COMPETITIVE EVENTS
CHAPTER RESOURCES
PAGE 4
PAGE 2
Get the exam blueprints by instructional area.
Celebrate DECA Month with epic activities.
CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION Competitive Events 101 answers your frequently asked questions. PAGE 3
VIDEO CHALLENGES TEST DECA MEMBERS’ CREATIVITY Need an instructional activity to connect to your curriculum that involves the use of 21st century skills and technology? Look no further than DECA’s video challenges. DECA and several corporate partners collaborate to offer DECA members opportunities to demonstrate the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom through innovative challenges. Each challenge has a unique focus and a specific set of required tasks, but one common element is that the presentations are made via YouTube videos. DECA IDEA CHALLENGE A premiere event of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), the DECA Idea Challenge is a fast-paced, hands-on learning experience that dares students around the globe to generate an innovative new use for a commonplace item in just eight days. The item to be used in the challenge will remain a mystery until revealed by DECA Inc. on November 12, 2015. ▶ DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 19, 2015 AT 6:00 P.M. EST
FIDM CHALLENGE Participants in the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Challenge will translate a seasonal fashion trend into a “look” depicting the researched fashion forecast. ▶ DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 5, 2016
HERFF JONES CHALLENGE Participants in the Herff Jones Marketing Results Challenge will assist Herff Jones in testing an array of promotional messages delivered to potential yearbook buyers through various channels. After analysis of buying patterns and attitudes at their own schools, teams will create and implement marketing campaigns to increase yearbook awareness and sales on campus.
GET MORE WITH DECA DIRECT ONLINE DECA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN Encourage your DECA members to apply for scholarships exclusively available to them! http://bit.ly/16decascholarships PICKING THE RIGHT COMPETITIVE EVENT FOR YOU Discover three foundations to keep in mind while choosing the right competitive event. http://bit.ly/pickyourevent DECA MEMBERS RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE MEN’S WEARHOUSE DISCOUNTS Men’s Wearhouse is excited to welcome DECA to its Perfect Fit Group Discount program! http://bit.ly/decamwap PROFESSIONAL DIVISION AWARDS Learn how to earn advisor recognition in your association and at the DECA Inc. level. http://bit.ly/decaprofessionalawards USING LINKEDIN TO REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL Adopt a powerful tool that can help you reach your full career potential. http://bit.ly/linkedinpotential DECA ANNOUNCES NEW COLLEGE PARTNERS DECA is proud to announce five new additions to DECA’s National Advisory Board. http://bit.ly/newcollegepartners
▶ DEADLINE: DECEMBER 5, 2015
■ www.deca.org/high-school-programs/high-school-video-challenges
■ WWW.DECADIRECT.ORG
CHAPTER RESOURCES
CELEBRATE DECA MONTH WITH THESE ACTIVITIES DECA Month is November! Celebrate this great organization through these suggested activities and don’t forget to participate in DECA’s Chapter Campaigns to earn recognition for your efforts. The deadline to submit your entries is December 1. ■ www.deca.org/high-school-programs/high-school-chapter-campaigns RECRUIT
Membership growth is the key to expanding DECA’s impact on your students and local community. By recruiting student, alumni and professional members, create a professional learning environment that enhances curriculum and better prepares your members for college and careers. DECA GRAMS Send “DECA Grams” or personal invitations to join your program to all potential members. Invite them to a chapter meeting to meet current members. ENGAGE COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS Involve your counselors and administrators in your program so they can experience DECA first-hand and become a champion for your program. Give them their own DECA t-shirts! Ask them to become a professional member of your chapter. EXPAND YOUR FOCUS Consider inviting students in marketing, business, hospitality, finance, management and entrepreneurship courses to be a part of your chapter. They can get a lot out of DECA, too!
PROMOTE
SERVE
INNOVATE
DECA DIAMOND TRIVIA Create a diamond trivia game where students find and match questions and answers about DECA.
