Moderator Training Resources
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Moderator Training Resources
I'm trying to help a college-run tournament in my area to improve. They have a lot of good resources: a whole college of a university behind them (the college head is personally involved!,) a ton of excellent volunteers, and they've even begun using good questions as of last year. They even seem to be persuaded to adopt a standard schedule, which is outstanding for me,
What they don't have is a good way to train their volunteer moderators. Who can suggest some good stuff to send them? I'm aiming for things that interested and probably pretty intelligent but not necessarily experienced people can benefit most from in terms of likelihood of walking in the door and running a reasonable game. We all know by now that randos won't always pan out and will sometimes be disasters, but I'll take slightly trained randos any day! Bonus if it applies best to mACF or IHSSBCA formats.
I've already shared PACE's excellent moderator tips and PACE's "What is Quizbowl?" video and NAQT's basic rules video, as well as a couple compiled moderator tips and instruction lists that I've used through the years which some of you may be already familiar with.
What they don't have is a good way to train their volunteer moderators. Who can suggest some good stuff to send them? I'm aiming for things that interested and probably pretty intelligent but not necessarily experienced people can benefit most from in terms of likelihood of walking in the door and running a reasonable game. We all know by now that randos won't always pan out and will sometimes be disasters, but I'll take slightly trained randos any day! Bonus if it applies best to mACF or IHSSBCA formats.
I've already shared PACE's excellent moderator tips and PACE's "What is Quizbowl?" video and NAQT's basic rules video, as well as a couple compiled moderator tips and instruction lists that I've used through the years which some of you may be already familiar with.
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Re: Moderator Training Resources
I put together a checklist a few years ago that I think still holds up: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FTe ... sp=sharing
Jacob R., ex-Chicago
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Re: Moderator Training Resources
Thanks, that is pretty good. You should strike the part where it says "say "answer?" on second 4 (of a tossup)" since that's not a rule anywhere and all.
Anyone else have stuff?
Anyone else have stuff?
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Re: Moderator Training Resources
Yikes, good catch.Captain Sinico wrote:Thanks, that is pretty good. You should strike the part where it says "say "answer?" on second 4 (of a tossup)" since that's not a rule anywhere and all.
Jacob R., ex-Chicago
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Re: Moderator Training Resources
I still want to figure out where and when that started one of these days! It's a great example of a meme in the original meaning of the word.vinteuil wrote:Yikes, good catch.Captain Sinico wrote:Thanks, that is pretty good. You should strike the part where it says "say "answer?" on second 4 (of a tossup)" since that's not a rule anywhere and all.
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
- UlyssesInvictus
- Yuna
- Posts: 845
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:38 pm
Re: Moderator Training Resources
A good number of local formats have rules like this: IMO there's probably some ingraining from there. (Worse, a lot of local formats don't let the player answer at all until they're designated, even if they're clearly the only ones buzzing, or the moderator has obviously turned to look at the player...)Captain Sinico wrote:I still want to figure out where and when that started one of these days! It's a great example of a meme in the original meaning of the word.vinteuil wrote:Yikes, good catch.Captain Sinico wrote:Thanks, that is pretty good. You should strike the part where it says "say "answer?" on second 4 (of a tossup)" since that's not a rule anywhere and all.
Raynor Kuang
quizdb.org
Harvard 2017, TJHSST 2013
I wrote GRAPHIC and FILM
quizdb.org
Harvard 2017, TJHSST 2013
I wrote GRAPHIC and FILM
- Mike Bentley
- Sin
- Posts: 6466
- Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:03 pm
- Location: Bellevue, WA
- Contact:
Re: Moderator Training Resources
What is the logic for not prompting for answer on tossups? On bonuses the main purpose is "you better say something or I'm going to call time". I don't really see the downside to having that for tossups as well.
Mike Bentley
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Re: Moderator Training Resources
I prefer that it not be done, but I acknowledge that it's arguable. I'd be happy to argue about it elsewhere (while owning that I opened this...)Mike Bentley wrote:What is the logic for not prompting for answer on tossups? On bonuses the main purpose is "you better say something or I'm going to call time". I don't really see the downside to having that for tossups as well.
The logic of not training brand new, inexperienced moderators to do that is that it's not in the rules to do it and it's expressly against some rules. Consider, e.g.
PACE Rule D.9. wrote:While a tossup is live, the moderator may not ask any players or teams to give an answer, or provide any verbal warning that time is about to expire, while a tossup is live.
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Re: Moderator Training Resources
You're discussing a different rule, I think. I'm well aware of that one – the tournament I'm helping here used it this very year.UlyssesInvictus wrote:A good number of local formats have rules like this: IMO there's probably some ingraining from there. (Worse, a lot of local formats don't let the player answer at all until they're designated, even if they're clearly the only ones buzzing, or the moderator has obviously turned to look at the player...)
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
- Mike Bentley
- Sin
- Posts: 6466
- Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:03 pm
- Location: Bellevue, WA
- Contact:
Re: Moderator Training Resources
Yeah to be clear we should train moderators on the rules, but I think it's worth reconsidering this rule.Captain Sinico wrote:I prefer that it not be done, but I acknowledge that it's arguable. I'd be happy to argue about it elsewhere (while owning that I opened this...)Mike Bentley wrote:What is the logic for not prompting for answer on tossups? On bonuses the main purpose is "you better say something or I'm going to call time". I don't really see the downside to having that for tossups as well.
The logic of not training brand new, inexperienced moderators to do that is that it's not in the rules to do it and it's expressly against some rules. Consider, e.g.PACE Rule D.9. wrote:While a tossup is live, the moderator may not ask any players or teams to give an answer, or provide any verbal warning that time is about to expire, while a tossup is live.
Mike Bentley
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
Re: Moderator Training Resources
My main issue with prompting for an answer on tossups, which perhaps Mike shares, is that many moderators are already very lenient with their five-second tossup countdowns, and many of those moderators also tend to be overly generous after prompting for an answer on bonuses. I think the effect of changing the rule might be that players in some rooms functionally have 7-10 seconds to answer after a tossup, which seems outrageously long to me.
Andrew Hart
Minnesota alum
Minnesota alum