Event format: Test or Stations?

[sciolykid101]

I lean towards test for both. When you try to force stations on an event where they are unneeded it can get messy.

I like tests better too.

[EastStroudsburg13]

Hmm, I've never done stations except for Metric Mastery one time. Personally, I like tests, because you can go back to previous sections of the test to double-check if you have extra time. You can't do that with stations.

[binary010101]

In certain cases, proctors may set aside several minutes for students to return to stations they missed questions on. Also, for Remote Sensing, stations make more sense than passing out a separate test for each individual team.

[sciolykid101]

Hmm, I've never done stations except for Metric Mastery one time. Personally, I like tests, because you can go back to previous sections of the test to double-check if you have extra time. You can't do that with stations.

In Nationals, they said everyone could spend their full 50 minutes in one station and can go back to check their answers. There was no limit.

[mxc2009]

I personally like the stations better in most cases because it usually tests a more practical use of the knowledge you've obtained from studying. Also it's more fun because tests are usually so cookie cutter

[sadistic_cottoncandy]

stations may be fun, but they're also really confusing. by that i mean, the numbers get mixed up, people accidently skip a station, etc. a written test is a lot easier to deal with on all accounts. but for one of our competitions, we had a written test, and then a skeleton model test. the event moderator got up in front and pointed to a bunch of bones with a pen/stick thingy and then gave you 30 seconds- a minute to figure out which bone it was.

[pjgscioisamazing]

It really depends on the event. WIth Rocks and Minerals (well now fossils, but I did R and M) Stations makes a LOT more sense than a test, what with all the specimens/samples. With Disease, it's always a test, and if there was a Disease Detectives event that is stations I would FLIP For ANatomy, either would work, but I kinda like stations. Well last year at states it was quite stressful having 2 and a half minutes to answer 2 and a half pages of fill in questions (I still got 2nd ) and then last year at Nat'ls for Anatomy, it was the best event set up ever. The event was fairly easy, which wasn't the best, but the way it was set up was great. There were 20 stations and 2 sets of teh 20 were set up. You weren't timed per station, you just had 50 or 55 minutes to complete teh test. It was so nice cause you could take as much time, or as little time as possible at a station. It was a great set-up and definitely a set-up I wished they used more often I think it really depends on the event, but I like both tests and stations.

[Liv]

With my expirencne at school taking a test makes a student alot more scared. Stick with stations and if you need to do half n' half.

[Uncle Fester]

I think you're asking the wrong person for advice-- if you're setting up the event and running it, you need to ask YOURSELF. Don't get talked into what you're uncomfortable with or unable to do.

But first, serious advice, don't cut a test up and call it "stations". That is the lowest of the low.

Tests are easy in that you can only seriously screw up by making copying errors. If doing stations, confirm how many teams per session, since you can't have kids piling up with nowhere to go. having an empty station or two is a good idea.

Stations like recognition pictures/questions, interpreting pre-done lab data, and actually doing a short lab are all great. But, absolutely do NOT have anything that hasn't been tested beforehand. recently tested, and remembering back a year or two doesn't count. have "Parts Lists" done up ahead of time, and have someone else set it up PER THE LISTS and then try to do the lab. Forgotten materials and/or data is a gigantic source of problems. if it fails, fix it and DO IT AGAIN. Don't assume the fix actually fixes it. Any stations that require local assets need a backup plan in case a janitor (or their keys) don't show up. If it gets used over and over (like sandpaper), test it over and over.

Tests or stations, make sure each and every question has a "best" answer, plus an over/under acceptable margin error. If doing partial credit, keep it simple (all, half, none) to score, and have those ranges written down. Also, multiple copies of the key are a good idea-- keep one locked away from your box(es) of stuff, like in a glovebox, in case stuff disappears. Make sure you can brea ties.

This sounds like a ton of work. Hey, it is! But the first tourney you do will require the most work, and it'll quickly get easier. But skipping on the checks and double-checks can easily result in your first also being your last.

[sadistic_cottoncandy]

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T DO A POWERPOINT STATION TYPE THING!!!! THOSE ARE AWFUL!!