Background
During the 1982-83 school year, Education Service District 101 and the Washington Association of School Principals initiated the Knowledge Bowl. This activity is an interdisciplinary academic contest in which teams of students compete on the basis of their ability to recall information related to practically any and all areas of learning typical of secondary educational programs.

Who Participates?
Four members and two alternates per team; one team per high school. The alternates may replace two of the team members after twenty-five questions in a round.

What is the Cost to High Schools?
Travel to Regional Knowledge Bowl Tournament in Spokane in February
A registration fee for Regional Tournament of $160 per school
Travel to State Tournament in March, if school qualifies.

How are Students Selected?
Each school selects team members using whatever criteria they think are significant. Sometimes team members are National Merit winners, other times they have high GPA's, and some are simply selected by teachers using subjective criteria. Since speed or answering are important, schools have found it beneficial for students to be aggressive, to risk wrong answers, and to be upper-grade students.

How are Regional Winners Determined?
Teams are placed within one of four divisions based upon their WIAA classification and date of registration. Each division will consist of nine teams who will compete against each other in four oral rounds and one written round. Divisions 1 and 2 will be for B teams. Division 3 will be for A and 2A teams. Division 4 for 3A and 4A teams. At the end of five rounds the winners of 1 and 2, the top team of A, 2A, 3A and 4A teams plus the next 3 highest scores regardless of WIAA classification will form the entrants into round 6.

Round seven will have the first place teams in round 6 competing for the top three spots, second place teams for spots four through six and third place teams for spots seven through nine. Trophies will be given to each team in positions one through nine.

Who Goes to State?
State representatives will be determine by the total scores achieved at the end of the first five rounds. Representing ESD 101 at State this year will be 4A-2 teams, 3A-1, 2A-2, A-2, 2B-4 and 1B-4.

How Do Students Practice?
Since questions are new and from many different sources, it is not really possible to actually study for the contest. However, it is beneficial to provide your students with practice sessions in which they get used to responding to questions quickly, as well as becoming familiar with the timing equipment. Practice interschool competition can be held as coordinated by local schools.

Oral Rounds
Each oral round consists of fifty questions. Knowledge Bowl reader/judges will read the questions aloud. Team members may discuss among themselves who is going to answer each question, and they may discuss the question itself. Participants may attempt to answer questions before they are completed. In the event of an incorrect answer, no penalties are assessed. The remaining teams simply have a chance to answer. Once a team member signals for an answer, he/she will have a maximum of 15 seconds to answer.

Written Round
Four team members plus two alternates may participate in the written round. The written round is of the multiple-choice variety and consists of fifty questions. Team members may consult with one another on all items. Items are all objective questions. One point for each correct item is awarded. The time limit is 35 minutes.

How Are Ties Broken?
If three teams are tied after five rounds another round of fifteen questions will be used the break the tie. If two teams are tied a round of ten questions will be used. If a tie still exists the team with the higher written round will be awarded the win.

Judging
Electronic judging devices are used to determine which team has the right to answer first and to determine the allowed 15-second response time. In the event of a disputed question, the decision of the reader/judge is final.

Scoring
One point is awarded for each correct answer. Points will be accumulated throughout five rounds.

Knowledge Bowl Equipment
Aubrey Verstegen
V & V Systems
134 Sunset Place
Sequim, WA 98382
Ph. (360) 683-4821

Knowledge Bowl Questions

Contact:
Christine Tuckerman, Director
(509) 789-3606, ctuckerman@esd101.net

Karin Maynard, Program Assistant
(509) 456-7683, kmaynard@esd101.net