World Festival Scores

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by Dean Hystad

Another problem about focusing on scores instead of solving problems. My boys solved most of the missions (counting bacteria in the sink as 1 mission) and got a score much less than half the maximum score. This didn't phase them much because they never calculated what their score was, but if they had been counting points it probably would have freaked them out.

Dean, I really admire and appreciate what you do around here. But "much less than half the maximum score" was still 1st Place at your Qualifier. (Sorry, but I looked up your team.)

It seems like we're getting hung up on some minor differences. I personally like the Time Limit and emphasis on Score during Robot Performance because it encourages the kids to use their resources (time and mission reliability) strategically for maximum effect. I also like that the Design Judging allows and encourages the kids to explore Creative Problem Solving with no regard for time or reliablity.

Seems like we can all be satisfied with at least one of the judging formats. Personally I like them all.

[LOLComets]

From my experience, our team was competing against the board first. The perfect score of 400 points was a target that was within reach and got team members trying different ways. The body forward challenge had two difficult actions: the cells and moving the box of medicine. Smart move had one major hurdle of getting to the NE corner.

It seemed the kids this season set a lower bar for themselves because there was no perfect score and they created their own "max score". This is just one team's experience and if this is common, I would hope that we go back to the 400 points where there is one or two missions that are extra ordinarily difficult.

Personally, setting the bar at 450 points knowing that NO team will achieve it doesn't make sense (personal opinion)!

[baybots2012]

Originally Posted by Dean Hystad

and wink-wink, you just happen to do so side by side with (not against) another team and we give a trophy to the highest score, nod-nod.

nods as good as a wink to a blind man, eh? know what i mean?