Recruiting, Orienting and Managing NHD Judges

Step 1: RecruitingThe Right Time

The Right Places

The Right Information

The Right Follow-Up

Step 2: Follow UpWhat Happens After they Sign

up?◦Immediately?◦And over time?

How do they access the materials?◦Physical?◦Electronic?

Step 3: Forming the Teams Teams of 3 (or 2)

◦Best structures◦Best captains

◦Poor Structures◦Poor Captains

Step 4: Judging Assignments*Who takes websites and papers

◦Worst case scenario

Are there some categories that are more competitive historically?

Who can take on the Final Rounds?

Communicating the Assignments

To list the projects or not to list the projects?

To introduce the partners or not?

How much info is too much, how much is not enough?

Step 5: OrientationHow to get there? Where to go?

What time to Arrive?

How long?

What is the most essential information?

Essential Information

1. Evaluate◦ How? Where? When?

2. Interview◦ How long? What do I ask?

3. Rank◦ When? All of them?

4. Feedback◦ Who sees it? What is it for? What

do I write?

Judge MythsThe projects have been seededOne from the morning, one from

the afternoonSpecial prize nominees must

make the finalsPerformances need a script

turned inThe thesis statement must be

labeledProjects must have an interview

The Best ProjectThe best projects according to

the criteria on the Evaluation Form

◦Topic choice: War doesn’t trump social topics and vice versa. Topic is only judged on how the student

relates it to the theme

◦Cardboard vs. rotating masterpieces Clarity of design is a evaluation category.

Carpentry skills is not on the evaluation form.

The Complaints DepartmentWe are the Complaints

Department◦Judging decisions are final

Coordinators do not overturn judging decisions

◦Please put complaints in writing Helpful in improving the Contest in future

◦You serve as liaison Don’t give out judge contact info

◦PR team?

Follow UpThanking the judges

Specifics

Appreciation gifts

The Judge Personalities

Negative Positive Wanderer Encourager Lecturer Inquirer Dominator Novelist Gusher Team Player Accuser Blurter

Handling the Interviews & PersonalitiesSession 2…

Session 2Understanding the Interview Process to Train the Interview process

The Easy InterviewStudent arrives on time and

confident

The questions flow easily from one to the other

Topic, process—the whys and hows are all covered

The Not as Easy InterviewsStudents with special needs

Limited English Proficiency

Nervousness

Scripted

The ChallengeHow to make the interview about

the students and their work.

Project, process and history.

Still having the student feel a sense of accomplishment.

Example #1

THE DYER BILL: FIRST STEP TO CIVIL RIGHTS

http://10957859.weebly.com/home.html

The Nervous StudentSometimes answers are short

Sometimes they can be long and fast

How to put them at ease?

Example #2

The Rights and Responsibilities of the Tuskegee Airmen: The Red

Tails in Action

http://93336239.weebly.com/

The Rehearsed Rambling Student

Interview is a presentation

Is going to get it all out no matter what

How to redirect them politely and effectively?◦Still make them feel like they

accomplished something.

Example #3

Typhoid Mary: Who’s Right and Who’s Responsible?

http://25477517.weebly.com/

The Bully Pulpit StudentHas a passionate opinion on the

subject—often from current events.

Can sometimes make controversial claims◦May also have a biased bibliography

How to keep the interview on the historical subject.

Rankings & Consistency

In teams of 3, rank the websites.

Check to see if your feedback matches up—DON’T CHANGE IT