Welcome
Fair Coordinators!
Tips to Encourage Fair
Participation
If you have talented students who are interested in
science and engineering, here are some ways to encourage them to participate
in a science and engineering fair.
Teacher Science
Fair Checklist
Here is a checklist for you to give your school's teachers to help
them prepare their students for the local, regional and possibly International
fairs. This page also includes a list for students to help them get started.
State Fair recommendations
For grade 6-12 students who are interested in advancing beyond the regional fair to the state fair, this page includes recommendations on what their project should include for the state fair.
Judging Criteria
The regional fair has a set of judging criteria which includes weighting
for various aspects
of the project. Local fairs may use the criteria,
modify them to suit local circumstances, or establish their own set
of criteria. It would be good, however, for students going on to
the regional fair to be made aware of these criteria so they can
prepare for the judges' expectations. Finding Judges
Local fairs should always attempt to fill positions locally. Possible
avenues include: PTA/PTO members, parents (it is better for parents
to judge grades in which they have no children), spouses of
teachers and staff, teachers from other schools in the area, contacts
at civil
and/or professional organizations, area college professors and instructors,
etc.
• The number of judges needed will depend on the size
of the fair, the number of separate judging
categories, the number
of awards to be given, etc., but a coordinate should try to have
one judge
for every 8-10 participants.
Quick Tips
• Judging should be a positive learning experience
for the students involved. Feedback should
include positives as well
as suggestions for improvement.
• There should be enough judges so that the judging
process is not rushed and there is time to
give each entrant personal feedback,
either orally or in writing. If students are personally
interviewed by the judges,
at least 4-5 minutes should be allowed for each exhibit.
• The opinion of multiple judges is always better but judging can
also be done by a single judge at
first with several judges then reviewing
the top projects to determine final place standings.
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