Tips For Entering The Follett Challenge....From Me, A Follett Challenge Judge!

I know you are in full gear as you get ready to enter the Follett Challenge. 

After all, as I write this there are only a little over 4 weeks until the Follett Challenge entry deadline.  You can keep up with this countdown here too. 

As one of the 2018 Follett Challenge Judges, I am here today to share a few tips for entering the Follett Challenge.  

As you are preparing your entry, make sure you follow the Follett Challenge Judges' Rubric on how you'll be scored.  

You want to pay close attention to the details such as...

• All submissions must also include a 3-5 minute original video that showcases the program and the positive impact it has had on your school district.   

For inspiration, please watch the video the 2017 Follett Challenge winners created.  You will find it here.  

You will find more archives of the winning videos in the Follett Challenge Archives. 

Also, read through what Belleville West High School, the 2014 Grand-Prize Follett Challenge, submitted. 

This will be super helpful as it also contains Judges' Notes throughout on the yellow stickies.  You will find this example here.

You want to make sure you carefully go through the entire rubric to check off if you have included everything and to see what it will take to make your entry stand out above the rest. 

It is extremely important to pay attention to the key dates.  

The first one is coming up on December 15 when you must have your entry turned in.  

And the next BIG date to write down is January 22-26 when voting starts.  

The team of judges examines all submissions and determines which stand above the rest. But that's only part of the final score — the rest is based on the number of votes your video receives. 

Ask your school community to vote!

There are lots of resources to help you promote your Follett Challenge Entry that you will find here.

As a Follett Challenge judge, I also want you to have all of the information and resources that you will need in one spot to give you the best support throughout the project.  

The first thing I did was create the This Is Your Year For The Follett Challenge Collection by Destiny.

You can find this on the Follett Challenge website too under Contest Information.  

The Collection is filled with video, image, and sound tools and resources to make your video for the Follett Challenge shine!

You will also find digital tools to spice up your video submission through animations, graphics, special effects,

and so much more.  

I also included the AASL Best Apps and Websites Collections which are full of awesome ideas and resources as well. 

 One of the resources that will be most helpful is the Follett Challenge Symbaloo I pulled together.

At the bottom, you will find 8 tiles filled with resources to help you create your video.

 These include Image Editing Tools, 

 Infographic Tools, 

Video Tools, 

Digital Storytelling Tools, 

 Green Screen Tools, 

 Music Free to Search and Use, 

Slides Tools, 

 and Images Free to Search and Use. 

There is definitely something for everyone as you create your Follett Challenge and tell your story in the most unique and special way.

If you have questions along the way, please visit the Contact page here.

I can't wait to watch and read your Follett Challenge entry!  

Be creative, be different, be unique and most of all, make this a meaningful, fun and special experience for your school and community.  

That will shine through in your entry too.  

Good luck everyone!