Event

Item

How to

Why

ALL

Re-Naming

Rename yourself using the “Participants” window so that it matches your Tabroom code.

Ex: Broadway SO

-Student Congress Debaters only need to do this to be placed in the team room and may switch back after being placed into their team room to their name (first and last) and should add their committee assignment.  (See below)

-Judges should also add “- Judge” after their name to help with placing into rooms right away.  

-Parliamentarians will want to add 

“- Parli” to the end of their name.  If there is more than one chamber they will want to add the designation of that chamber.

E.g. Nick Kalagian - Parli A, 

Michael Villacrusis - Parli B

This allows the Zoom Master to move folks into team rooms as soon as they are admitted into the session.

It also makes for a faster and easier time placing debaters in their rooms for competition.

The committee designation will also help in transferring Student Congress debaters into their chambers and committee rooms.

Event

Item

How To

Why

Student Congress

View Settings

Make sure you are in the “Gallery” view in order to be able to see everyone as opposed to the “Speaker” view.

This is especially important for POs but will also be good for getting to see and know your fellow Student Congress Debaters.

Microphone Settings

Everyone should be able to turn on and off their microphone - Point of Order necessitates this.  BUT, in every other circumstance microphones should be off until acknowledged by the Parli or PO.

This mimics how the procedure is actually done in Congress.  The ability to turn on one’s microphone without recognition should only be used in the case of a Point of Order.

Point of Information / Motions

Wave your placard for the camera to see so that you may be recognized by the PO.

This avoids overloading microphone/audio settings and enables equity between people’s typing ability.

Secret Ballot Voting

In chat settings, private message the Parli with the name of who you are voting for PO.

Quickest and easiest way to handle the PO election.

Committee

Assignment

(One Chamber)

Debaters will need to rename themselves with a dash and the letter of their committee based on the legislation they submitted.  

Ex: Steve O’Baugh - D

This will assist the Zoom master in terms of moving folks into breakout rooms as quickly and unconfusingly as possible.

Committee 

Assignment

(More than

One Chamber)

Parli will need to rename debaters with a dash, the letter of their committee, and the chamber they are in.  Ex: Steve O’Baugh - DB

This will assist the Zoom master in terms of moving folks into breakout rooms as quickly and unconfusingly as possible.

Re-Naming

(again)

Once business is underway the Parli should label themself as well as the PO by adding a suffix ( - Parli, - PO).

When it comes to vote tallying and awareness of who is in the chamber this is much more obvious.

Docket

The parli should create a Google Doc and share it as a view only open to everyone on the internet.  Post link in chat.

Debaters may refer to this document throughout the sessions.

Event

Item

How To

Why

Student

Congress

Recency

PO will need to have a template that they use NOT on their device so that they are not minimizing their view or constantly switching between the two.  This should be paper/pencil as much as it is possible.

This is a necessary part of being a good and responsible presiding officer for your chamber.  This will most likely also have a direct effect on your score.

Voting

Use the “Yes” or “No” option under “Participants” in Zoom when it comes to voting with motions and the like.

Easy and fast way for PO to count votes to determine majority, threshold, etc.  There should not be any division called for in this format.

Video Freezes (of a speaker)

If the freeze lasts for more than 10 seconds, the PO may proceed to the next step (another question, the next speech, etc.). Once that person returns, they should be given preference to complete whatever it is they were doing at the time.

If the order of business calls for a vote on the legislation before the person reconnects, the legislation should be tabled rather than voted upon. If the person does not reconnect before the end of the session, then the legislation can be untabled and voted upon.

This is an equitable way to handle connectivity issues which is beyond any debaters’ control.  There is also an extra opportunity in the form of motions to untable to continue business before the disruption.

Event

Item

How To

Why

Lincoln - Douglas

View Settings

Make sure you are in the “Gallery” view in order to be able to see everyone as opposed to the “Speaker” view.  

Speaker's view may neglect the judge.

Camera Use

(Competitor)

Please keep the camera off unless speaking (constructive, rebuttals, cross-examinations).  If you are having connectivity issues please try debating with your camera off.  Just be sure to let your judge know why you are doing so.

Avoids distractions and makes the other individuals' connection stronger.

Microphone Use

Please keep the microphone off unless speaking (Constructive, Cross-Examinations, and Rebuttals,).

Avoids distractions and makes the other individuals' connection stronger.

Event

Item

How To

Why

Public 

Forum

View Settings

Make sure you are in the “Gallery” view in order to be able to see everyone as opposed to the “Speaker” view.

The Speaker view makes Grand Crossfire particularly difficult.

Camera Use

(Competitor)

Please keep the camera off unless speaking. If you are having connectivity issues please try debating with your camera off.  Just be sure to let your judge know why you are doing so.

Avoids distractions and makes the other individuals' connection stronger.

Microphone Use

Please keep the microphone off unless speaking.

Avoids distractions and makes the other individuals' connection stronger.

Conferring with your partner

The easiest way to do this is to make use of your cell phone and call each other and have the call on-going during the debate.  Be sure to mute your phone and/or turn down the volume when you are speaking in ANY capacity.

This is the most equitable solution to allow partners to be able to communicate during the event.  Alternatives include using a shared Google Doc, Hangouts, or Chat.

Event

Item

How To

Why

Policy 

(CX)

View Settings

Make sure you are in the “Gallery” view in order to be able to see everyone as opposed to the “Speaker” view.

The Speaker view makes cross examination particularly difficult.

Camera Use

(Competitor)

Please keep the camera off unless speaking. If you are having connectivity issues please try debating with your camera off.  Just be sure to let your judge know why you are doing so.

Avoids distractions and makes the other individuals' connection stronger.

Microphone Use

Please keep the microphone off unless speaking.

Avoids distractions and makes the other individuals' connection stronger.

Conferring with your partner

The easiest way to do this is to make use of your cell phone and call each other and have the call on-going during the debate.  Be sure to mute your phone and/or turn down the volume when you are speaking in ANY capacity.

This is the most equitable solution to allow partners to be able to communicate during the event.  Alternatives include using a shared Google Doc, Hangouts, or Chat.