[Rain]

Going through the previous lusobrasil's training session for online TD, I realised the names of the questioners (as in, those who asked questions that were interesting enough to make the notes) are the names of some of our best TDs currently.

There's some kind of correlation there obviously.

Should we hold another session with a seasoned TD (if we can find one)?

If we do, what topics should we focus on now, in the context of an online bridge club?

And if we do, would your preferred interface still be a table session? Or would it be a lecture room where nobody else can speak and distract from course materials?

[DrTodd13]

I think we need to create a website with educational materials for online directors and provide a certification quiz. You pass the quiz and you get to put that you're a certified XYZ online director on your profile. In addition, people could file protests against a director to the website and we would look at the situation and decide if the director goofed or not. If he did goof then we determine whether he has to retest or not. If the protest has no merit then you refuse to listen to further protests from that user against any certified director.

[hrothgar]

DrTodd13, on Oct 17 2006, 12:12 AM, said:

I think we need to create a website with educational materials for online directors and provide a certification quiz. You pass the quiz and you get to put that you're a certified XYZ online director on your profile. In addition, people could file protests against a director to the website and we would look at the situation and decide if the director goofed or not. If he did goof then we determine whether he has to retest or not. If the protest has no merit then you refuse to listen to further protests from that user against any certified director.

At one point in time, David Stevenson was working on creating a course / certification program for tournament directors. If "we" are seriously interested in this type of thing, he would be a natural person to talk to.

[Elianna]

Rain, on Oct 16 2006, 12:27 PM, said:

Going through the previous lusobrasil's training session for online TD, I realised the names of the questioners (as in, those who asked questions that were interesting enough to make the notes) are the names of some of our best TDs currently.

I wonder about cause and effect here. What I mean is, I wonder if these directors managed to ask interesting questions, and to even show up at the training session because they were motivated to do a good job directing, and this motivation is the driving force that makes them better directors.

I don't doubt that these sessions helped these directors, I just feel that it's having taken place is what made these directors among the best BBO TDs, rather it was their inate desire to do well when they direct. And this desire was evidenced in the training sessions by their participation in active learning.

[jillybean]

Great, any training sessions would be most welcome

Maybe a link from BBO TD screens to this forum would encourage people to participate in TD discussions, there is a lot of knowledge here and people are very willing to help.

And of course a link to http://forums.bridgetalk.com/

jb

[DrTodd13]

hrothgar, on Oct 16 2006, 02:23 PM, said:

DrTodd13, on Oct 17 2006, 12:12 AM, said:

I think we need to create a website with educational materials for online directors and provide a certification quiz.  You pass the quiz and you get to put that you're a certified XYZ online director on your profile.  In addition, people could file protests against a director to the website and we would look at the situation and decide if the director goofed or not.  If he did goof then we determine whether he has to retest or not.  If the protest has no merit then you refuse to listen to further protests from that user against any certified director.

At one point in time, David Stevenson was working on creating a course / certification program for tournament directors. If "we" are seriously interested in this type of thing, he would be a natural person to talk to.

You mean only for online tournament directors or f2f as well? Stevenson would be an obvious choice but in addition to simply educating, there are some decisions to be made. The WBF addendum for online play is pretty lacking in things like tempo/disconnection issues. Like the other thread going on now is discussing, we need to decide how to deal with breaks-in-tempo online before we can educate people. I say that we lead rather than follow. Get some good people together and decide and publish our own rules for online play that compliment the WBF laws.

[DrTodd13]

Elianna, on Oct 16 2006, 03:18 PM, said:

Rain, on Oct 16 2006, 12:27 PM, said:

Going through the previous lusobrasil's training session for online TD, I realised the names of the questioners (as in, those who asked questions that were interesting enough to make the notes) are the names of some of our best TDs currently.

I wonder about cause and effect here. What I mean is, I wonder if these directors managed to ask interesting questions, and to even show up at the training session because they were motivated to do a good job directing, and this motivation is the driving force that makes them better directors.

I don't doubt that these sessions helped these directors, I just feel that it's having taken place is what made these directors among the best BBO TDs, rather it was their inate desire to do well when they direct. And this desire was evidenced in the training sessions by their participation in active learning.

Right. You also have to somehow publicize your new certification scheme so that people prefer certified directors over non-certified ones. If you don't then there is no reason to be certified. With all the complaints you here, you'd think there would be some interest in this.

[jikl]

It would be nice if more of our directors were more active on the forums. Perhaps when TD privileges are granted, it should be made very clear to the new TD that this forum exists.

Sean

[golfacer]

I agree that there is a problem of getting a correct ruling from many directors. However, I think there are problems that occur much more frequently, including:

1. Allowing far too many players, which results in poor service to the players
2. Constant delays in tournament start time and between rounds
3. Subbing out a player too quickly
4. Playing directors with 10+ tables (some would say all playing directors)
5. Incomplete or inaccurate tournament description


A year ago, candybar (her BBO Forums name) and I discussed the possibility of creating three 1-hour TD classes (to be held at various times of the day so that people from all parts of the world can attend). Someone who would attend all three classes would be allowed to display some type of "seal of approval" as part of the tournament description. I had finished a detailed script for Class 1 and had mostly completed scripts for the other two classes. Class 1 was created, in large part, to help solve the problems I listed at the top of the post. I will post my Class 1 script as a separate topic. Classes 2 and 3 would be used to discuss adjustments, claims, partnership agreements/psyches, misclicks, and other director issues. The classes were written for a general audience, so that veteran, new, and future directors can all benefit.

[Mr. Dodgy]

I don't think the lusobrasil session really MADE the attending TDs "among the best" - those who are interested in being a good TD made the effort to be there, and the better ones will generally ask better questions, I suppose.

What I liked about the session was that it showed BBO's interest in educating those who sought it, and I hope this continues. We can always do with more good TDs. Competition is healthy, right ?

I appreciated the content of the lusobrasil training greatly also, and welcome further TD training initiatives.

More regular training might well form the basis of some form of accreditation scheme.

Accreditation by whom, though? BBO? The WBF? Who would assess the applications and by what criteria? There any many questions to answer, even possible downsides to consider.

What's the point, anyway? I think BBO's free-market TD policy works just fine - if a TD sucks, don't play there. Too simple!


--Justin--

[Rain]

Rui's sessions were so good largely because he obviously knows his stuff well, well enough to even adapt ideas to online bridge. (wbf doesn't even have a real online bridge guide/rules yet)

Rui will probably be free only in Dec for another session.

Golfacer, thanks for posting your notes. It looks very suitable for the BBO lecture format if you're interested in hosting one someday (I hope?)

The free market principle is BBO's policy, and of course I agree with it. But it'd be nicer to be able to have an idea upfront (Before you waste 2 hours of your life in a silly tourney) how good a TD is. Those of us, who, like me, are in BBO sooo much probably also have our own idea who the good TDs are. But since the world isn't grinding to a stop, I feel secure in saying most other BBOers are still non-bridge obsessed, happy, productive members of society and aren't around enough to know who's the more equal TDs. =))

[blackshoe]

Rain, on Oct 17 2006, 10:48 AM, said:

(wbf doesn't even have a real online bridge guide/rules yet)

This is what they've done so far. Could be better, I grant you, but it's not unreal.