The detailed workload and time requirements are explained on the page “What are the time requirements?” This page gives you an idea of how you should interact with the students.
The fun part of being a judge is meeting the students, playing with the rigs and understanding how much work the teams put into their project. It is certainly an eye-opener to see how creative the teams are, but you will also notice that some teams are far ahead of others. Keep in mind that some teams have built upon the work of their fellow students who first competed in 2015, while new teams arrive with no experience. Some teams, even veteran teams, have not yet realized that success means that multiple skill sets are needed to solve the problem. This is one of the main drivers that led to centralized testing. Everyone will get to see their competitors in action.
Unlike our industry, we try to share as much information as possible, but within some constraints. After the final test, we publish all design reports and presentations. However, we protect any innovative work during the competition year. So please do not reveal creative concepts you read in a design report or a monthly report until the end of the competition in June.
Also, we want to encourage as many students as possible. As you question teams to get a feel for their depth of understanding, pull back when you recognize that you are going beyond their capabilities. It is okay to probe, followed by teaching them what to look for or what resources they should use to get deeper into the science. Just be careful not to embarrass anyone in a way that would discourage their continued participation. Always point out the positive aspect of what they learned before delving into some area where they need more development. Keep the conversation positive.
By all means, you may ask individual students more questions if you think they would make good employees, but be discrete. Do not do this in front of their teammates or other students who may feel left out.
