Ms CRITICAL THINKING

(Open only to members in grades 5-9 who have affiliated middle level division.)

Critical Thinking provides members with the opportunity to think on their feet and present a solution to a problem presented. This competitive event consists of a role play scenario.

Event Overview

Division: Middle School
Event Type: Team of 1, 2, or 3 members
Event Category: Role Play Event
Event Elements: Presentation
Role Play Time: 15-minute preparation time, 7-minute presentation time
NACE Connections: Career & Self-Development, Communication, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork

Equipment Provided by Competitors: Pencils

Equipment Provided by FBLA: Two notecards for each competitor and secret problem/scenario for role play round

District

Check with your District Leader for district-specific competition information.

State

Eligibility

·         FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 1 of the current school year.
·         Members may compete in an event at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) more than once if they have not previously placed in the top ten of that event at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top ten of an event at NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
·         Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.
·         Members must stay in an official FBLA hotel in order to compete.
·         Each district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system found on the Florida FBLA website.
·         Each competitor can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter event (Annual Activities, Community Service Project).
·         Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
·         Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare, and set up their presentations.
·         If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule.  The decision is solely up to the judges.
·         Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted participate in the competitive event. 

Recognition

·         The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 5.

Event Administration

·         This event has two parts: preliminary presentation and final presentation

·         Preliminary Interactive Role Play Presentation

o   Preparation Time: 15 minutes
o   Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o   Question & Answer: None

o   The competitors will be sequestered before the first performance to receive instructions and time assignments.  Fifteen (15) minutes before their performance time, individuals will receive the case study.  A team entering sequestering after the first performance has begun will be disqualified.
o   The role play will be a problem or scenario. The role play will be given to the competitors at the beginning of their assigned preparation time.
o   Two notecards will be provided to each competitor and may be used during event preparation and role play presentation. Information may be written on both sides of the notecards. Notecards will be collected following the role play.
o   No additional reference materials or props or visuals are allowed.
o   If participating as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the role play.
o   Role plays are interactive presentations; the judges may ask questions throughout the presentation.
o   Role play presentations are not open to conference attendees.
o   Competition ethics demand that competitors and audience members do not discuss or reveal the role play until the event has ended.

·         Final Interactive Role Play Presentation

o   The above presentation guidelines will be in effect for the final presentation.
o   An equal number of competitors/teams from each section in the preliminary round will advance to the final round. If there are fewer than 15 teams, the final round may be eliminated.

Scoring

·         The preliminary role play presentation score will determine the finalists.
·         The final role play presentation score will determine the winners.
·         Judges must break ties. All judges’ decisions are final.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

·         FBLA meets the criteria specified in the Americans with Disabilities Act for all competitors with accommodations submitted through the conference registration system by the registration deadline.

Recording of Presentations

·         No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive event.
·         Competitors in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any presentation for use in study or training materials.

Penalty Points

·         Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.

Electronic Devices

·         All electronic devices such as cell phones and watches of any type must not be brought to the testing site.

National

Be sure to see National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/fbla-middle-level/competitive-events/