Write It Do It B/C

[hscmom]

That makes sense.

Thanks. That's what I'm coaching to - get the right piece in the right place in the right orientation the right distance from the other pieces...

[erikb]

Hmmm - I figured that each piece could be worth more than a point (so that you could differentiate teams by score easier).

While you are correct, the rubrics do account for many aspects however, at nationals they tend to have tests that are very hard to complete in time. (not just WIDI)

In the past there have been tests that students can complete. Then comes the problem of how do you award first place. So with 15 pieces, yes the max score could be 105 or more but, too many teams would be conglomerated around that max score. With more then one team getting perfect a score.

Think about that, many teams at nationals have practiced just as much as your kids and for years at the high school level. 15 pieces would be easy.

But, if you make it so large that they can not describe every aspect of every piece in detail then it becomes a test of who can convey the information quickly and accurately.

That is the point, who can do this the best. Not who can be perfect.

[Unome]

Hmmm - I figured that each piece could be worth more than a point (so that you could differentiate teams by score easier).

While you are correct, the rubrics do account for many aspects however, at nationals they tend to have tests that are very hard to complete in time. (not just WIDI)

In the past there have been tests that students can complete. Then comes the problem of how do you award first place. So with 15 pieces, yes the max score could be 105 or more but, too many teams would be conglomerated around that max score. With more then one team getting perfect a score.

Think about that, many teams at nationals have practiced just as much as your kids and for years at the high school level. 15 pieces would be easy.

But, if you make it so large that they can not describe every aspect of every piece in detail then it becomes a test of who can convey the information quickly and accurately.

That is the point, who can do this the best. Not who can be perfect.

Well said.

[hscmom]

Think about that, many teams at nationals have practiced just as much as your kids and for years at the high school level. 15 pieces would be easy.

But, if you make it so large that they can not describe every aspect of every piece in detail then it becomes a test of who can convey the information quickly and accurately.

That is the point, who can do this the best. Not who can be perfect.

Which is why a good WIDI coach will test their teams with "easy" and "hard" builds. The writer has the important task of quickly assessing what sits before him and deciding how much detail to give. Small build? Lots of detail. Huge build? Just get the pieces close. The builder has the more important task of trusting that the writer did the very best given the complexity (or simplicity!) of the build and the time allotted.

Practice, practice, practice!

[GoofyFoofer]

For me, it wasn't practice, it was mostly luck. I was assigned on the WI/DI team the day before the competition (I'm not kidding) and I did much better than I thought I would.

[hscmom]

That's great, GF (I'm goofy-footed too if that even matters), but relying on luck doesn't always work that well. Our team has some great luck stories, but we have a lot more great worked-hard stories...

Congrats on your 4th - that's excellent.

[GoofyFoofer]

Thanks. My team has had more "hard-work-and-still-lose" stories, like when my teammates in boomilever made a really good boom and it broke on the way to the competition . But yeah, next time, I'm going to try to win for real .

[GoofyFoofer]

Quick question.
What type of event is "Picture This?"

[mkb14954]

Quick question.
What type of event is "Picture This?"

Picture This is a Lab Event.

[GoofyFoofer]

Ok. Thanks.