HOW TO BE THE BEST OFFICIAL IN…

an INTRODUCTION and REMINDER

THANK YOUTHANK YOUfor VOLUNTEERING Your Time for VOLUNTEERING Your Time

to be an to be an Odyssey of the Mind OfficialOdyssey of the Mind Official!

You make Odyssey possible for our students!

What is Odyssey of the Mind?What is Odyssey of the Mind?

A program where teams of students work A program where teams of students work together to solve original, fun problems.together to solve original, fun problems.

How?How?

By using their creativity.By using their creativity.

What should I expect?What should I expect?

How do they present their solutions?How do they present their solutions?

In an 8-minute performance.In an 8-minute performance.

The Unexpected!The Unexpected!

Teams compete in DivisionsTeams compete in Divisions

• Primary: Kindergarten – 2Primary: Kindergarten – 2ndnd Grade Grade

• Division I: Kindergarten – 5Division I: Kindergarten – 5thth Grade Grade

• Division II: 6Division II: 6thth – 8 – 8thth Grade Grade

• Division III: 9Division III: 9thth – 12 – 12thth Grade Grade

• Division IV: Collegiate/Military Division IV: Collegiate/Military

Division is determined by the oldest team member.Division is determined by the oldest team member.

Long-Term: Long-Term: The solution is worth up to The solution is worth up to 200200 pointspoints

● ● Verbal – Respond to something, tell a story, etc.Verbal – Respond to something, tell a story, etc.

Long-Term + Style + Spontaneous = Total ScoreLong-Term + Style + Spontaneous = Total Score

The Three Scoring Components The Three Scoring Components ofof

Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the Mind

Style Style within the presentation of the Long-Term within the presentation of the Long-Term Solution is worth up to Solution is worth up to 5050 points.points.

Spontaneous: Spontaneous: The solution is worth up to The solution is worth up to 100 points100 points

● ● Hands-on – Build something, manipulate materials, etc.Hands-on – Build something, manipulate materials, etc.

● ● Assigned on the day of the tournament and are Assigned on the day of the tournament and are Top Secret!Top Secret!

● ● Combination Verbal & Hands-on – action and responses.Combination Verbal & Hands-on – action and responses.

What’s a Long Term What’s a Long Term Problem?Problem?

Long Term Problems have many components and focus on: ~ Problems 1 and 2 typically emphasize technology ~ Problems 3 & 5 emphasize the arts. ~ Problem 4 is always involves a unique balsa wood structure that holds weight.

Teams take weeks or months preparing their Teams take weeks or months preparing their Long Term Problems! Long Term Problems!

Examples from previous years

What is Style?What is Style?Style is theStyle is the elaborationelaboration of the Long-Term Problem solution. of the Long-Term Problem solution.

Style provides teams with the opportunity Style provides teams with the opportunity to showcase their skills and to incorporate to showcase their skills and to incorporate their interests into their solutions.their interests into their solutions.

Style can be art, music, dance, humor, Style can be art, music, dance, humor, engineering, costuming, creative writing, engineering, costuming, creative writing, creative use of materials, and on and on.creative use of materials, and on and on.

Mandatory Style categories Mandatory Style categories are described in the problem.are described in the problem.

““Free Choice of Team”Free Choice of Team” categories categories are created by the team.are created by the team.

All Style Categories are scored All Style Categories are scored subjectivelysubjectively..

Style #5:Style #5: “Overall effect of the four Style elements”“Overall effect of the four Style elements” in the in the performance.performance. (Base this score on how the four Style components (Base this score on how the four Style components enhance the overall presentation.)enhance the overall presentation.)

Judging PositionsJudging Positions (Interaction with (Interaction with teams)teams)

Staging Area JudgeStaging Area Judge – Greet & relax teams. Check paperwork. Give teams the chance to fix anything that is wrong or missing.

Timekeeper/AnnouncerTimekeeper/Announcer – Introduce yourself to the teams. Take paperwork to the judging team.

Problem & Style JudgesProblem & Style Judges – Know what to score. Congratulatethe team after its performance. Ask questions in a warm mannerthat prompt the team members to talk and even brag abouttheir solution. Such as, “Where did you get the idea to make it a…”

ScorecheckerScorechecker – Make sure the scores are in range and are compiled correctly. In cases where scores are significantly different alert the Head Judge.

Head JudgeHead Judge – Manage the judging team. Meet with the coach and give the scores before they are entered into the scoring program. Any single penalty of 25 or more points must be reported by the Head Judge to the Problem Captain and Tournament Director before being processed in Scoring.

Subjective ScoringSubjective ScoringSubjective scoring Subjective scoring is assessed based on the opinion of the judge.is assessed based on the opinion of the judge.

● ● Scores are generally different from judge to judge.Scores are generally different from judge to judge.

● ● Scored on a scale (such as Scored on a scale (such as 11 to to 1010 points). points).

● ● Scored for what the team did.Scored for what the team did.

● ● No penalty if it was not presented. No penalty if it was not presented.

Example: Example: Creative use of a material in a costumeCreative use of a material in a costume……11 to to 10 10 pointspoints.. (The team chooses the costume and the material to be scored.)(The team chooses the costume and the material to be scored.)

(Not what you thought it should have done.)(Not what you thought it should have done.)

(Just a score of zero points for that category.)(Just a score of zero points for that category.)

● ● Use the scoring guidelines as reference only.Use the scoring guidelines as reference only.

● ● Consider classroom style scoring. Give teams credit (score) Consider classroom style scoring. Give teams credit (score) for the effort as well as for the level of the result.for the effort as well as for the level of the result.

