How do I Volunteer to be a general* judge at Northwest Ohio District 2 Science Day?(* Sponsored judges scroll down page)
It's as simple as clicking on this button
Print clearly your name, address, phone number, e-mail, affiliation (That is are you representing a particular school or company or just helping as an interested individual.) and number your preference of judging area. The fields include behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, botany, chemistry, computer sciences, earth and space sciences, engineering sciences, environmental sciences, mathematics, medicine and health, microbiology, physics, and zoology. You may choose as many areas as you like. Also check your preference of student level--junior high or high school or either.
We will respond with an acknowledgment of receipt of your registration within two days. You will be contacted by phone, mail, or e-mail with more specific information in the first week of March.
* Sponsored award judges are usually selected by the companies or organizations they are representing. If you are a sponsored judge please go to the sponsored judge section below.
What do I do on Science Day, March 28, 2009?
A meeting for all general judges will begin at 8AM in Wolfe Hall 1201. You must be at this meeting on time, even if you have attended for many years. New procedures are explained and problems solved. Please be prompt. (If you are judging a sponsored award please go to the special judge section below.) Wolfe Hall is adjacent to the West Parking Garage and is most easily found by entering the University from the entrance off Secor Road between Bancroft St. and the railroad overpass (click here for a campus map). Bowman-Oddy Laboratory is the three story building diagonally across the intersection at the first stop sign; four story Wolfe Hall is attached with the greenhouse on the roof. You may park in the lot to your right or in the parking structure to your left, behind Bowman-Oddy Laboratory and attached Wolfe Hall.
Go to the registration table and pick up your packet that will include the projects you have been assigned. Have a bagel or donut and a cup of coffee or juice and find your assigned seat next to your judging partner. A presentation will follow that hopefully will make your judging experience a rewarding one. Judging will commence at 9AM in the Student Union Auditorium. If your partner does not show, you will be assigned a new partner. No one may judge alone! It is a team effort and required by the Ohio Academy of Science.
Upon arrival at the Auditorium, it's suggested you take time for a quick walk-by of your projects and determine a judging order, perhaps based on location or research topic. Introduce yourself to each student and try to set them at ease. Most will be nervous, only natural for an event like this. Judging techniques will vary, but generally you want to hear a synopsis of what each student did. Look for knowledge of the scientific method, familiarity with terminology and concepts of the specific field, the use of a control, the running of a number of trials, etc. Look at their research report and note age appropriate references in their bibliography or references cited section. Examine their poster boards for an age appropriate display of all important data. Note errors in spelling or sloppiness. Also recognize creativeness in the research. At the bottom of this page are some sites that will provide you with some helpful hints and judging techniques.
Some judging teams wait until they have talked to all their students to complete the judging by arriving at rankings; others determine a rank for each project as they go along. This is up to you, however be aware of the time aspect and try to be prompt in turning in rating sheets and student participation ribbons.. A judges room is provided for you to evaluate your notes on each project. Refreshments will be available. It's suggested you both arrive at numerical values (1-10 highest) in the four or five categories of knowledge achieved, use of scientific method, clarity of expression, originality/creativity, and teamwork (if it is a team project). Compare your values, see if you can reach a consensus, and then fill out the rating sheet and turn it in at the registration/checkout table. You are encouraged to add positive and constructive comments to the rating sheets. This is especially useful to students selected to represent District 2 at State Science Day. Pick up a yellow participation ribbon for each student you judged. If a consensus cannot be reached, turn in two rating sheets for the same project. Note that this will result in rejudging as per Ohio Academy of Science rules. Upon completing your ranking of a project be certain that you return the appropriate ranking sheet copy to the student plus a yellow participation ribbon. If the project is to be rejudged do not return materials to the student, this will be done after rejudging.
Judges, it is of utmost importance that you complete your judging in a timely manner. The District 2 office staff has a major task in compiling the rankings and awards before the afternoon awards ceremony. The sooner you complete your judging, the easier it is to prepare for the ceremony. After you are finished judging, have turned in your rating sheets to the checkout table, given each project you judged a yellow participation ribbon and student copy of the ranking sheet, and turned in your judge ribbon your work is finished. We, however, suggest you view the projects before leaving and talk with students whose projects interest you. Thanks for being a general judge at NWDSD. Be certain to pick up your certificate of appreciation at the checkout table outside the Student Union Auditorium.
For more help and tips about science fair judging try these sites:
Science Day Guide Joanne Zinser Mann
The Ohio Academy of Science Science Day Standards (includes Instructions to Judges Section)
I'm a Sponsored Award Judge, what do I do?
A meeting for all Sponsored Award Judges begins at 8AM in the Ingman Room of the University of Toledo Student Union Building. This room is located on the east side of the building on the second floor off the main lounge (signs will be located directing you). Please be prompt. Sign in at the registration table and sit at the table with the name of your sponsored award. Coffee, juice, bagels, and donuts will be available. A folder will have a list of all the students that have signed up for your award(s). A briefing on judging will be presented. Judging will begin at 9AM.
Some of you may have a lengthy list of projects to look at; others may have just a few. It is up to you, as a group, how you go about determining the awardee(s) of your award(s). It is suggested you conduct a walk by to look at all your projects and then determine your order of judging. In a few cases where only a few students have applied for an award you might be able to find other projects that qualify. It is your option to judge these as well. It is perfectly acceptable to eliminate those that do not meet the qualifications of your award(s), especially if you have a large number of applicants. Some of you may judge alone; others may work in teams.
You may return to the Ingman Room to discuss the projects before arriving at the final awardees. Please make certain the projects meet the specific requirements of your awards. If you don't have qualifying projects for some awards please let the registration desk know. If you make any changes in your organizations awards, also inform the registration table. Complete your judging in a timely manner, realizing that all judging must be completed by Noon. The District 2 office staff will appreciate early receipt of awardees so there is plenty of time to complete certificates before the afternoon awards ceremony. After selecting your awardees turn the list of recipients in to the registration desk in the Ingman Room and return your special judge ribbons. Please make certain it is clear who received each award. We suggest that you take time before leaving to view all the projects and talk to students that have projects of interest. Lunch is also available. You are also encouraged to present your organization's award(s) at the awards ceremony beginning at 2:30 in Doermann Theatre in University Hall; otherwise we will make the presentations for you.. Please let those at the Registration table know of your intent. Thanks for being a special judge at NWDSD. Be certain to pick up your certificate of appreciation at the registration desk.