History Fair Judging FAQs

Why do people like to judge?

"I fell in love with the kids. They were so excited about their topics!”  

“I learned something new from each of the projects I judged. I had a wonderful time."

What qualifications do I need to judge?

None! A volunteer History Fair judge has an interest in history, a commitment to support student work, and the willingness to give constructive feedback. Our diverse pool of volunteer judges include teachers, retired and active business persons, non-profit organization staff, graduate students, professors, and parents.

Novices judges are paired with veteran judges there is always another adult's perspectives.

We can assign you to the category that best suits you:  the ability to read text and images in mini-museum exhibit or website, or the ability to listen to a performance or documentary, or to read a research paper. 

Do I need to attend a separate orientation?

We orient you on the day that you registered to judge.  We invite you to preview materials on the History Fair website: http://www.chicagohistoryfair.org/history-fair/judging/judging-orientation.html

What is the judging process?

(1) Judges check-in and receive the orientation, (2) each volunteer is assigned  a partner and projects to judge; (2) judges then evaluate projects and interview students, (4) they confer with their partner and then write final evaluations, (5) they leave happy that they supported students and learning something new along the way.

How does the competition work?

History Fair is an exhibition of student work and we emphasize that over the contest aspect. Nevertheless: the student projects evaluated at the big events have been selected by their schools as their top projects.  Students have an opportunity move to higher levels of competition.

High school students have first and final rounds of competition (on different dates) in order to reach the state contest; elementary school students go to a first round and then directly to the State History Fair.  There, students have the opportunity to compete to represent Illinois at the National History Day competition held at the University of Maryland.

It appears that research papers and websites are judged during the week.  How do these contests differ from the big events?

The biggest difference is that judges do not interview students.  They still are assigned a certain number of student projects to evaluate and then confer with their judge partner before writing final evaluations.  For websites, projects are judged in cyberspace. Judge partners may hold their discussion over the phone/Skype/GoogleChat or even get together at the Newberry.

Where does judging take place?

Every event takes place at different locations in the Chicago area:  Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago near the White Sox stadium, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Lane Tech High School, and the Newberry Library...and cyberspace!

Will there be food?

Of course! At the full-day events expect lunch and snacks; at the half day events expect snacks.

What are the parking arrangements if I am not taking public transportation?

Parking is available at every location. Some venues are not set-up for free parking, so we will tell you how much the parking will cost when we send your confirmation.

What if I cannot come to the date(s) I signed up to judge?

Please give us as much notice as possible.  Dramatically different judge attendance affects the quality of the day for your fellow volunteers as well as the students: we are serious when we say, “Every judge counts because every student counts."  Please sign up for the day(s) you will commit to judging  rather than to the days in which you may be available.

May I bring a friend to judge too?

Yes!  However, we do not assign friends/spouses to judge together as it unconsciously blurs the evaluations and therefore can hurt students who are our main concern.  We ask that you respect the assignment given to you, and consider that you and your friend will have twice as much to share when you meet up again after judging your projects!

How are the winners selected?

Approximately the top third of the projects from each contest will advance to the next level.

How do I find out which projects have advanced?

The History Fair website posts the advancing projects for each competition level.

Register Now!

If you need to change or cancel your judging date, please contact Lisa Oppenheim
at info@chicagohistoryfair.org or 312-255-3661. 
 

Learn more about judging: http://www.chicagohistoryfair.org/history-fair/judging/judging-orientation.html