Judging Orientation
58th Annual DRSEF
Agenda
1) Organization
2) Scoring
3) Conduct
Organization:
Michael Hoye
DRSEF is affiliated with the International
Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) which
entails millions of projects worldwide
Our region includes Dallas county plus 7
additional surrounding counties
There are approximately 1,000 students
at DRSEF today, all of whom won at their
school and/or district fairs
Today’s winners advance to the State
Science and Engineer Fair; Grand Prize
winners advance to ISEF
Two Kinds of Judges
Red Ribbon
Blue Ribbon
Science Category Judges
Special Award Judges
Determine category
winners
Determine donor
organization’s prize
winner
Divisions and Categories
Projects divided into:
Junior Division (6-8 grade)
Senior Division (9-12 grade)
Divisions are divided into science
categories:
Animal Science (AS)
Plant Science (PS)
Etc.
Some smaller categories have
been combined
JUDGE GROUPS
Each group is numbered and
interviews students in a particular
Division / Category
Each group must have a Captain
Aim for at least 3 judges per group
Large categories have more than one
judge group and will need a 2nd round
of judging
Rounds
9am
10am
11am
12pm
1pm
Round 1 – Interviews
Lunch Buffet
Round 2
2pm
3pm
Round 1 Results
Captain’s BLUE results sheet:
 Your group is one of several for the category.
 Pick top 3 projects, suggest Honorable
Mention
Captain’s ORANGE results sheet:
 Your group is the only one for the
category
 Rank winners and select Honorable
Mention
Captains submit Round 1 results and all score
sheets to judge check-in by 12:30pm
Round 2 Results
Round 2 required if more than one
judging group in the category
Captains meet at judge check-in after
Round 1 to collect results sheets for
Round 2
Compare projects across groups, rank
winners, and select Honorable
Mentions
Submit Round 2 results to judge checkin by 1:30pm
Scoring:
Nathan Eaton
Complete score sheet for each
project
Use scores as basis for
discussion
Note: different score sheets are
used for Engineering
Categories (EE, EN, ET, & EM)
vs Science Categories (the rest)
Scoring
Each judge interviews every
project in the group
Only one judge at a project at one
time
Ask many and detailed questions
Budget 8-10 minutes for each
project
Complete evaluations away from
the students
Scoring
Teams:
Include all members in the interview
Reduce presentation score if any
absent
Displayed forms for some projects:
Form 1C (work done in an institution)
Only judge student’s own work
Form 7 (continuation from last year)
Only judge this year’s work
Conduct:
Richard Cohen
Consider age, maturity,
knowledge. These are children,
not graduates!
Be respectful and encouraging.
Interviews are highlight of the
students’ fair.
Students take this competition
seriously. Try to put them at
ease.
Judging Don’ts
Don’t ask about parents or school
Don’t judge someone you know
Don’t ignore weak projects
Don’t criticize harshly
Don’t discuss your judging process
with students, parents, or teachers
later
Captains’
Responsibilities
Leadership in discussion,
consensus building, &
accuracy
Arbitrate differences of
opinion
MAINTAIN THE TIMETABLE
Captains’
Responsibilities
Return Round 1 results and all
score sheets by 12:30pm
Meet with other Captains in
category for Round 2 (if
needed). Another group
member can substitute.
Return Round 2 results by
1:30pm
Special Thanks to fair sponsors
Thank You!!!
Any questions?
Projects and results
will be on public
display today
5:30 – 6:30 pm
Do NOT move yet!
Fred Olness
Which group needs a captain?
Which group needs more judges?