District Media FestivalDistrict Media Festival

Using Digital Resources to Using Digital Resources to Assist in Judging and ScoringAssist in Judging and Scoring

Peggy Helmly and Jeff LariscyPeggy Helmly and Jeff Lariscy

Why a Local Festival?Why a Local Festival?

• The district can insure that the best The district can insure that the best projects are sent to the state level and projects are sent to the state level and the county is well represented.the county is well represented.

• Helps financially as the county pays Helps financially as the county pays the registration costs of projects that the registration costs of projects that have gone through the festival.have gone through the festival.

• Gives each school exposure to other Gives each school exposure to other schools projects.schools projects.

Why Use Digital Resources?Why Use Digital Resources?

To provide more flexibility in the To provide more flexibility in the judging schedulejudging schedule

– Projects are accessible to be judged via a Projects are accessible to be judged via a web site at any time where there is web site at any time where there is Internet access.Internet access.

– Previously, judges were relegated to a Previously, judges were relegated to a single day (evening) of meeting to judge single day (evening) of meeting to judge in a marathon session; fatigue and anxiety in a marathon session; fatigue and anxiety were serious issues. Projects judged later were serious issues. Projects judged later suffered.suffered.

Why Use Digital Resources?Why Use Digital Resources?

• File format issues are eliminated as File format issues are eliminated as all projects are uploaded as specific all projects are uploaded as specific file types (school sponsors assist in file types (school sponsors assist in conversion and upload).conversion and upload).

• Digitally collecting scores allowed for Digitally collecting scores allowed for easier and quicker calculations and easier and quicker calculations and tabulations.tabulations.

Why Use Digital Resources?Why Use Digital Resources?

• Using the Digital Resources allowed Using the Digital Resources allowed for the students to be entered into a for the students to be entered into a database allowing for easier creation database allowing for easier creation of Certificates of Participation and of Certificates of Participation and Awards.Awards.

• The solution also allows for an archive The solution also allows for an archive of the projects and winners, again of the projects and winners, again accessible via the Internet.accessible via the Internet.

Problems EncounteredProblems Encountered

• School sponsors often need assistance School sponsors often need assistance in translating file types (e.g. DVD in translating file types (e.g. DVD format to a Window Media Player format to a Window Media Player (.wmv) file).(.wmv) file).

• Powerpoint files are sometimes Powerpoint files are sometimes uploaded without the supporting uploaded without the supporting audio, video, and/or picture files and audio, video, and/or picture files and therefore may not work as expected.therefore may not work as expected.

Problems EncounteredProblems Encountered

• Entering scores for each category of Entering scores for each category of judging made tabulation easier. judging made tabulation easier. However, judges were not able to However, judges were not able to “see” the total they were awarding the “see” the total they were awarding the project which led some to award a project which led some to award a lower score.lower score.

• Feedback for students was difficult to Feedback for students was difficult to extract from the database and provide extract from the database and provide back to the student.back to the student.

Changes MadeChanges Made

Scoring was moved back to paper based Scoring was moved back to paper based forms:forms:

– Allowing judges to “see” the progress of Allowing judges to “see” the progress of their scoring efforts for projectstheir scoring efforts for projects

– Total scores are still collected via web Total scores are still collected via web form and tabulation is done electronically.form and tabulation is done electronically.

– Providing students with a paper form for Providing students with a paper form for feedback including judge’s commentsfeedback including judge’s comments

– Paper forms provide a backup to judging Paper forms provide a backup to judging rationale.rationale.

Getting StartedGetting Started

• Establish a committee (include Establish a committee (include district personnel when possible) and district personnel when possible) and develop guidelines – we based ours develop guidelines – we based ours upon the Georgia Student Media upon the Georgia Student Media Festival.Festival.

• Identify a platform on which to host Identify a platform on which to host your content – we used Moodle, ISMF your content – we used Moodle, ISMF has utilized WordPress (see your IT has utilized WordPress (see your IT Department for a recommendation).Department for a recommendation).

Getting StartedGetting Started

TrainingTraining• School Sponsors must be provided training School Sponsors must be provided training

over the guidelines of the local festivalover the guidelines of the local festival• School Sponsors also must be trained to School Sponsors also must be trained to

convert files to appropriate file types and convert files to appropriate file types and upload to the hosting platform.upload to the hosting platform.

• Judges (of course) must be trained in the Judges (of course) must be trained in the criteria for judging the projects, accessing criteria for judging the projects, accessing the projects from the hosting platform and the projects from the hosting platform and then entering scores into the scoring forms.then entering scores into the scoring forms.

PatiencePatience

As this will be new to many, and many As this will be new to many, and many will come along that are unfamiliar with will come along that are unfamiliar with the process, training is critical. Even the process, training is critical. Even after multiple training sessions, after multiple training sessions, individual help afforded to school individual help afforded to school sponsors and judges will be required sponsors and judges will be required throughout the process. District throughout the process. District coordinators will, without doubt be coordinators will, without doubt be called upon frequently.called upon frequently.

FlexibilityFlexibility

Every year, we determine issues that Every year, we determine issues that need to be tweaked in the guidelines, need to be tweaked in the guidelines, the processes, and the personnel (often, the processes, and the personnel (often, the district coordinator will run away the district coordinator will run away screaming). screaming).

Be prepared to make changes from year Be prepared to make changes from year to year (or within the process).to year (or within the process).

Q & AQ & A

Questions?Questions?