Key art

 

KAAC Future Problem Solving Training Dates for 2011-2012 (MG/HS only)

Experienced Coaches' Certification Training - Monday, November 14 from 4:00-5:30 Gheens-Room 208

0-1 Yr. Coaches Certification - Saturday, Nov. 5, OR Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9:00 am- 1:00 pm Gheens -Room 208

***To register for these KAAC training sessions, please log on to www.kaac.com and click on their training link. You should be able to register beginning in late September. You only need to attend one of these sessions to be certified. Teams who wish to participate in Governor’s Cup must have a KAAC certified coach.

 

Please read the following message from KAAC regarding FPS certification changes this year:

Dear FPS Coaches and Officials:

Kentucky writing standards are poised to change significantly, moving away from holistic scoring toward a more analytical approach. In an effort to keep pace with those changes, KAAC Future Problem Solving trainers have been busy this summer updating the FPS Evaluation Manual and the FPS Scoresheet for 2012 Governor’s Cup.
Because these changes are both necessary and extensive, the two-year certification number you received during the 2010-11 school year is no longer valid.  The decision to revoke two-year FPS certification was approved in July by the KAAC Board of Directors.

If you wish to be certified in FPS for 2012 Governor’s Cup, you must attend a certification clinic and successfully complete an online follow-up quiz. FPS clinics included in your registration fee will be offered during the KAAC Conference scheduled for September 22-24, 2011 at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, or at over 100 local sites across the state free of charge. The local clinic dates will be posted in late September.

After passing the online quiz, you will receive a new two-year certification number by email. You may take the quiz as many times as you like until you receive a passing score.   
Please understand that this decision was made with the best interests of Kentucky students in mind. If you have any questions, please contact me. 

Warmest regards,


Brenda Darnell
Program Director, KAAC
502.223.0088 Ext. 24

0-1 year coaches will still be required to score a booklet and send it in to KAAC as part of the training and certification process. However, 2+ year coaches will take the online quiz instead of scoring the booklet and sending it in to KAAC.

 

 

Here are the hosting assignments and instructions for the three FPS league competitions scheduled:

 

JCPS Middle School Future Problem Solving League Schedule- 2011-2012

October 20, 2011- District Topic-Coral ReefsScored Booklets must go in the pony on Wednesday, October 26, for receipt by Friday, Oct. 28.
Host- Farnsley
Newburg, Ramsey
Host – Olmsted N
Meyzeek, JCTMS, Stuart
Host – Noe
Crosby, Highland, Olmsted S

SCHOOL SCORE 1 SCORE 2 AVERAGE SCORE LEAGUE POINTS
NEWBURG 49   49 5
RAMSEY 22   22 4
         
JCTMS 83 93 88 4
MEYZEEK 82 104 93 5
OLMSTED NO 70 65 67.5 3
         
CROSBY 64 84 74 3
NOE 97 95 96 5
HIGHLAND 97 88 92.5 4
OLMSTED SO 65 75 70 2

 

 

November 3, 2011-Regional Topic - Human RightsScored Booklets must go in the pony on Wednesday, November 9, for receipt by Friday, Nov. 11.
Host- Crosby
 JCTMS, Newburg, Highland
Host-
Noe, Farnsley, Olmsted S
Host- Ramsey
Meyzeek, Olmsted N

SCHOOL SCORE 1 SCORE 2 AVERAGE SCORE LEAGUE POINTS
MEYZEEK 85 87 86 5
RAMSEY 80 52 66 4
OLMSTED NO 68 59 63.5 3
         
JCTMS 77 78 77.5 4
CROSBY 84 85 84.5 5
HIGHLAND 69 68 68.5 3
         
NOE 109 94 101.5 5
FARNSLEY 57 60 58.5 3
OLMSTED SO 84 77 80.5 4

 

 

November 17, 2011- State Topic-Trade Barriers
Scored Booklets must go in the pony on Wednesday, November 30 for receipt by Friday, Dec. 2.
Host- Newburg
JCTMS, Noe
Host- Olmsted S
Olmsted N, Highland
Host- Meyzeek
Crosby, Farnsley, Ramsey

NOTE: Western's FPS team dropped on Oct. 14. Note the new hosting sites for November 3 and November 17 for that group.

