Given the hostility toward I've seen on this site, I almost hesitate to ask, but how do you guys feel about the QuizNet format, and, if it were up to you, how would you run an online Quiz Bowl tournament?
Just to kick things off, QuizNet seems to me to place too much emphasis on typing skills as opposed to knowledge, and favors teams with one star player who can also type like a demon (a typing demon, that is).
Ideally, it seems an online Quiz Bowl tournament would be run as much like the real thing as possible: Two teams (not 15-20) per game, each player on his/her own computer, buzzing in instead of having to type the answer first.
Of course, this would necessitate MANY more games and thus, many more questions than Chip's current QuizNet format, probably driving the entry fee through the roof at best.
What do you think?
Online Tournament?
- quizbowllee
- Auron
- Posts: 2180
- Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 2:12 am
- Location: Alabama
Because of improving technology, I've actually wondered about this a bit. I can foresee in the future where quiz bowl will be conducted with teams staying at their own schools, hooked to some kind of video conference with a buzzer system that is linked to a network.
I really hope this never happens. I'm all about technology, but I think that the traveling to different schools and face-to-face competition are essential to the spirit of quiz bowl. I fear that such a leap might ruin quiz bowl.
So the question was "How would you run an online Quiz Bowl tournament?"
My answer is: I wouldn't.
I really hope this never happens. I'm all about technology, but I think that the traveling to different schools and face-to-face competition are essential to the spirit of quiz bowl. I fear that such a leap might ruin quiz bowl.
So the question was "How would you run an online Quiz Bowl tournament?"
My answer is: I wouldn't.
Lee Henry
AP Lit and APUSH Teacher
Quiz Bowl Coach
West Point High School
President-Elect/Past President- Alabama Scholastic Competition Association (ASCA)
AP Lit and APUSH Teacher
Quiz Bowl Coach
West Point High School
President-Elect/Past President- Alabama Scholastic Competition Association (ASCA)
I appreciate your answer. Online Quizzing is essential for our team this year - it's our first year to try participating in Quiz Bowl and we have 0 funding. Plus, we're out in the wilds of West Texas - it's literally hundreds of miles to to the closest tournament. Travel to Dallas, College Station or Houston would definitely mean an overnight trip, with all that entails - cost and hassle. We're trying to get our own live tournament going, but that takes money and interest.quizbowllee wrote:I'm all about technology, but I think that the traveling to different schools and face-to-face competition are essential to the spirit of quiz bowl. I fear that such a leap might ruin quiz bowl.
So the question was "How would you run an online Quiz Bowl tournament?"
My answer is: I wouldn't.
Online Quiz Bowl may be a letdown compared to live tournaments, but it's what we have access to this year. Even were we able to travel to compete, I would still want our kids to do some kind of online Quiz Bowl for the experience.
Ideally, I don't see online Quizzing as a replacement for live action, but as a supplement.
- steven-lamp
- Rikku
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 7:42 pm
- Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
I agree with Lee: The face to face competition is one of the most important factors in quiz bowl. It's a lot easier to answer questions looking at a computer screen than looking at people on the other side of the table/room that are thinking just as hard as you are and trying to beat you to the punch. I always enjoyed the feeling I got after playing a close, intense game, even if we lost, simply because the intensity in the room can be pretty cool.
Competition at a distance
I would greatly favor online, over-the-phone, or ESP distance competition as a SUPPLEMENT to face-to-face competition. I do not believe that this will impede the progress of quiz bowl, instead I think this could provide our game with a much needed boost by allowing ever more teams to compete at a reasonable cost.
Right now, there is a patchwork of leagues, state series, invitational tournaments, and national championships. This system serves certain teams very well, especially if you are in an established quiz bowl area. If, however, your school is located in a quiz bowl "white spot" on the map, it is very difficult to start up a program.
I have had experience starting up two quiz bowl programs, one in Northern Wisconsin, and now in Northern Indiana. At both schools, I was fortunate enough to have substantial financial support available from my administration, so I was for example able to get funding in my first year at Conserve School for five 350 mile overnight trips to Illinois, allowing me to get things off the ground.
It is, however, unrealistic for 98% of all schools in the country to even consider spending that much money on a new program! If there would be a way to provide everybody with an affordable option to get into an online league... say e.g. a subscription fee of $100 for a dozen or so online matches, quiz bowl might see the number of participating schools increase by a order of magnitude.
This online competition would only increase interest in "live" tournaments. Teams that do well in online leagues will want to compete more often against better programs, inducing them to want to attend invitational and national tournaments, and start live leagues.
Increasing the number of schools involved in quiz bowl is never a bad thing, and I hope that in the future we will be able to have good distance competition which feels as similar to live competition as possible. What I'm therefore calling for is spoken moderation, buzzer based player recognition, and spoken answers. If this is possible over the internet or another communication device, I see no detrimental effect for our game.
Right now, there is a patchwork of leagues, state series, invitational tournaments, and national championships. This system serves certain teams very well, especially if you are in an established quiz bowl area. If, however, your school is located in a quiz bowl "white spot" on the map, it is very difficult to start up a program.
I have had experience starting up two quiz bowl programs, one in Northern Wisconsin, and now in Northern Indiana. At both schools, I was fortunate enough to have substantial financial support available from my administration, so I was for example able to get funding in my first year at Conserve School for five 350 mile overnight trips to Illinois, allowing me to get things off the ground.
It is, however, unrealistic for 98% of all schools in the country to even consider spending that much money on a new program! If there would be a way to provide everybody with an affordable option to get into an online league... say e.g. a subscription fee of $100 for a dozen or so online matches, quiz bowl might see the number of participating schools increase by a order of magnitude.
This online competition would only increase interest in "live" tournaments. Teams that do well in online leagues will want to compete more often against better programs, inducing them to want to attend invitational and national tournaments, and start live leagues.
Increasing the number of schools involved in quiz bowl is never a bad thing, and I hope that in the future we will be able to have good distance competition which feels as similar to live competition as possible. What I'm therefore calling for is spoken moderation, buzzer based player recognition, and spoken answers. If this is possible over the internet or another communication device, I see no detrimental effect for our game.
- First Chairman
- Auron
- Posts: 3651
- Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2003 8:21 pm
- Location: Fairfax VA
- Contact:
I'm quite sure that we have stepped beyond IRC. The state of technology means that we could move up to Netmeeting or a similar "teleconference" format. Give some people in this group some time to play with the ideas, and it could get done.
As for West Texas, outside of Ysleta High School, I agree there isn't much out there. We hope you guys can get some support.
As for West Texas, outside of Ysleta High School, I agree there isn't much out there. We hope you guys can get some support.
Emil Thomas Chuck, Ph.D.
Founder, PACE
Facebook junkie and unofficial advisor to aspiring health professionals in quiz bowl
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Pimping Green Tea Ginger Ale (Canada Dry)
Founder, PACE
Facebook junkie and unofficial advisor to aspiring health professionals in quiz bowl
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Pimping Green Tea Ginger Ale (Canada Dry)