Dear all,
Thank you very much for your questions this week. I hope the preparation is going well and that you find the questions and answers below useful.
This week, we have a sample Improvisation Challenge from BEO 2018 to give you a better idea of what this challenge may look like. You can click here and here to access the files. Next week we will be bringing you a sample of a Mystery Challenge, so make sure you log in then.
Finally, I would like to say that we will only do two more posts before the Christmas break so if you have any pressing enquiries, please email us soon.
Enjoy the read and have a lovely weekend.
Kamila & the Oxford International team
PRESENTATION EVENTS
Question:
It is clear to me that on the PowerPoint presentation for BEO Investigation there should not be any text. However, if we wanted to post a picture of an email, can we do that? The email is not going to be read, only referred to.
Answer:
Yes, you can use images containing some text. Similarly, names, e.g. the name of the article or the author, numbers or keywords related to graphs are permissible. What we mean by “no text on slides” is that there should not be any presentation content that the students might read.
Question:
In the BEO Spotlight, I would like to know if a “chant” would be considered a song.
Answer:
It would probably depend on the length of it.
Question:
For the investigation challenge, I saw that students are allowed to present slides. If they create a presentation on Google Drive, will they have access to a Wi-Fi connection when it’s time to present?
Answer:
As per the written guidelines, page 16, we cannot guarantee reliable Wi-Fi in all competition venues and we strongly encourage all teams to have their presentation on a USB stick.
DEBATE
Question:
For the debate competition, I would like to know if the debaters will be permitted to have pre-prepared notes.
Answer:
Please refer to the written guidelines, page 25.
CREATIVE EVENTS
Question:
Regarding the BEO Drama Festival guidelines, I read in the forum that it is allowed for one student to be to the side or in front of the screen. I would just like to be sure whether this refers to only one student at a time, meaning they can take turns, or only one student at all.
Answer:
Yes, this refers to one student at a time but in theory, the students could take turns in this role.
Question:
My drama teacher would like to know if the entire performance has to be a shadow play.
Answer:
Yes, with the exception of the one student/character who can appear at or in front of the screen.
Question:
For the improvisation challenge, are students allowed to use computers with access to the internet to help them create & research whatever they need to?
Answer:
This may depend on the brief but most of the time we do not allow the use of any digital devices.
Question:
Does everyone in the performance have to speak? Or can there be participants that are just there acting and using body movements?
Answer:
Most students should, at some point, contribute orally. They do not all need to speak during all scenes but if they have been chosen as one of the participants for this event, they should contribute to the key aspect of the performance, which is a dramatic performance.
Question:
Will they have microphones available?
Answer:
Yes, 2 – 3 microphones will be available for each event.
Question:
The group is permitted to have a person who is in charge of any logistics with music and this student will not count as a participant, correct? Likewise, is the group permitted to have a person who is in charge of props and that won’t be counted as an additional participant?
Answer:
The answer to your first question is yes, the student operating the computer for sound effects does not count as a participant. However, the same does not necessarily apply to the “prop assistant” – if they are on stage, they count as a participant.