School

Score 1

Score 2

Averaged Score

League Points

Noe 

82

 

82

5

Newburg

46

38

42

0 (No returned books)

 

 

 

 

 

Highland

65

66

65.5

3

Olmsted N

84

77

80.5

5

Olmsted S

72

85

78.5

4

 

 

 

 

 

Crosby

68

84

76

3

Ramsey

46

32

39

2

Farnsley

81

99

90

5

Meyzeek

74

88

81

4


Note to Coaches: If you are bringing more than one team to a league competition, please inform the host school as soon as possible, so they can arrange for a large enough space on the day of the event. For every team you enter, you must score two books. If a school enters more than 2 teams, the coach must designate in advance which team is playing for league points, since there will not be enough scorers to score six books at any given site.

Hosts: It is NOT necessary to get separate rooms for each competing team. Instead, try to arrange for the use of the cafeteria, library, or auditorium where teams can work in the same room with enough space between them that they cannot be overheard. Make sure you have access to a copy machine after the booklets are complete. You will be making two copies of each booklet for scoring purposes immediately after the students finish. The instructions in your packet will tell you how booklets are to be distributed to the coaches for scoring.
Hosts will receive a packet with scenarios, blank booklets, scoresheets and instructions a few days before the competition. You may open the main packet, but please be careful not to open the team packets inside. They will be labeled "Do not open until..."
Coaches are not allowed to assist their teams at all with the booklets, and should not listen in to any team. However, coaches must stay in the room as proctors.

Please adhere to all scoring deadlines. Scoring instructions and copies of the booklets you will score will be given to you by the host school before you leave the competition that day. You should also get the original of your team's booklet, so you can give your own feedback to your team.

 

JCPS League Procedures for Future Problem Solving

The middle school FPS league is all written booklet format to match KAAC Governor's Cup competitions.

The fall league session for FPS will consist of three mandatory competition sessions. We will use a hosting rotation, so the burden of hosting doesn’t always fall to the same schools. Because it is a written competition, not presentation style, one large room, such as a library or cafeteria, will suffice for hosting. The teams should be spread far enough apart that they can whisper to each other and not be heard. Teams will meet at the host school, be given a scenario, and will complete a full booklet just as if they were competing at Governor’s Cup. The time allotted will be the same as a Governor’s Cup competition as well. No more than 4 students may compete on a team. However, schools may have more than one team compete. Coaches who enter more than one team must score more booklets. (1team entered = 2 booklets to score; 2 teams entered = 4 booklets to score, etc.) If a team will be entering more than one team in a competition, the coach must inform the Office of academic Competition at least two weeks prior to the date of the competition, so the correct number of packets can be sent to the host school.

For league purposes only (NOT for Governor’s Cup) teams may compete with fewer than four on a team as long as there is more than one person. The reasoning behind this is that league is for practice, and it is not helpful if a whole team is not allowed to practice because a teammate was ill on a competition day.

After the time is up, the host school will make two copies of each booklet to give to the coaches to score. Coaches may not score their own teams’ booklets. The host school’s coach will randomly give each coach two booklets to score, making sure no coach receives their own school’s booklet. Included in the hosting packet will be the score sheets and addressed envelopes for the coaches to return the score sheets and booklets to my office by the deadline, which will be one week after the competition. The score sheets will be returned to the coaches to be used for feedback on their team’s progress. When we receive score sheets, we will average the scores and rank the competing teams. Points will be awarded for league standings based on the averaged score (each booklet will have been scored by two different evaluators). Score sheets must be returned by the deadline listed, or the evaluator’s team will receive no league points for FPS for that competition. If a school enters more than one team, league points will be earned only by their highest scoring team. No double points will be offered, nor will a school’s second team be allowed to knock another school’s team down in the ranking for league points. Points will be awarded by place of finish. 5 points for first place, 4 points for second place, etc. Every effort will be made to have all teams compete against each other during the league season. League points will be awarded for all three FPS competitions. In case of ties, equal points will be awarded to the tied teams.