CHANGE FOR CHANGE In your school-based enterprise (SBE), ask if customers want to donate the extra change from their purchase to a charity. If you don’t have a SBE, ask a local business to participate. Then donate the change to a local charity.
BRING IN THE ENTREPRENEURS Invite a local entrepreneur to speak at a chapter meeting or during class or organize a luncheon with entrepreneurial leaders in the community to visit with DECA members.
COATS FOR KIDS Sponsor a coat drive to collect gently used warm winter coats and jackets for children. Donate the collected coats to a local agency serving underprivileged families.
BUSINESS & COLLEGIATE CONNECTION Partner with a local organization, college or business to host an entrepreneurship-related activity. Invite these partners to join DECA through your chapter.
FOOD DRIVE SCAVENGER HUNT Organize teams of DECA members to compete in a scavenger hunt for food items. Prepare a list of particular items and designate a three-hour time limit to obtain everything. Award a prize to the winning team and donate the collected food to a local food pantry.
MENTOR PROGRAM Invite local business people to mentor members on their entrepreneurship competitive events during a working session.
MDA SERVE DAY Connect with your local Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) office and learn how your chapter can support a local family helping with a day of lawn care, babysitting, cleaning or other daily chores.
RESEARCH YOUR FUTURE Research colleges and universities that have entrepreneurship degree programs and have members report on these.
Utilize a variety of promotional activities to showcase your chapter’s success, create a brand for your chapter, and develop an awareness and support of your program within your local and extended community.
DECA MONTH PROCLAMATION Request a proclamation signing from the mayor that declares November DECA Month. DECA SOCIAL MEDIA CORRESPONDENT PROGRAM Select members to join the DECA Social Media Correspondent Program and begin highlighting your chapter’s events, activities and success stories on www.decadirect.org. SCHOOL-BASED ENTERPRISE PROMOTION Distribute coupons to redeem at your school-based enterprise to showcase another exciting element of your DECA chapter.
PUBLISHER
Paul A. Wardinski
EDITOR
Christopher Young
THIS EDITION Nov./Dec. 2015 No. 22
Published four times each year by DECA Inc. Sept./Oct. Nov./Dec. Jan./Feb. April/May Copyright ©2015 by DECA Inc.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Janelle Scudder Shane Thomas Michelle Walker Sarah Williams
CORRESPONDENCE
DECA Insight 1908 Association Drive Reston, VA 20191-1594 (703) 860-5000 www.deca.org communications@deca.org
With a chapter that is community oriented, your members recognize the benefit of service and responsibility to the community, as well the impact they have on their local and broader communities.
Help your members find their inner entrepreneurial spirit by integrating entrepreneurial related DECA activities to your chapter’s program of work. Join thousands of students globally as they celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week.
MORNING DECA TALK Host a breakfast lecture series on entrepreneurship, in which members and entrepreneurs interact.
COMPETITIVE EVENTS 101
INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
DECA’s Competitive Events Program is aligned with National Curriculum Standards in the marketing, business management and administration, finance, and hospitality and tourism career clusters. Performance indicators are specific knowledge/ skills categorized by instructional area. They are the basis of the content of the exams and content interviews, case studies and roleplays, and some written event evaluation forms.
SAMPLE ROLE-PLAYS AND EVENTS
Navigating DECA’s Competitive Events Program may be overwhelming. DECA has compiled all the information you need to know in this concise resource. However, the DECA Guide should be your first and final stop in understanding DECA’s Competitive Events as it is serves as the official guidelines. This resource provides further explanation and opportunities relating to competitive events.
Role-plays and case studies can easily be used in the classroom to support the learning of instructional areas and key concepts. While the traditional competitive event setting requires interaction with judges, many advisors have used role-plays and case studies as: • warm-up activities at the beginning of classes. • writing exercises that require students to write their ideas for solving the problem presented in the role-play or case study. • public speaking exercises that require students to deliver an oral report which presents their ideas for solving the problem presented in the role-play or case study or assessment tools in lieu of a multiple-choice exam. DECA provides sample role-plays, case studies and exam questions at deca.org. On March 1 of each year, they are replaced with the items used at the district level. Be sure to download these to save to your collection. DECA Images makes available more role-plays, case studies and exams, as well as written event winner samples, for purchase at shopdeca.org.
