Demo Day
Demo Day is an important part of the Bold Idea program structure. Whether a coding club at a school or partner site or a coding camp, every student will have the opportunity while with Bold Idea to participate in a Demo Day.
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What is Demo Day?
Demo Day is an event that occurs at the end of each year or semester to celebrate students' accomplishments and give them the opportunity to share their projects with family, volunteers, and the community. During the event, students will build valuable public speaking experience and communicate how their project works and the steps they took to produce their final product. This even can count as the final session of their ideaSpark coding club or camp. Demo day is intended to be a showcase of the skills, confidence, and hard work of Bold Idea students and all that they have learned while in ideaSpark.
Demo Days can occur at a sponsor site, school, online, or at a community location. Typically school sites host their own demo days at the school where teachers, parents, and administrators can attend (other students as well). For our community clubs/camps, demo day can happen in various ways - either with each individual group at their program site or all the clubs can come together and meet for a larger event at a sponsor location.
What is the Process of Planning a Demo Day
Demo Day is planned in collaboration between Bold Idea staff, Team Captains, and program/sponsor sites. Planning Demo Day depends partially on how large of an event the Demo Day is going to be. Two months before the end of the year, Team Captains and Bold Idea staff should meet to discuss what Demo Day will look like that year and set a planning schedule.
Roles and Responsiblities
Bold Idea Staff
- Arranging the location of Demo Day if not at the program site
- If online - sending out RSVPs and running Zoom call
- If a large event at a sponsor site - setting a budget and arranging any favors/snacks/extras that are needed
Team Captains & Mentors
- Ensuring all students are prepared for the Demo Day presentations. You can utilize our planning worksheets:
- Introducing/MCing their students during Demo Day
Time Line
Two Months Before Demo Day
- Set a day and time for demo day and decide with each program site team what Demo Day program will look like
- Approach sponsor sites about hosting if needed
One Month Before Demo Day
- Contact any guest speakers that might be involved in the Demo Day
- Speak to students about what Demo Day is
- If occurring at a sponsor site, ensure that all documents and details are set
Two weeks before
- Send out RSVP is open to the public
- Send a reminder to parents
- Start encouraging students to submit outstanding mentor nominations
One week before
- Make sure that everyone has assigned roles for the day of
- Ensure that RSVP list is set if online create zoom call and send out a link to RSVP list the day before the event
- Make a list of student projects and an agenda for the Day
What Happens at Demo Day?
An example Demo Day schedule is as follows:
- If at a sponsor location - Company tours/activity to learn about what they do there
- Introduction from Bold Idea Staff
- Guest Speaker
- Student Projects with Intro from TCs or Mentors
- Conclusion/Q&A for Audience Members
Past Demo Days
Demo Days 2016-2018
Demo Day Fall 2020
Demo Day Fall 2021
Demo Day Playlists