Note: These competitions (including the scoring of the booklets on time) are mandatory in order to receive full pay as a FPS coach in middle and high school. Please make sure you and your team can attend and participate on the competition dates.

Future Problem Solving Topics 2011-2012 (MG/HS only)

October 20, 2011.........District Topic: Coral Reefs
November 3, 2011.......Regional Topic: Human Rights
November 17, 2011 ....State Finals Topic: Trade Barriers
International Conference: Pharmaceuticals

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are sometimes known as "the rainforests of the sea." Reefs are some of the world's great tropical and sub-tropical ecosystems. Coral reefs support the livelihoods of millions of people. Worldwide, already 25 percent of coral reefs have been destroyed or badly degraded and some scientist predict that by 2020 up to 70 percent might be permanently lost. These are areas rich in marine species that are found only in a small area. Therefore, they are highly vulnerable to extinction. They supply seafood, building materials, sources for medicinal products, and draw in much needed tourism revenue. Reefs also protect shorelines and communities from storms and erosion. Coral reefs are deeply threatened by human activities and global climate change. Coral reefs are an important source of food for hundreds of millions of people, many of whom have no other source of animal protein. However, especially reefs in developing countries are threatened and if human impact on reefs is not reduced there is a great danger that some of the world's poorest people will lose an important source of nutrition, and in many cases, their livelihoods.

Human Rights

Since the end of World War II, many people have prioritized the protection of human rights around the world. But what exactly are human rights? Do they vary depending on religion and culture? Many western countries criticize the Islamic world for its treatment of women, while the United States is often condemned for its use of the death penalty. Can one nation fight to protect human rights in another nation, and if so, how? What challenges do globalization and the prevention of terrorism present to the preservation of human rights in the future?

Trade Barriers

Historically, states have relied on trade barriers - such as subsidies for domestic producers, import quotas, and tariffs - to protect domestic economic interests. Many economists have long argued, however, that such barriers can limit potential economic growth, may only benefit certain politically powerful groups like labor unions, and have other harmful effects. To combat these concerns, policymakers around the world have created new treaties and institutions, such as the World Trade Organization, on the theory that reducing trade barriers will increase economic prosperity. But others argue that the benefits of tearing down trade barriers means fewer jobs and lower wages for farmers, factory workers, and relatively less-educated employees. Should policymakers strive for Free Trade or Fair Trade in the future - or some balance of the two?

Pharmaceuticals

Many people rely on modern medicines to stay alive and well, but others are not as fortunate. Should countries have to respect intellectual property rights causing citizens to pay for drugs at prices they cannot afford? Are pharmaceutical companies earning too much profit? How do we sustain pharmaceutical research and development without incredibly large prices and profits? Are therapeutic products going too far in developed countries? It is difficult to understand why medicines for diseases that tend to afflict poorer countries - which are often relatively simple and cheap to develop - are neglected while there are drugs readily available for trivial issues such as cosmetics. Are people becoming too dependent on medications? One study in England concluded that over 50% of antibiotic resistant microorganisms are the direct result of the excessive use of antibiotics in intensive animal farming (i.e. battery chickens) and in human medicine as well. We’re now encountering the effects of overuse of antibiotics in diseases with resistance to multiple antibiotics which are limiting the ability of modern medicine to cure disease. What other consequences may result from mankind’s addiction to medicine in the future?

The KAAC website has more information on each topic.
If you miss the pony deadline, you may hand deliver the scored booklets to my office in the VanHoose Annex- 4322 Bishop Lane before 4:00 on the Friday it is due. In order for your team to receive league points, you must return your scored booklets on time. A team’s league participation is mandatory to receive full pay as an FPS coach.

