iTeams logo with drawings of Tim the Beaver by Owen Breva. Used with permission.
Purpose: To help you keep track of the deliverables at the end of iTeams and motivate what would come next.
Short Presentation to Middle Schoolers on the Opportunity for Technology to Solve a Problem
In some semesters iTeams present to middle schoolers. (We started this tradition in 2020 with a presentation via Zoom to 270 middle schoolers from the Shady Hill School in Cambridge, hosted by then 11-year-old Erin Breva, who acted as our MC.)
The format of the presentation is similar to other short-form presentations in iTeams, a two-minute PowerPoint overview of the final report, followed by a one-on-one discussion with guests. You may have to work hard to shake off the MIT-startup-obsession handicap: not everything is a pretend-pitch to pretend-investors.
Here’s how: (1) aim to make yourself understood by using straightforward language (unexplained jargon is your enemy), (2) distinguish what’s known from what isn’t, and (3) you’ll speak to highly impressionable critical thinking minds that are young (not stupid), talk to them as you would to adults in training. They have less experience but are skilled at genuine direct questioning. Approach this task with the same genuine attitude.
Here’s a list of questions to think about your presentation and visuals.
- Consider the problem you want solved. Why is it a problem? Why is it interesting? worth solving?
- Which technologies did you get to work on? What makes them cool?
- How is it that we will get to solve that intriguing problem with these cool technologies?
- How will we go from here to there? How hard will it be? What needs doing? It’ll only take 7 years.
- What else can these technologies do? What will the world look like once you’re done? That’s the world your audience will grow into. What will become possible? What can they do to know more?
- Why did you choose to work on this?
Good presentations invite good questions; no matter the audience, you can practice this anywhere!
Mingling Event Presentation
Sometimes we replace the middle school presentation or the midterms with a mingling event in which you present to our guests and then have a chance to discuss your project one-on-one with our guests.
In these cases, you are expected to prepare two presentations: a two-minute overview to deliver to everyone, and a five-minute expanded presentation to use as a discussion as our guests go around the room.
We encourage you to approach this presentation with the same genuine attitude we described for middle schoolers above. Presentations ought to include three distinct opportunities and clear steps to reduce uncertainty. This is the last opportunity to gather information from members of an audience.
Final Technology-Problem Whitepaper and Scale-Up Report
An approximately 10-page write-up connecting technology to a problem worth solving and outlining a robust space of opportunity. It must include a recommendation for immediate next steps and medium/long-term milestones. The report will be read by course faculty and shared with PI and TLO when appropriate.
Final 1-on-1 Presentation
A 30-minute overview of your recommendation for live discussion with class faculty and one or two select guests. The presentation must be self-contained and include the following:
- Three distinct destinations that may be seized with adequate evolution of technology and market understanding, described by their attractiveness, organizational model, and structure.
- Outline of a “build-to-kill" plan, next steps, timeline, and a map of decisions/uncertainties.
- Considerations about the organizational model suited to act on those next steps, including funding, research, and development needs, ramp up to sustainability.
