Judging Orientation

Agenda 1) Organization 2) Scoring 3) Conduct

Organization: Michael Hoye DRSEF affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): Over 4 million projects worldwide Our region = Dallas + 7 adjacent counties Approximately 1,000 students at DRSEF All winners at their school fairs Today’s winners advance to the Texas State Science Fair; Broadcom Master’s; I-SWEEEP; and the Intel International Science Fair (ISEF)

Two Kinds of Judges Science Category Judges Determine ISEF category winners Special Award Judges Determine donor organization’s prize winner Red Ribbon Blue Ribbon

Divisions and Categories Projects divided into: Junior Division (6-8 grade) Senior Division (9-12 grade) Divisions divided into science categories: Animal Science (ANIM) Plant Science (PLNT) Etc. Some small categories are combined

JUDGE GROUPS Each group is numbered and interviews students in a particular Division / Category Each group must have a Captain Aim for at least 3 judges per group Large categories have more than one judge group and will need a 2 nd round of judging

Captain’s BLUE results sheet:  Your group is one of several for the category.  Pick top 3 projects, suggest Hon. Mentions Captain’s ORANGE results sheet:  Your group is only one for category  Rank winners and select Honorable Mentions Students are dismissed at Noon. Captains submit Round 1 results to judge check-in by 12:30pm Round 1 - Interviews

Round 2 required if more than one judging group in the category Captains meet at judge check-in after Rd 1, collect results sheets for Round 2 (start whenever you are all ready) Compare projects across groups (no interviews), rank winners, and select Honorable Mentions Round 2 - Discussions Submit Round 2 results to judge check- in by 1:30pm

Rounds Timetable 9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm Round 1 – Interviews | Lunch Buffet Round 2

Scoring: Nathan Eaton Complete score sheet for each project interviewed Use scores as basis for discussion Score only projects with a green dot (passed D&S) on location label Science / Engineering categories have different scoring criteria

Interview every project in your group Only one judge at a project at one time Ask many and detailed questions Scoring Budget 8-10 min for each project Complete evaluations away from the student

Teams:  Include all members in the interview  Reduce presentation score if any absent Displayed forms for some projects:  Form 1C (work done in an institution) Only judge student’s own work  Form 7 (continuation from last year) Only judge this year’s work Scoring

Conduct: Richard Cohen Consider age, maturity, knowledge. These are children, not graduates! Be respectful and encouraging. Interviews are highlight of the students’ fair experience. Students take this competition seriously. Put them at ease.

Judging Don’ts Don’t ask about parents or school Don’t judge someone you know Don’t ignore weak projects Don’t criticize harshly Don’t discuss your judging process with students, parents, or teachers

Captains’ Responsibilities Leadership in discussion, consensus building, & accuracy Arbitrate differences of opinion MAINTAIN THE TIMETABLE

Captains’ Responsibilities Return Round 1 results and all score sheets by 12:30pm Meet with other Captains in category for Round 2 (start whenever all ready ). Another group member can substitute. Return Round 2 results by 1:30pm

Special Thanks to fair sponsors

Projects and results will be on public display today 5:30 – 6:30 pm Thank You!!! Any questions?

Which group needs a captain? Which group needs more judges? Do NOT move yet! Fred Olness