It is important that all new JCPS coaches attend a KAAC certification training session early in the season, so that they know how to score the booklets for league purposes. Check the KAAC website for training dates and times and register to attend. The first KAAC training sessions will be at the KAAC Conference September 23-25. You may begin signing up for their other offered training dates that week at www.kaac.com.

JCPS Middle School Future Problem Solving League Schedule- 2011-2012

I have called KAAC several times about the need to post dates for FPS training in Jefferson County. Brenda Darnell has assured me several times that Jenna Boone will post her dates soon. I checked this morning, and there is still nothing closer than E'town, but I have been assured there will be training sessions nearer to us. I will keep checking with KAAC daily to find out if they are posted, and I'll let you know immediately. In the meantime, please go to www.kaac.com to get a look at the FPS manual if you are new to FPS, since the league starts in just a few weeks for JCPS.

 


____________________________________________

Results: FPS presentations on December 3, 2009
The topic was Invasive Species.

Middle School
Crosby - Host
Kammerer
Highland
Myers - Forfeit

Newburg - Host
JCTMS
Ramsey
Meyzeek- Forfeit

Knight - Host
Farnsley- Forfeit
Olmsted S - Forfeit
Stuart
Noe

RESULTS FOR DECEMBER 3 PRESENTATIONS:
SCHOOL
AVERAGE SCORE
PENALTIES DEDUCTED
FINAL SCORE
LEAGUE POINTS
STUART
89
0
89
3
NOE
156
0
156
5
KNIGHT
143
0
143
5
JCTMS
99
-5
94
4
NEWBURG
107
0
107
4
RAMSEY
94
-5
89
3
HIGHLAND
125
-5
120
5
KAMMERER
108
0
108
4
CROSBY
124
0
124
5


Remember to arrive by 3:15 so the students can begin their prep time promptly. If you are going to be late due to traffic, etc., please call the host school and let them know. All FPS teams are expected to participate in the league presentations. Teams are expected to bring all their own materials. Review the FPS Presentation Manual on our JCPS Academic Competition website.

Below is the scoring distribution for the written booklets:

Amy Ritchie-Manual (4)
Deborah Amerman – Ballard Theresa Reilly – Noe #1
Janae Newland –Knight Seth Hunter – Male #1

Seth Hunter – Male (4)
Juan Hernando – Meyzeek Amy Ritchie – Manual #1
Shannon Shaver – Crosby #1 Doug Stutz - Atherton

Regina Leitner-JCTMS (2)
Doug Stutz – Atherton Carol Demuth - Stuart

Carol Demuth - Stuart (2)
Theresa Reilly - Noe#1 Erin Fortney - Kammerer

Kelly Mazzoli-Farnsley (2)
Regina Leitner – JCTMS Juan Hernando- Meyzeek

Doug Stutz – Atherton (2)
Amy Ritchie – Manual #2 Seth Hunter - Male #2

Juan Hernando- Meyzeek (2)
Kelly Mazzoli – Farnsley Courtney Mullin- Ramsey

Theresa Reilly – Noe(4)
Janae Newland – Knight David Deckard – Eastern
Courtney Mullin – Ramsey Amy Ritchie – Manual #1

Deborah Amerman – Ballard (2)
Seth Hunter – Male #1 David Deckard – Eastern

Shannon Shaver – Crosby (4)
Regina Leitner – JCTMS Seth Hunter- Male #2
Theresa Reilly – Noe #2 Carol Demuth - Stuart

