1. VEX IQ Challenge STEM Research Project Judging Process
This presentation is an overview of the STEM research project judging process in the VEX IQ program.

2. Documents Awards Appendix
Description of STEM Project Award & judging criteria
Judge’s Guide
STEM Research Project Rubric
STEM Project signup sheet
RoboticsEducation.org/event-partners/event-partner-resources-documents/
The documents needed to judge teams giving STEM project presentations may be found on the roboticseducation.org website under the event partners tab in the event partner resources and documentation section.
In that section you will find the awards appendix which includes both a description of the STEM Research Project award and the criteria used to evaluate team presentations.
This section also includes the judges’ guide in which you will find a number of things including:
the STEM project rubric used by judges to evaluate team presentations.
standard questions for judges to ask during their discussions with teams making STEM presentations.
a stem presentation sign-up sheet that the event partner may used to schedule team presentations.

3. STEM Research Project Award
Presented to the team that shares the most effective STEM Research Project presentation. This presentation, as well as the follow-up discussion with Judges, effectively demonstrates the students’ significant depth of understanding of their topic and research findings. The presentation will also highlight the students’ work in sharing what they learned in an effective format.
During the stem research project presentation each team presents their research findings.
This is followed by a brief discussion with judges.
After dismissing the team the judges then use the STEM presentation rubric to evaluate the presentation based on the team’s presentation quality and their understanding of their research topic.

4. STEM Research Project Award
Details on the STEM Research Project, including this year’s topic, are available at: RoboticsEducation.org/competition-teams/vex-iq-challenge/.
Key criteria:
Identifies a challenge topic of interest that relates to the STEM theme for the season
Completes research and collects evidence using reliable sources
Demonstrates a well-organized and documented process to study and explain the research findings
Describes how the research findings were applied to develop and test the solution
Shares the solution in an effective and creative presentation
Students demonstrate an understanding of the entire research process
Students demonstrate teamwork and effective communication skills
This year's research topic may be found on the roboticseducation.org website under the VEX IQ program.
The key criteria used to evaluate STEM project presentations are shown on this slide.
They are also available in the Judges’ guide.
These criteria may also be found in the judges Guide.

5. STEM Project Adult Policy
Post this document outside of interview area at event.
Purpose is to allow student centered team presentation
Photography and recording laws vary by state
The REC foundation has to developed an adult chaperone policy for STEM presentations as part of our efforts to keep the VEX IQ program student centered and in order to protect the privacy rights of judges when it comes to photos and videos.
STEM presentations are generally separated from the rest of an event to provide a quiet environment for team presentations.
In general, judges should not meet one-on-one with teams and should always working in pairs.
In some cases, circumstances may arise where a team chaperone is needed during a STEM presentation.
In all cases the guidelines outlined in the policy on this slide should be followed.

6. STEM Presentation Sign Up Sheet
STEM Presentation judging schedule
Event Partners may use the attached documents to have teams sign up for STEM Research Project presentations
Event Partners may choose to add or eliminate tie slots to meet their needs. The schedule should be adjusted to meet the actual event schedule.
Judges will need time after the last presentation to deliberate. This should be included in the schedule.
The 15-minute time slot is only a recommendation. Some events use a 12-minute cycle to increase the number of teams given an opportunity to make a presentation.
Teams have 4 minutes to give their presentation, including setup. Judges will then have up to 4 minutes to ask questions.
Event Partners should include breaks in the schedule for STEM judges as appropriate.
Events need to provide a judging schedule for STEM presentations. Events will often allocate a 15 minute timeslot for each presentation, however some events will use a 12 minute timeslot in order to give more teams opportunities to present their project.
During the presentation teams are given four minutes to present their information. The time teams need to set up a presentation is included in this 4 minutes.
Following the presentation judges have four minutes to ask questions and discuss the presentation with the team.
Once this is done, teams are dismissed.
Judges then fill out the STEM project rubric to evaluate the presentation.
The presentation schedule needs to include brakes for judges. For example, in addition to a lunch break, judges should be given a minimum of one break every two hours.

7. STEM Presentation Sign Up Sheet
These are the sign-up sheets provided in the judges guide.
The Event partner, working with the Judge adviser should make adjustments to the schedules as needed to fit their events schedule.
This should include lunch breaks as well as start and stop times for interviews. Be sure to allow enough time for judge deliberations at the conclusion of the presentations.

8. STEM Research Project Rubric
Following each presentation judges should use the STEM Research Project Rubric to evaluate each presentation
Judges place final 3-5 best teams based on the rubric onto the list as a finalist for the STEM Research Project Award
Following each STEM presentation the STEM rubric is completed by judges.
Judges should be sure to include notes that will help them during their final deliberations at the end of the day.
Rubrics are used only to determine finalists for the STEM research project award .
They are not used to select the final award winner.

9. STEM Research Project Rubric
This slide shows the STEM rubric which is found in the judges’ guide.
The blank rubric is published to aid teams in their presentation preparation so that they know what judges will be looking for at events.

10. Final Deliberation Rubrics are quantitative in nature.
The rubrics are intended to be used by Judges to narrow down the field of contenders for each award.
Judges are expected to apply their qualitative judgement when making a final decision on all awards.
Multiple teams often score “perfect” 3’s on a rubric or fall within a couple of points of one another.
During final deliberations for the STEM research project award it is critical for judges to remember that STEM rubrics are quantitative in nature and are only to be used to narrow down the field of contenders and identify finalists for the award.
Judges are always expected to apply their qualitative judgment to determine the final winner of all awards.
Later in the season Judges will often see multiple teams score perfect 3s across-the-board on the STEM rubric.
Their qualitative judgment becomes critical under these circumstances.

11. Confidentiality
Rubrics are confidential judging documents and should not be returned to the team, coach, or Event Partner. Rubrics should be destroyed immediately after the Judge Advisor has recorded the winning team.
Teams with a perfect rubric score often do not understand why they were not selected for an award.
Judges should also be aware that they must be very careful in discussing these awards with teams after an event. A judge’s best intentions are often misinterpreted by teams resulting in students with hurt feelings.
The Judge Advisor must properly dispose of these and all other judging materials at the conclusion of the event.
Teams will “dumpster dive”
Judges should remember that all completed judging documents are confidential.
This means that completed rubrics are not to be returned to teams, coaches, or event partners.
As stated earlier, multiple teams may have perfect scores on a STEM rubric.
A team that sees this may wonder what their team did wrong. Or why did the judges chose somebody else for the award.
The best answer in this case is to tell them that they did nothing wrong.
Explain that their team did a great job. However another team just it'll little bit better.
The judge adviser is responsible for disposing of all judging documents after an event in an appropriate manner.
The judge adviser should avoid simply throwing documents in the closest trash can.

12. STEM Research Project at VEX Worlds
Teams must have been awarded the Design, STEM, or Excellence Award at a state/regional/provincial/national championship event to be eligible to present a STEM Research project at VEX Worlds.
STEM Research Project presentation schedules will be ed to eligible teams the week of VEX Worlds.
Teams should be sure the contact listed with their team registration can be accessed during VEX Worlds.
Teams often wonder what the criteria is for presenting their STEM research project is at Worlds.
In order to present a stem research project at VEX Worlds a team must have been awarded either the Design, STEM research project, or Excellence award at a state/regional/provincial or national championship event.
Eligible teams Will be ed the STEM project presentation schedule the week of VEX Worlds.
Teams should be sure the contact listed with their team registration can be accessed during VEX Worlds.

13. Judging Questions
You may address any questions regarding to judging to
This contact information is available in the judges guide.
We hope you enjoy your experience as a STEM research project judge.