Judges' Calibration Steps

JUDGES’ CALIBRATION STEPS

1- Mindset

High School = Learning Mindset → improvement-focused, teen-appropriate, inclusive language

Learn About / Refresh Your Understanding →  the category you’re assigned to judge & key “look fors”...we make it easy!  No Googling required – see resources section {HERE} 

Reflect & Check Your Biases → judge performances, not people

2-Ballots: FIRST Wins & Points

Choose pro / con, rank speakers, assign points. 

Review your choices. 

Don't take points from things students' can't control (tech issues, appearance, unanticipated walk-ins, etc.) or perceptions that may stem from implicit bias. 

Review again.

Be confident in your choices.

3-Submit

Timely ballot submission keeps tournaments on time.

Timeline: Immediately = In the first 5-10 minutes after the round finishes

4-THEN-Feedback

Must Do: Reason for Decision → What were you looking for?  What won the round for you, and why?

Can Do:  Oral Feedback.  Constructive comments for individual teams and / or speakers.  Revise.

Timeline: Ballot comments can be entered until the end of the tournament.  

Please do not hold up the entire tournament putting in comments before submitting your points.