Janae Newland – Knight (2)
Shannon Shaver - Crosby #2 Erin Fortney- Kammerer

David Deckard – Eastern (2)
Deborah Amerman – Ballard Amy Ritchie – Manual #2

Erin Fortney – Kammerer (2)
Shannon Shaver – Crosby #1 Kelly Mazzoli – Farnsley

Courtney Mullin – Ramsey (2)
Shannon Shaver – Crosby #2 Theresa Reilly – Noe #2


JCPS Middle School FPS teams will compete:
October 29, 2009 Presentation using the state topic: Food Distribution
The topic is Food Distribution.
Please plan to have your team there ready to start as close to 3:15 as possible so the teams can begin their prep time in a timely manner.
There has been some concern that the training sessions for KAAC occur after out first league event. That's not a problem, since it is not necessary to be KAAC certified to participate in JCPS league events. Just read over the FPS Presentation manual and work on the problem solving process with your team to prepare them.

Here is the schedule for the first FPS presentations on Oct. 29th.

Host: Kammerer
Crosby
Ramsey
Myers

Host: Noe
Highland
Meyzeek
JCTMS

Host: Newburg
Farnsley
Knight
Stuart
Moore

RESULTS FOR OCTOBER 29 PRESENTATIONS:
SCHOOL
AVERAGE SCORE
PENALTIES DEDUCTED
FINAL SCORE
LEAGUE POINTS
CROSBY
252
-5
247
5
FARNSLEY
78
-5
73
2
HIGHLAND
104
-5
99
4
JCTMS
96
-5
91
4
KAMMERER
226
0
226
5
KNIGHT
92
-5
87
3
NEWBURG
102
0
102
4
NOE
122
-10
112
5
RAMSEY
230
-5
225
5


November 19, 2009 Written booklet (KAAC style) using the regional topic: Orphaned Children (The packets will be sent out a few weeks before the due date of November 19. Coaches set a practice time with your kids to do this booklet at your school sometime during the week before the due date.)
December 3, 2009- Presentation using the district topic: Invasive Species

Past Results
JCPS FPS Teams Competed:
November 6, 2008- Presentation using the State topic- Counterfeit Economy
Results:
At Farnsley
School
Score
Penalties Deducted
Final Score
League Points Earned
JCTMS
105
10
95
4
Farnsley
112
5
107
4
Noe
121
5
116
5

At Crosby
School
Score
Penalties Deducted
Final Score
League Points Earned
Crosby
136
0
136
5
Ramsey
100
5
95
4

JCPS FPS Teams Competed:
December 11, 2008- Presentation using the State topic- Counterfeit Economy
Results:
At JCTMS
School
Score
Penalties Deducted
Final Score
League Points Earned
JCTMS
126
5
121
5
Knight
72
15
57
2
Noe
105

105
4

At Highland
School
Score
Penalties Deducted
Final Score
League Points Earned
Crosby
151
5
146
5
Highland
124
5
119
5

Host schools will receive the materials a few days before the competition date. Packets will be addressed to the FPS coach at the host school.

Future Problem Solving Presentation hints:

  1. Presentations need to be interesting for the audience to watch. Have them use their materials to create interesting props so that the presentation is more visually stimulating. Teams should prepare a skit, mock debate, newscast, etc. to present their problem, solution, and action plan. Just standing in a line across the stage and reading from their papers is not appropriate. Remember that these must not be prepared in advance.
  2. Teach your team that reading off all the numbers on the criteria chart is NOT the same as EXPLAINING the chart and is a waste of presentation time. Awareness of audience is important, and the audience drifts away while they list numbers.
  3. Have your students practice in a large room or auditorium and project their voices to the back of the room. Some students are so quiet that they can't be heard by the judges.
  4. Teach students to NEVER turn their backs to the audience. Their voices get lost, and they have no eye contact with the audience.
  5. RESEARCH…RESEARCH…RESEARCH… The more your team knows about the topic, the better their ideas will be. Have them search the internet for current news articles about the topic and read up on it. They should also use the material in the R,R, &R manual available from the national organization, FPSP.

