to promote cybersecurity awareness and action.
The Importance of Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity is a critical issue that affects everyone in our increasingly connected world. It’s an “everyone problem” – from individuals to large corporations, no one is immune to the threat of cyber attacks. These attacks can be highly targeted, focusing on specific groups of people, or indiscriminate, aiming to exploit anyone vulnerable. The annual cost of cyber attacks is staggering, amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars globally. In the United States alone, these costs run into tens of billions annually, impacting not just the economy but also the privacy and security of individuals. By informing and educating the public, we can play a crucial role in stopping cyber criminals in their tracks. Public awareness is a powerful tool against these threats, making initiatives like the Innovate for Good Challenge essential in building a more secure digital future.
Objectives:
- Cybersecurity Issue: Choose a significant cybersecurity topic from the list below
- Phishing, password security, social media safety, secure internet browsing
- Target Audience: Define the audience for your PSA.
- e.g., Teenagers, General Audience, Parents of Young children, the elderly community
- Content Development: Create content that is informative and engaging.
- Creativity and Innovation: Employ creative and innovative methods in your PSA.
- Technology Utilization: Use technology effectively to enhance your message.
- Presentation Quality: Ensure professionalism in the presentation of your PSA.
What is a Public Service Announcement (PSA)?
A Public Service Announcement (PSA) is like a special message made to help people learn about important topics. Think of it as a short video, poster, or social media post that teaches you something useful or important for your life and community.
Format: PSAs can come in different forms:
- Videos: Short clips you might see on TV or YouTube.
- Posters: Images with messages you might see at school or on social media.
- Audio: Messages you might hear on the radio or in podcasts.
- Video Games/Apps: Interactive experiences that teach you important lessons through gameplay.
Examples of existing PSAs
- A video reminding you to wear a seatbelt.
- A poster encouraging you to recycle.
- A social media post about the importance of mental health.
- A mobile game teaching you how to recognize and avoid phishing scams.
How many people are allowed per team?
Teams are allowed to have up to 4 members. Each submission must either directly benefit, or provide a service to address an issue within cybersecurity.
You can submit a project on your own, you do not have to have team members.
What should my project include?
Format and Submission
- Formats include video, infographic, website, game site, etc.
- Video submissions should be no longer than 3 minutes.
Game/App Submission Requirements:
While we encourage creativity and innovation in developing a game or app as a PSA, we understand that creating a fully functional game or app can be a complex and time-consuming process. For this reason, your submission does not need to include a fully developed, playable game or app. A prototype will be accepted.
Minimum Requirements:
- Complete Storyboard: Your submission should include a detailed storyboard that outlines the entire gameplay experience from start to finish. This storyboard should include the main screens, user interactions, and the sequence of steps that a player would take to progress through the game.
- User Journey: Clearly describe the user journey, explaining how players would interact with the game/app, what decisions or actions they would take, and how those actions align with the PSA’s message.
- Key Features: Highlight the key features of the game/app that make it an effective PSA, such as interactive elements that reinforce the message, challenges that teach important lessons, or rewards that encourage positive behavior.
This approach allows the judges to fully understand your concept, the educational goals of your PSA, and the experience you envision for users, even if the game/app itself is not fully developed.
- Submit digitally by March 1, 2025, to the designated portal, along with the detailed report that must accompany your submission. Click here for report details.
6th- 8th grade submission rubric:
| Category | 0 – 5 points | 6 – 10 points | 11 – 15 points | 16 – 20 points |
| Content Accuracy | Information is largely inaccurate or misleading. | Some important information is inaccurate or misleading. | Information is mostly accurate with minor factual inaccuracies. | Information is accurate and well-researched, with no factual errors. |
| Relevance and Clarity | Content is off-topic or very poorly communicated. | Some content is relevant; messages lack clarity or are occasionally confusing. | Content is relevant with occasional off-topic elements; messages are mostly clear. | Content is highly relevant to cybersecurity; messages are clear and easy to understand. |
| Creativity and Originality | Very little to no creativity; follows a very generic or copied approach. | Limited creativity and originality in the presentation. | Shows creativity but with some conventional approaches. | Highly creative and original approach; engages audience in a unique manner. |
| Use of Media | Poor use of media; detracts from the message or is largely ineffective. | Media used does not fully complement the message; some elements are distracting. | Good use of media but with minor issues in integration or effectiveness. | Excellent use of chosen media format; enhances the message |
| Audience Engagement | Not engaging; does not capture or hold audience interest. | Slightly engaging but fails to maintain interest consistently. | Moderately engaging; some elements capture and hold interest. | Highly engaging; maintains audience interest throughout. |
9th-12th grade submission rubric:
| Category | 0 – 5 points | 6 – 10 points | 11 – 15 points | 16 – 20 points |
| Content Accuracy and Depth | Information is largely inaccurate or superficial. | Some important information is inaccurate; lacks depth in research. | Information is mostly accurate with comprehensive details and minor errors. | Information is not only accurate but also demonstrates deep understanding and thorough research. |
| Relevance and Clarity | Content is off-topic or very poorly communicated. | Some content is relevant; messages lack clear structuring or are occasionally confusing. | Content is relevant with well-structured messages; minor clarity issues. | Content is highly relevant to cybersecurity; messages are articulated clearly and logically. |
| Creativity and Originality | Lacks creativity; very generic or copied directly from common sources. | Limited creativity and originality; relies on common ideas. | Displays creativity and some original thoughts; somewhat predictable. | Exceptionally creative and original; introduces new perspectives or innovative approaches. |
| Use of Media | Ineffective use of media; detracts significantly from the message or is technically poor. | Media used does not fully complement or enhance the message; technical flaws are evident. | Effective use of media with good technical quality; minor issues in integration. | Masterful use of chosen media format; significantly enhances the message and audience understanding. |
| Audience Engagement and Impact | Fails to engage or impact the audience. | Moderately engaging; lacks consistent impact. | Engages audience effectively; maintains interest with some impactful moments. | Highly engaging; provokes thought and potentially changes audience perspectives. |
When is the deadline to submit my project?
Projects must be submitted by March 1st, 2025.
Where should I submit my project?
Projects should be submitted via email to: [email protected] with the subject line “Innovate for Good Submission”. In your submission you must include:
- Final PSA in whatever format you choose (video, podcast, infographic, website, etc.)
- Detailed report paper
What happens after I submit my project?
Judges will select five finalist teams who will be assigned to a mentor to help with them with their final projects and presentations.
Finalist teams are first invited to our Girls of Promise Conference (in Little Rock) on Friday, April 4th, 2025 to set up a table and practice their “pitch” and talk about their projects to the 8th grade participants during the Exhibit Hall.
Finalist teams will then be invited to present their projects live in front of a panel of judges at the UA Little Rock Research Expo, on April 18, 2025. A PowerPoint presentation or other slide deck is recommended to use for your presentation. The judges will have a review period, and then we will announce the winning team.
Is there a prize for winning?
Yes! All members of the finalists teams win a tech prize valued at $1,000 (or more!). In the past these have included gift cards, AirPods, tablets, etc. The winning team will receive an extra tech prize, like a laptop or cash prize.