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