League Presentations

Teams should be at the host school and ready to start by 3:15. Each school must provide one proctor for the preparation rooms. This can be the coach, but he/she should not proctor his/her own team. Coaches are expected to judge each team on its own merits with the utmost integrity. Coaches may not judge their own teams. All judges must read and be familiar with the FPS Presentation Manual prior to judging team presentations. If you do not have a copy, download and print one from the "Manuals" section of the website.

Each school is responsible for bringing their own preparation materials (e.g. poster board, aluminum foil, colored paper, etc., as listed in the FPS manual.) Teams have 60 minutes to prepare and 4-6 minutes for their presentations. All research on the topic must be done in advance. Teams may NOT bring research material into the preparation rooms with them, nor may they use the computers or books found in that room to find information about the topic.

Hosting responsibilities for FPS league presentations:

  • Be responsible for the competition materials (score sheets, future scenes, blank criteria charts, instructions, etc.) that arrive from the Office of Academic Competition.
  • Arrange for preparation rooms-one for each team.
  • Arrange for a room for the presentations. Students may not use tables, desks or microphones for their presentations. The staging area should be equipped with enough chairs for each student in the presentation. These chairs may be used in the presentations.
  • Explain the proctors' duties to them before the teams begin. Instruction sheets are included in the materials you receive from the Office of Academic Competition.
  • Distribute the materials to the proctors.
  • The coach of the host school acts as the head judge for the presentations. (See the FPS Presentation Manual for the duties of the head judge.) Have calculators available for the judges.
  • Report the scores to the Office of Academic Competition by 10:00 am the next day.

We'll send the packets to the host schools a few days before the competition. Future scenes are kept confidential until they are opened for the first time in the preparation rooms. Those envelopes will be marked accordingly.

Middle School Points Awarded for League
Score League Points Awarded

110+ 5 points
109-94 4 points
93-77 3 points
76- 2 points


Teams report to the host school as soon as possible after school is out on the date of the competition. The one hour prep time should begin no later than 3:30 followed by presentations and judging. Each school is responsible for bringing their own materials for their presentations. The host school will be ponied the team packets, which contain the scenario.

For information on differences between presentation problem solving and written FPS booklets, please see the online manuals on this website. The basic problem solving process is the same. Only the method of presentation is different.

NOTE: In league statistics, teams will receive 5 points for scores of 110 or better; 4 points for scores 109-94; 3 points for scores 93-77; and 2 points for scores 76 or lower. Penalty points are deducted from the final averaged score.

NOTE: Scored written booklets from the November ? competition are due back to the coaches on or before December ?th.

To order the Readings, Research, and Resources book from the Future Problem Solvers Program, click on the link below:

http://www.fpsp.org/catalog/Program%20materials.html

This handy reference book includes research and information on all the topics for this year. It's a great time-saving tool for your team.


November 1, 2007- Presentation using the State topic- Debt in Developing Countries
Results:
HOST: Highland Middle School- Contact name: Beverly Carter
Schools competing at Highland: Newburg, Crosby, Farnsley
HOST: JCTMS-Contact name: Regina Leitner
Schools competing at JCTMS: Meyzeek, Noe

School
Averaged score
Penalties deducted
Final Score
League points
Crosby
83
5
78
3
Highland
101

101
4
Farnsley
113

113
5
Newburg
99
5
94
4

School
Averaged score
Penalties deducted
Final Score
League points
Meyzeek
126

126
5
JCTMS
120

120
5
Noe
115

115
5

Other Competitions:
· November 15, 2007- Written using the Regional topic- Neurotechnology
The booklets have been ponied to the scorers. Watch for your score sheets to be returned to you by December 13th.

Team coaches are required to contact the Office of Academic Competition and confirm their team's participation 2 weeks prior to each competition. Once we know which schools are competing, a location will be announced.

To order the Readings, Research, and Resources book from the Future Problem Solvers Program, click on the link below:

http://www.fpsp.org/catalog/Program%20materials.html

This handy reference book includes research and information on all the topics for this year. It's a great time-saving tool for your team.

 

Date Modified 12/6/11