District Media Festival Using Digital Resources to Assist in Judging and Scoring Peggy Helmly and Jeff Lariscy

Why a Local Festival? The district can insure that the best projects are sent to the state level and the county is well represented.The district can insure that the best projects are sent to the state level and the county is well represented. Helps financially as the county pays the registration costs of projects that have gone through the festival.Helps financially as the county pays the registration costs of projects that have gone through the festival. Gives each school exposure to other schools projects.Gives each school exposure to other schools projects.

Why Use Digital Resources? To provide more flexibility in the judging schedule –Projects are accessible to be judged via a web site at any time where there is Internet access. –Previously, judges were relegated to a single day (evening) of meeting to judge in a marathon session; fatigue and anxiety were serious issues. Projects judged later suffered.

Why Use Digital Resources? File format issues are eliminated as all projects are uploaded as specific file types (school sponsors assist in conversion and upload).File format issues are eliminated as all projects are uploaded as specific file types (school sponsors assist in conversion and upload). Digitally collecting scores allowed for easier and quicker calculations and tabulations.Digitally collecting scores allowed for easier and quicker calculations and tabulations.

Why Use Digital Resources? Using the Digital Resources allowed for the students to be entered into a database allowing for easier creation of Certificates of Participation and Awards.Using the Digital Resources allowed for the students to be entered into a database allowing for easier creation of Certificates of Participation and Awards. The solution also allows for an archive of the projects and winners, again accessible via the Internet.The solution also allows for an archive of the projects and winners, again accessible via the Internet.

Problems Encountered School sponsors often need assistance in translating file types (e.g. DVD format to a Window Media Player (.wmv) file).School sponsors often need assistance in translating file types (e.g. DVD format to a Window Media Player (.wmv) file). Powerpoint files are sometimes uploaded without the supporting audio, video, and/or picture files and therefore may not work as expected.Powerpoint files are sometimes uploaded without the supporting audio, video, and/or picture files and therefore may not work as expected.

Problems Encountered Entering scores for each category of judging made tabulation easier. However, judges were not able to “see” the total they were awarding the project which led some to award a lower score.Entering scores for each category of judging made tabulation easier. However, judges were not able to “see” the total they were awarding the project which led some to award a lower score. Feedback for students was difficult to extract from the database and provide back to the student.Feedback for students was difficult to extract from the database and provide back to the student.

Changes Made Scoring was moved back to paper based forms: –Allowing judges to “see” the progress of their scoring efforts for projects –Total scores are still collected via web form and tabulation is done electronically. –Providing students with a paper form for feedback including judge’s comments –Paper forms provide a backup to judging rationale.

Getting Started Establish a committee (include district personnel when possible) and develop guidelines – we based ours upon the Georgia Student Media Festival.Establish a committee (include district personnel when possible) and develop guidelines – we based ours upon the Georgia Student Media Festival. Identify a platform on which to host your content – we used Moodle, ISMF has utilized WordPress (see your IT Department for a recommendation).Identify a platform on which to host your content – we used Moodle, ISMF has utilized WordPress (see your IT Department for a recommendation).

Getting Started Training School Sponsors must be provided training over the guidelines of the local festivalSchool Sponsors must be provided training over the guidelines of the local festival School Sponsors also must be trained to convert files to appropriate file types and upload to the hosting platform.School Sponsors also must be trained to convert files to appropriate file types and upload to the hosting platform. Judges (of course) must be trained in the criteria for judging the projects, accessing the projects from the hosting platform and then entering scores into the scoring forms.Judges (of course) must be trained in the criteria for judging the projects, accessing the projects from the hosting platform and then entering scores into the scoring forms.

Patience As this will be new to many, and many will come along that are unfamiliar with the process, training is critical. Even after multiple training sessions, individual help afforded to school sponsors and judges will be required throughout the process. District coordinators will, without doubt be called upon frequently.

Flexibility Every year, we determine issues that need to be tweaked in the guidelines, the processes, and the personnel (often, the district coordinator will run away screaming). Be prepared to make changes from year to year (or within the process).

Q & A Questions?