Junior Division Rubric 2026-2027 season
1 – Not there/missing
2 – Getting there (below expectations)
3 – Average (meets basic expectations)
4 – Good
5 – Amazing
Written
Project Description
Compelling project description that clearly states the problem and the solution (max 100 words)
Project Development
Explains how ethical considerations shaped specific design or technical decisions in the solution. Addresses two or more of: data privacy, accessibility, energy consumption, algorithmic bias, inaccuracy, environmental impact, unintended consequences, or harm to particular groups (max 150 words)
Explains the team’s approach to verifying information, with specific examples of evaluating sources and, if AI tools were used, how they assessed and responded to AI-generated outputs. (max 100 words)
Documents all resources, tools, and AI systems used in the project, describing how each contributed and any limitations encountered (unlimited)
User Adoption
Shows how many users have tested the solution, what feedback they provided, and how the team responded to it
Explains a realistic plan to reach new users in the first year, including which channels or communities they would target and why
Learning Reflection
Shares what the team learned including how they overcame challenges, what they would do differently, how their understanding of the problem changed as they built and tested their solution, and the most important skill or insight they gained (max 200 words)
Total written score
Video
Clearly states the problem and shows why the problem is important to the team and the community. Discusses insights gathered directly from people most affected, and which one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal is addressed.
Explains the research the team did to understand the problem, including references to their valid sources
Shows the viewer 1-2 key features of their solution and convinces the viewer that the digital solution solves the problem
Explains why the chosen format and technology serve their target users well. Shows how they assessed existing alternatives against their solution.
Shows how target user feedback led to specific changes in the solution through video footage, before/after comparisons, or demonstrated iterations
Gives a demonstration of the working parts of the digital solution they have built
Explains:
- who the end users are
- how the solution was tested with them (ideally through video footage)
- what metrics or evidence the team used to evaluate whether it worked
Explains how they built 1-2 key features:
- what tools and technologies were used (AI-assisted or otherwise)
- why they were chosen
- how the team verified that the features worked
- the team’s process to debug the features
Shows 2+ iterations of the product; describes the team’s iterative development process. Shows specific examples of improvements the team made because of testing, user feedback, and technical refinement (including prompt engineering if applicable)
Total video score
Total Score
Written Score
Video Score
Total score