[Koko Ed]

Originally posted by Jack
ok.

First, is there even a website design award? - I've never heard of that. But... if their is, then wayyyyyy cool!

7 WEBSITE DESIGN AWARD
The Website Design Award recognizes excellence in student-designed, built, and managed
FIRST team websites. Eligible websites are judged/scored PRIOR to the competition by “student
judges”. Student judges from each FIRST team determine the winner via ballot submitted on site
at the regional competition from each FIRST team.
7.1 Submission and Deadline Information
Only team web sites that are entered into the FIRST team management information system via
the FIRST website by noon (12:00 p.m.) on February 21, 2003 will be judged. Team websites
are eligible for this award at every regional event in which the team is competing. For example,
if your team is registered to compete in San Jose and Virginia, your team website is eligible to
win this award at both events.
7.2 Finding Team Website Links
Go to http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2003/rgevents.htm and click on “Team List” for each of the
regional events you are registered to compete in. Teams with websites have their team names
listed in blue font. These are the team websites you will need to review, score, and select a
winner from among them.
7.3 Judging Criteria
Consider the following criteria when judging the websites. The following questions will provide
a base from which to fairly judge teams’ websites.
7.3.1 Function
•Is it easy for a first-time user to find information on the site (number of clicks required
for typical navigation)?
•Are the pages equally compelling in the most popular browsers? Do pages download in
acceptable speed over a standard modem?
7.3.2 Form & Design
•How visually compelling is the site? Does the site use color and iconography in a
consistent way?
•How well does the site explain FIRST and promote the vision of FIRST?
•Does the site work to reinforce the team’s brand?
7.3.3 Interactivity
•How accessible is the site?
•Can it be personalized?-
•How interactive is the site? (discussion boards, guest books, chat rooms, etc.)
•Are links available to related sites? (school, sponsors, other teams, FIRST, useful
resources, etc.)
7.4 Judging Process – Student Judges
•Each FIRST team designates one student to review the submitted websites prior to the
regional competition the team will attend.
•She/he will cast one ballot on site by Friday 12p.m. at the regional competition. .
•Criteria to consider are the website’s function, form and design, and interactivity.
•The student “judges” should have played some role in the development of their team’s
website, and are responsible for reviewing all of the submitted team websites for each of
the regional events in which his/her team is competing.
Example: If you are registered to compete in VA and San Jose, review the team websites for
both of those regional competitions and select a winner for Virginia and a winner for
San Jose.
•Student Judges must complete all website reviews prior to the regional competition.
Review and evaluate the websites between 5:00 p.m. on February 21, 2003 and the day
before the regional competition.
NOTE: A judge may not vote for his/her own team’s website.
7.5 Scoring/Evaluation
•Weigh each of the three areas of criteria (Function, Form & Design, Interactivity)
equally; no area is “worth” more than the other. Student “judges” should seek to honor
the website which, over all, rates the highest in those three categories.
•There are no on-site interviews. If the student judges have questions about a particular
website, they are to contact the team via email prior to the competition to resolve their
questions.
•Please use the score sheet below to evaluate/score each of the websites.
•Download the appropriate number of score sheets to assist you in your review/judging.
•You can evaluate up to seven (7) teams per sheet.
7.6 Ballots
•Each Judge is to complete and submit one ballot, on behalf of his/her team, listing their
#1 selection for this award.
•Use the ballot at the end of this section.
•Complete one ballot for each event you are judging.
•Return completed ballot to the FIRST Pit Administration Station by noon (12pm) on
Friday on site at the appropriate competition.