Want to know more?

Contact the Appraiser Coordinator:

(“Please!”)

Dee Urban

deeurban@roadrunner.com

716-675-7566

The venerable name “Judge” has been with Creative Problem Solving for a long time.  We’ll still use it because we’re so used to it, but it’s got the wrong perspective: that the adults know in advance what makes a creative kid-team-generated solution successful.

Judge ('j&j)

1.      one who judges: as a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court

2.      one appointed to decide in a contest or competition : UMPIRE

3.      one who gives an authoritative opinion

4.      CRITIC

Last year’s term “Official” was an improvement: no critics!  It reflected the program’s positive emphasis and the diminished penalties.

Of·fi·cial (&-'fi-sh&l)

1.      one who holds or is invested with an office : OFFICER <government officials>

2.      one who administers the rules of a game or sport especially as a referee or umpire

This year we’ve honed in on a term that better captures the relationship we want to foster at tournaments: an “Appraiser”.

We still have scores & champions…

ap·praise (&-'prAz)
[from Middle French aprisier to apprize]

1.      to set a value on : estimate the amount of

2.      to evaluate the worth, significance, or status of; especially : to give an expert judgment of the value or merit of

Every solution is valued…

ap·prize (&-'prIz)
: VALUE, APPRECIATE

The appraiser helps the kids understand that there is more to the tournament than the final score.

There is an interactive relationship between the performing team and the appraisers (some of who are learning on-the-job :-), and through that interaction…

… everyone’s “success” is assured.

ap·pre·ci·ate (&-'prE-shE-"At)

1.      a : to grasp the nature, worth, quality, or significance of <appreciate the difference between right and wrong> b : to value or admire highly <appreciates our work> c : to judge with heightened perception or understanding : be fully aware of <must see it to appreciate it> d : to recognize with gratitude <certainly appreciates your kindness>

2.      to increase the value of

The emphasis is on finding points on the team’s behalf, while being fair for all teams.

Ap·prai·ser (&-'prA-z&r)

     one who discovers and records every point each team earns, on a level playing field

We’re looking for folks who can express what they appreciated in each and every solution, even for teams that have problems with their challenge.

    a praiser; one who finds the good and creative in each team’s solution, and lets them know about it