Judging

Judging Criteria:

 * Content (25%): To what degree is the website appealing to a worldwide audience? Content is based on interesting and original topics that inform, entertain, explain, share and teach. Judges also look for a reflection of the different cultures or viewpoints. It was important that all materials that are not original have a source and are properly credited.
 * Presentation (25%): How well is the information presented? How well does it use the Web medium? The presentation of the website is assessed on the navigation and structure, attractive design, and multimedia usage. The technology used on the website must suit all browser types and make information available to people that may not have the necessary hardware or software.
 * Helping Focus (20%): To what extent does the website help users share cultural differences and/or understand environmental or social responsibilities and/or helps others and/or learn about key topics or issues? The new helping focus criterion was added to encourage students to also demonstrate achievement of a helpful objective such as personal, social and/or environmental responsibility or support for a worthy cause. A helping focus allows students to share their community experiences through the Global Virtual Classroom and learn about key topics and issues.
 * Collaboration (30%): How fully did the students participate in the project? How well did they work together to create their website? The participants’ collaboration was judged on the level of participation from each of the three schools on a team. It was important that websites were created collaboratively versus separately constructed and put together.

Judging Process:
All website entries completed and posted by the program deadline will be evaluated in the following process.

Preliminary Judging
A Selection Committee and the GVC Project Manager will select a total of 12 finalists in the Primary School and Secondary School categories using the criteria outlined above.

Final Judging
For two weeks after that, the Global Virtual Classroom judges, a panel of Internet-savvy individuals, will evaluate the 12 Websites individually and determine the winning teams (Grand Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize, Runners-Up, and Special Merit) using the same criteria as the Preliminary Judging.

Prizes for Winning Web Sites
All students will receive a Certificate of Participation.

First Prize
$3,000 $1,000 USD plus an award plaque to each (primary and secondary) winning team school.

Second Prize
$1,500 $500 USD plus an award plaque to each (primary and secondary) winning team school.

Third Prize
$750 $250 USD plus an award plaque to each (primary and secondary) winning team school. Special Merit Recognition Special Merit Certificates will be awarded to recognize achievement for Academic Merit, Use of Multimedia, and Creativity. Schools receiving a Merit Award who have not received a cash award, will also be awarded free software from Tech4Learning. The primary division will be awarded Pixie and secondary Share.