Hello all,
We are here with another set of questions & answers that should help with your preparation. Make sure you read till the end so you get to find this week’s sample challenge.
GENERAL
Question: Will each team be given the opportunity to rehearse/practice in the venue where they’ll present? For how long? How many times? Do school leaders need to book this?
Answer: No, not for all events and not for all venues but we will try to organise a short rehearsal time for the drama venue. You will be informed about the time and schedule but he Academic Event Manager on site.
Question: Do students need to register for the events such as international night and BEO inter school mystery challenge before they go to the campus they were assigned?
Answer: No, this will be organised on campus.
Question: We are staying at Bradfield College. Could we be informed of the measurements of each stage, especially for the Drama Festival and the A cappella song challenge? Students need to rehearse choreography/movements according to the space available.
Answer: please see the Creative Events section below.
Question: Is there a laundry room students can use in Bradfield College? How does it work if a student needs to wash/dry/iron their clothes?
Answer: Yes, students and leaders will have access to laundry facilities.
Question: Is there a list of activities available in Bradfield College available for parents to see?
Answer: The menu of activities which will be offered are listed at the bottom of the Sample programme which you can view here.
Question: Are ATM machines available in Bradfield College?
Answer: There is no ATM at the campus but there is a bank and an ATM in Theale, the nearest town.
PRESENTATION EVENTS
Question: during the assessed question time, will judges ask specific students to answer their questions or questions will be directed at the whole group and any of the students may answer?
Answer: Either is possible. Most commonly the questions are for the whole and the teams can decide who is best suited to answer. However, is the judges need a clarification about a specific point they may ask the student who presenting the given point.
Question: One student, who does not count as a participant, needs to pass the slides/click/operate the visual aid, correct? In that case, is that student allowed to have a written script with him/her indicating when to click? Or do they need to memorize the whole presentation although they are not part of it?
Answer: Yes, that is correct, the student does not count as a participant and therefore can have the script at hand.
DEBATE
Question: When students know their role for the debate?
Answer: as soon as all teams confirm their student numbers and are placed into competition groups, we can assign their roles. I expect this will be in a week or two.
Question: Does the A5 page / cue card with hand written notes for the students’ introductory speech have a specific format? Is it possible for a student to be prevented from using their cue card by any reason?
Answer: It needs to be A5 and handwritten. If it does not comply with the written guidelines the team might be banned from using it.
Question: What type of paper (and quantity) will advisors be provided with to take notes?
Answer: A few sheets of plain A4 paper, but if they run out, they can ask for more.
Question: Can advisors pass notes to the speakers at any moment during the debate stages? If yes, is there a specific format (e.g. only keywords) for them?
Answer: during the flow of the debate, they can pass written notes only.
Question: During stage 3, the speakers from each team need to speak for 10 minutes and address all the points they want to after listening to the role views in stage 1? What happens if they don’t use the whole time? Is stage 3 when they can ask questions to other teams?
Answer: They will not be required to speak for 10 min. The 10-minute time-limit will be devoted to the topics and issues they raised in Stage 1 but ultimately this is the stage when other may challenge their views and opinions, ask additional questions and for the team this is when they will need to be able to respond and justify their stand in the light of what the others say. The speaking time is therefore divided among the participants but managed by the debate chair who ensure who will speak next and that the team whose role is being discussed is given opportunity to respond.
Question: What is the configuration of the debate? Do students sit across from opposing role views? Do students go on a stage or pulpit to speak? Where do advisors sit in relation to the speakers?
Answer: The participants are organised to sit a double row horse-shoe shape (debaters in the first row, advisors sitting behind them) with the chair facing the horse-she. Most standard set up may look like this:
note that the position of the judges may differ somewhat depending on the space available and also the number of advisors and speakers in the diagram shown is three but you will be allowed 2 maximum.
CREATIVE EVENTS
Question: What is the minimum size of stage/presentation space students could get for this challenge? This is of utmost importance for students to know how much and how they can use movements during their performance.
Answer: Unfortunately, we do not have the stage measurements available. But below is a picture of the venue where the drama typically takes place.
Question: Will different stage lighting fixtures be available for students to use (for example, if students need a blackout and then a light focus on someone, is that possible)?
Answer: No, for safety, security and fairness we will only provide light on or lights off options
Question: Who is going to manage the soundtracks/background music during the performance? Can it be a student who is not a participant in this challenge?
Answer: Yes, this should be one of the students who can also indicate to the centre staff when tut run light on or off.
MYSTERY EVENTS
Question: Can teachers stay with students while they prepare for Mystery and Improvisation challenges or once they receive the brief they are on their own?
Answer: You will be allowed to be present when the brief is released but you will be asked to leave the venue during preparation stages and the students will be supervised by BEO / OIEG staff only. You will be invited to come back for the presentations.
Click here for a sample of the Improvisation Challenge 😊.