Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Presenter Ray Kranyak Training Judges Workshop

Who am I? n Active in BASEF since n On BASEF organizing committee since 2001 n BASEF chaperone to Team Canada 2002, 2003 n Past District 60 Area 3 Governor for Toastmasters International. n Past President of Institute of Chartered Engineers of Canada n Degrees in both Engineering and Metaphysics n Purchasing and Logistics Procurement Coordinator at Dofasco

What is BASEF n n Regional Science Fair for Hamilton & Halton n n a 4 day event; rotate among 3 Host sites n n 43 consecutive years of operation n n A non-profit charitable association n n Participation ~ 450 students, 300+ projects n n Annual Budget $100,000 (60% for awards) n n Honourary Co-Chairs Mayor Wade, Chairman Savoline; Title Sponsor; many others n n BASEF feeds direct to the Canada Wide Science Fair (Grades 7-13) and the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (Grades 9-13).

BASEF Growth

BASEF Judges Training n BASEF uses this material to prepare judges for our regional science fair. n BASEF trains new and experienced judges on use of our judging form/ and judging criteria. n This Year BASEF had: – 179 registered Merit –69 Special Awards Judges –Trained 69 Merit and Special Awards Judges

Finding Judges n n Word of mouth n n Volunteer page of website n n Volunteer Database n n n n phone calls (last resort) n n Student feedback n n Work practice observation n n Quality of Fair n n Quality of Judging Experience

Sell the Benefits of being a Judge n n Excellent Opportunity to Network. n n Develop Communication Skills. n n Develop Analytical and Evaluation skills. Translates into leadership and management skill base n n Sharpen your Investigative Skills. n n Build Self Confidence. n n Share Knowledge with Today’s Youth. n n Have fun while helping others.

Workshop Topics For Handouts visit the BASEF Web Site: basef.mcmaster.ca n n Why do we train Judges. n n Selection of materials given to Judges. n n Advice on helping Judges.

Why is Training Important? n n 33% of the judges each year will will be first time science fair judges. n n Contestants will have more contact with Judges than anyone else in the Fair n n Judge Interaction with the contestants is the image left behind after the fair. n n Judging Quality ensures the right winners are rewarded. n n Judging Quality raises the quality of future fairs.

What Judges Need to Know n n Who will be their contacts at the Fair? n n Date, time and Judging day Schedule. n n What to Expect at the fair. n n What is expected of them as Judges. n n People skills in handling students. n n How to use Judging materials. n n How to dress. n n What’s in it for them?

Developing a Training Program n n Build on past success with Judges Training Program n n Review what worked and what did not n n Recognize that recruits will be the new guys n n Build understanding of need and process n n Build comfort level with team members n n Lots of examples!

Selection of Materials For Handouts visit the BASEF Web Site: basef.mcmaster.ca n n What does a ‘Science Fair’ look like? n n What does a ‘Project’ look like? n n What does an ‘Interview’ look like? n n What Judges do? n n Expected Behaviors. n n Judging Day Activities. n n How to judge a project. n n Some rules to know about.

What does a Fair look like?

The Judging Arena

What does an interview look like?

What does a Project look like?

n n Evaluator n n Facilitator n n Counselor n n Motivator n n Role Model The Roles of a Judge

Judges Provide a good experience for the Competitors n n Be Genuine. n n Let the contestants show their stuff. n n Encourage conversation. n n Avoid value judgements. n n Give one opportunity for improvement. n n End meeting on a positive note.

Judge Behavior with Students n n Work to put students at ease. (Sit Down) n n If students are intimidated they will not speak freely. n n Show you are interested. n n Listen actively. n n Give positive reinforcement to nourish self esteem. (say what you like about project) n n Ask students about their Projects, not just what they did.

n n Ask students enough questions to satisfy yourself that they understood the project. n n When you have reached the student’s knowledge limit. STOP asking questions. n n Have 1 Positive Comment for every student. n n Remember when you were 12 years old. n n Let the student teach you something. Judge Behavior with Students

Suggested Wording Personalize your language n n I liked…. n n I enjoyed…. n n I feel that…… n n I see that….. If asked n n I suggest… n n A technique I have used….. n n The project would have more impact on me if….

What to Expect on Judging Day 8:00 Chief Judge and Category Chairs Meeting 8:30 General Welcome and Introduction 8:45 Category chair and judge group meetings 9:00 Preliminary Judging without students 11:30 Judges Meet with Category Chairs 11:45 Judges Lunch 1:00 Judge / student Interview 3:30 Judge /Category Chair Meeting - Tally Scores 4:15 Chief Judge, Category Chair, Awards Committee meeting

Judging Tips and Tricks n n Get there early. n n Set timing goals for your exhibits. (10-15 min per project) n n Contestants understanding is as important as the project. n n Every Project must receive a passing mark. n n Revise your scores as many times as you need. n n Don’t tally judging sheet in front of Contestants. n n If stuck on a project, see your Category Chair. n n Judging is finished after the 3:30 Judge and Category Chair Meeting is completed. Be prepared to stay until 4:30.

How to Judge a Project To judge a project do the following: n Read through the backboard in some logical order; assess it's impact, and how well it tells the "story" of the project. Do you quickly understand what the project is trying to do, and what the results were? n If equipment or devices are part of the display, do they serve an obvious purpose based on what you have seen so far? Before starting to judge, see your assigned projects to get a feel for what they are about, what they look like, and their location.

How to Judge a Project n Read through the abstract. Assess it (If missing, ask for it in interview. No abstract = 0) n Read through the workbook (journal and/or report). Assess it. (If missing, ask for it in interview. No workbook = 0) n Write down questions and compliments, for use in the Interview, and add to comments section of the judging form. n Note your marks. n Do not "team-judge", ask your Category Chair or another experienced judge if you have any questions during judging.

How to Judge a Project n Once all projects are marked and interviewed: Write down the rank order of the projects you have judged, based on your day’s overall impressions. n Which one is best? n Which should be at the bottom of the list? n Now check the total mark you have assigned to each project. n Is your ranking impression consistent with the marks you've assigned? Decide if you need to review anything.

Judging Form

n Choose the appropriate score for the Definition and Level chosen. n Transfer number chosen to Score box.

- New Stuff - Other Forms to Look For Lasers 5% of Projects Fruit Flies 10 to 15% of Projects

Sample Questions n Why did you decide to study this topic? n What are your controlled variables? n How accurate are your readings? n What future applications can you see from the results of this project? n What one outstanding thing did you learn doing this project? n How would you improve this project if you would do it again?

Organizing the Judges n n Have at least 2 workshops. Each on different nights of the week. n n Have frequent communication with Judges and potential Judges. ( works best) n n Set up a Web Site for Judging information and on site judge registration. n n Post Judging Instructions on the Web Site. n n Post Chief Judge’s contact information on the Web Site.

Keep Them Coming Back Reward Judges efforts with a theme gift!

Final Tips Prepare Judges to enjoy this unique experience. Remember the reason we do all this is for the students. For Handouts visit the BASEF Web Site: basef.mcmaster.ca