Was it successful?Was it successful?

- Every judge has the same score for these categories.- Every judge has the same score for these categories.

Objective ScoringObjective Scoring

Yes. Yes.

No.No.

The vehicle travels in reverse…The vehicle travels in reverse…00 or 10 points or 10 points..

- No partial score.- No partial score.

- Gets scored only one time.- Gets scored only one time.

- May be attempted multiple times unless the problem states otherwise.- May be attempted multiple times unless the problem states otherwise.

Then the team gets the predetermined amount of Then the team gets the predetermined amount of points listed in the problem. points listed in the problem.

Then the team gets zero points for that scoring Then the team gets zero points for that scoring category.category.

For Example:For Example:

Something is completed or not completed.Something is completed or not completed.

What Makes a Great Official?What Makes a Great Official?

Being punctual? You You mustmust be on time. be on time.

Knowing the rules of the problem you’re judging?

Every judge needs Every judge needs to know the rules.to know the rules.

Scoring consistently? Score ‘accordingly’. Score ‘accordingly’. (That is, score what you saw, not what you expected to see or remember from years past.)

Finding “cheaters”? Wrong approach.Wrong approach.(Most teams follow the rules.)

So, what makes a great Odyssey of the Mind judge?So, what makes a great Odyssey of the Mind judge?

A Great Attitude!A Great Attitude!

Smile!Smile!

Enjoy Watching Enjoy Watching The Performances!The Performances!

Congratulate Congratulate the Teams!the Teams!

Have Fun!Have Fun!

Relax the Team!Relax the Team!

Things to RememberThings to RememberTeams worked for months creating their solution.Teams worked for months creating their solution.

For most teams this 8-minute performance is all the time they his 8-minute performance is all the time they have to show their work. have to show their work. Make it rewardingMake it rewarding..

You might judge 10 or more teams but each is different. You might judge 10 or more teams but each is different. Keep up your enthusiasm for every team!Keep up your enthusiasm for every team!

No matter how much experience you have, no one has ever No matter how much experience you have, no one has ever judged this problem before. judged this problem before. They’re new every year!They’re new every year!

Feel free to discuss the solution with other judges to ensure Feel free to discuss the solution with other judges to ensure you didn’t miss anything. you didn’t miss anything. Give teams every point they earn!Give teams every point they earn!

Use the range when scoring subjective categories. Use the range when scoring subjective categories. Creativity is diverse!Creativity is diverse!

Most teams will not advance. This is their OotM experience. Most teams will not advance. This is their OotM experience. You are the face of the program!You are the face of the program!

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Judges “To Do” Check ListJudges “To Do” Check List

Smile!Smile!

Read and bring a copy of the Problem, the general rules, Read and bring a copy of the Problem, the general rules, and all clarifications to the tournament.and all clarifications to the tournament.

Introduce yourself to the judging team.Introduce yourself to the judging team.

Welcome and help relax the team members for each team.Welcome and help relax the team members for each team.

Congratulate every team for solving the problem.Congratulate every team for solving the problem.

Give every team all of the score they deserve.Give every team all of the score they deserve.

Consider the entire range when scoring subjective categoriesConsider the entire range when scoring subjective categories.

Smile!!

Smile!!!

Take notes to remember each solution.Take notes to remember each solution.

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Don’t act like a Don’t act like a JudgeJudge.

Don’t assess penalties without proof of a violation.Don’t assess penalties without proof of a violation.

Don’t score the first teams low if they did well.Don’t score the first teams low if they did well.

Don’t score harder in the next level of competition.

Don’t ‘challenge’ teams with your questions.

Judges “Not To Do” Check Judges “Not To Do” Check ListList

Consider yourself as part of the audience that is allowed to award scores.Consider yourself as part of the audience that is allowed to award scores.

If something you see later is better give it a higher score. If you already If something you see later is better give it a higher score. If you already gave a team the highest possible score then both teams get that score. gave a team the highest possible score then both teams get that score. Any time 2 teams get the same score, whether both receive Any time 2 teams get the same score, whether both receive 11, , 55, or , or 1010 points, different levels of creativity are equated. Don’t worry, it happens.points, different levels of creativity are equated. Don’t worry, it happens.

Never think,“That team couldn’t have built (or done) that”; however, don’t Never think,“That team couldn’t have built (or done) that”; however, don’t ignore violations because that’s unfair to teams that followed the rules.ignore violations because that’s unfair to teams that followed the rules.

Scores should go up as teams advance since those tournaments have Scores should go up as teams advance since those tournaments have the teams with the most creative solutions.the teams with the most creative solutions.

In a friendly, calm tone, ask questions in a warm manner that prompt the In a friendly, calm tone, ask questions in a warm manner that prompt the team members to talk and even brag about their solution. For example, team members to talk and even brag about their solution. For example, ask “Who’s idea was it to…?” “How did you come up with ….?” “Was ask “Who’s idea was it to…?” “How did you come up with ….?” “Was this your first idea?”this your first idea?”

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Thanks again!Thanks again!

Have Fun!

Tournament Tournament InformationInformation

Date: March 1, 2014

Location: Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy Center 2850 N. Jerusalem Rd., Wantagh, NY

Hours of Tournament: 8:00 A.M. until 4:40 P.M.

Web Site: www.nassauboces.org/odyssey

Tournament Director Contact Information:Patricia Busset 516-396-2362 Mary Stephens 516 – 396- 2256Carolann James 516-396-2330

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