HOW
DOES SCIENCE DECATHLON WORK?
Intro
from Home Page
Form
& register a team
Typically, students with the guidance of at least one adult (coach)
register and begin preparation for tournament competition by identifying
at least one event from the Event List in which they would like
to compete. As tournament coordinators identify tournament dates,
reserve facilities, recruit event supervisors and establish communication,
these students, usually in groups of at least two, pairs, then
review Event Rules, complete event preparation (as they determine
should be done in accordance with Event Rules, Coaches Resources,
Message Board input, internet resources and, eventually, experience),
then travel to tournament sites for any given tournament.
Learn
what to expect of a tournament
Tournaments are usually on Saturdays. Actual competition is generally
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Read
More (continued from Home Page)
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. . completed within a four-hour period or so on a tournament
date. Tournament coordinators determine exact event selection,
event scheduling, pre-, post-tournament activities (Check-In/Registration,
impound, Opening Ceremony, announcements, coaches/event supervisor
meetings, lunch options, Awards Ceremony, banquet(s), groups activities,
general entertainment, post-tournament meeting, etc.). The only
tournament essentials recommended by National Science Decathlon
are:
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including as many QUALITY event activities from the most
current Event List/Rules as possible;
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following a Nationally coordinated event schedule;
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providing as high a quality awards (certificates, ribbons,
medals, trophies, letterman jacket pins and dog tags) as
can be afforded;
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heeding participant input and feedback; and
~ ensuring that tournaments are run as professionally and
efficiently as possible.
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Given
those basics, students, or teams, strategize and use whatever
period of time they would want for tournament preparation. This
may be the full year for extremely competitive teams. It may only
be a few days or weeks for teams or individuals who have just
found out about Science Decathlon. The bottom line is that teams
can make adjustments to their preparation schedule as they would
want and determine to be best.
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Current Science Decathlon tournament options
Currently, National Science Decathlon is identifying State and
Conference level leadership representatives so participating teams
have an opportunity to compete in as many as three tournaments
annually. '07-'08 particpating teams would have an opportunity
to compete in at least a State and/or Conference level tournament.
Some will be able to compete in State and Conference tournaments.
A predetermined number of teams from each State and/or Conference
level tournament would then be invited to compete in the 2008
National Science Decathlon tournament. There, they would compete
with the best science students in the United States and be recognized
and awarded based on the science skills and knowledge they had
developed to that point in time.
National
Science Decathlon goal
Eventually, the goal of National Science Decathlon is to have
multiple tournaments (local, district, practice, invitational,
regional, state, conference and a national tournament) available
on a weekly basis in all areas of the United States throughout
the entire year. It will be a great day when Americans celebrate
accomplishments in science decathlon achievment as much as we
do in baseball, football, basketball and golf.
Strategize
- yearly schedule, practice schedule, workload
Teams may also want to identify how they will prepare for Science
Decathlon competition. Again, there is no formula for grand success.
Strategy, or items like meeting/practice schedule, practice specifics,
number of coaches, fundraising, events/student, balance of engineering,
lab and knowledge event workload, etc., are all determined by
team members, team chemistry, coaches and available resources.
One National Science Decathlon recommendation, though, is for
students and coaches to seek professional support from community
representatives like university professors, government experts,
business leaders and club organizers. Often times, practice schedules
and resources may be determined by availability of these individuals.
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Pre-tournament
activities
At a typical Science Decathlon tournament, registered participants
can expect to receive a coaches packet including all of the forms
they would need to complete & submit and information such
as campus maps, event schedule and program which are useful for
navigation as they Check-In. It is also important to follow impound
procedures and sign-up for pre-scheduled engineering events like
Bridge/Tower Breaking, Water Rocketry and Cranefly. Usually these
tasks can be completed at the beginning of the tournament. From
there, again dependent on choices made by tournament coordinators
for any specific tournament, there may be additional pre-tournament
activities for coaches, students and event supervisors. Check
event schedules and/or talk to tournament coordinators for specifics.
Tournament
competition
Once
preliminaries have been completed, competition begins. This may
include a meal break, it may not. To date, Science Decathlon competitions
have consisted of four 50-minute periods where pre-scheduled engineering
event participants coordinate their test times with their teams
and their own personal schedules. At any rate, all competition
is conducted and completed within an allotted amount of time.
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Types
of events
During this competition period, there are many types of events.
One is engineering events where students design, build, test,
re-design, re-build, re-test structures or devices before a competition
date. Final tests of these structures or devices are completed
at competition.
A
second type of event, typically known as a lab event, is such
that student will not have pre-prepared any specific items other
than tools and supplies they think will be helpful for completing
an event or that have been identified as required (like a mixing
plates, lab coat or safety goggles) in event rules or by event
supervisors. This does not mean they will not have prepared for
the competition. It only means that the event is left open-ended
enough that students will have had to anticipate a number of means
by which an event supervisor can prepare event activities and
assess their knowledge and skill as it relates to event material
and requirements. To do well, students will have needed to complete
thorough preparation and, really, be ready for anything as it
would relate to any given lab event rules.
A
third type of event, typically known as a knowledge event, is
implemented so students can 'walk-in' having maybe only studied
subject matter in a traditional class setting. Event activities
may not require that students bring anything with them other than
a writing utensil. Even so, they will want to check event rules
to determine what is required so they will not be penalized. This
type of event may be of most interest to late registrants who
do not have a lot of time to prepare for all tournament events.
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Scoring
After tournament competition has been completed, it is up to event
coordinators to determine how to handle compilation of event scores
and timing of an Award Ceremony and/or any other post-tournament
activities. Typically, if coaches, students and event supervisors
complete paperwork properly and submit required items on a timely
basis, event and team scores can be compiled fairly quickly by
an experience score keeper using a National Science Decathlon
Excel Master Scoresheet (spreadsheet). Many times there are delays
and glitches. Even so, awards can usually be distributed to individuals
and eventually teams within 30-60 minutes from the completion
of the tournament competition.
Scoring
itself is an interesting process. To do so seamlessly, it is important
for coaches and students to complete & submit team rosters
and event sheets at the beginning of the day and when checking
in to each event. From there, event supervisors administer or
facilitate event activities and then assess and rank students
accordingly. Event Score Sheets are submitted with all other event
materials (like Event Contracts, Event Sheets and completed activity
materials) to the Score Room. Scores, or more specifically, individual
or team rank, team name, team number and student name(s) are transferred
from Score Sheets to the Master (Excel) Scoresheet, compiled,
checked, double-checked and even triple-checked.
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Post-tournament
activities
Once the scoring process has been completed, awards can be distributed.
Typically, this is done where individuals from either one or more
Divisions are recognized and awarded first. Team awards and final
announcements are distributed and made near the end of the tournment.
It
is important to note that a key word used in the summary above
is TYPICAL. All Science Decathlon tournaments, teams and students
are unique. Given the numerous elements involved in recruiting
individuals, preparing teams and coordinating tournaments, you
can almost say anything goes. Even so, National Science Decathlon
strongly encourages participants and volunteers to always do their
best to learn and identify what is important for QUALITY Science
Decathlon preparation and planning. Execute accordingly. However,
it is most important to recognize that Science Decathlon is a
volunteer, non-profit organization and that the most important
factor is students having fun challenging themselves and learning
more about our fascinating world with tools provided by a good
science education. With that, please note that observations and
experiences for each Science Decathlon participant may NOT be
in accordance with what is documented above. Hopefully, though,
they will be better.
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