EXAM BLUEPRINTS
DECA’s exams are rigorous, industry-validated 100-item, multiple-choice exam members’ knowledge in defined instructional areas. The charts below show the at the district level, chartered association level and at the International Career BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CORE
DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION
1
1
4
Communications
16
16
12
Customer Relations
6
6
5
Economics
8
8
14
Emotional Intelligence
19
19
15
Entrepreneurship
0
0
1
Financial Analysis
13
13
11
Business Law
ICDC
Human Resources Management
1
1
1
Information Management
11
11
12
Marketing
1
1
2
Operations
10
10
12
Professional Development
13
13
10
1
1
1
Strategic Management
DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION
ICDC
Business Law
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT + ADMINISTRATION
5
5
5
Communications
8
8
7
Customer Relations
3
2
2 6
Economics
8
7
Emotional Intelligence
9
8
6
Entrepreneurship
1
0
0
Financial Analysis
7
6
5
Human Resources Management
1
1
0
Information Management
9
8
7
Knowledge Management
4
5
7
Marketing
1
1
1
Operations
21
24
26
Professional Development
7
6
5
Project Management
4
5
7
Quality Management
2
3
3
Risk Management
3
3
4
Strategic Management
7
8
9
ICDC
DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION
Business Law
FINANCE
7
7
7
Communications
7
8
5
Customer Relations
5
2
5
Economics
8
7
6
Emotional Intelligence
9
8
6
Entrepreneurship
1
0
0
Financial Analysis
22
25
28
Financial-Information Management
6
8
10
Human Resources Management
1
1
0
Information Management
8
7
6
Marketing
1
1
1
Operations
7
6
5
Professional Development
12
13
14
Risk Management
5
6
7
Strategic Management
1
1
0
ms based on national curriculum standards. They are designed to assess e exam blueprint of items by instructional area for the 2015-2016 exams used Development Conference. MARKETING
DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION
Business Law
3
2
ICDC 2
Channel Management
4
5
6
Communications
7
6
5
Customer Relations
3
2
2
Economics
8
7
6
Emotional Intelligence
9
8
6
Entrepreneurship
1
0
0
Financial Analysis
5
5
4
Human Resources Management
1
1
0
Information Management
7
6
5
Market Planning
3
4
4
Marketing
1
1
1
Marketing-Information Management
9
11
13
Operations
7
6
5
Pricing
2
3
4
Product/Service Management
9
11
13
Professional Development
7
6
5
Promotion
7
9
11
Selling
5
6
8
Strategic Management
2
1
0
HOSPITALITY
DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION
ICDC
Business Law
4
3
3
Channel Management
2
2
2
Communications
7
6
5
Customer Relations
3
2
2
Distribution
1
1
1
Economics
8
7
7
Emotional Intelligence
9
8
7
Entrepreneurship
1
0
0
Financial Analysis
6
5
5
Human Resources Management
1
1
0
Information Management
8
7
7
Market Planning
1
1
1
Marketing
2
2
2
Marketing-Information Management
5
7
8
Operations
9
9
8
Pricing
1
1
1
Product/Service Management
4
6
6
Professional Development
8
7
7
Promotion
15
18
22
Selling
4
6
6
Strategic Management
1
1
0
FINANCIAL LITERACY
DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION
ICDC
Credit
29
29
29
Financial Decision Making
13
13
13
Income and Careers
11
11
11
Insurance
12
12
12
Investing and Banking
24
24
24
Saving and Spending
11
11
11
Actual counts may very slightly.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Specific knowledge and skills students are expected to address and perform during their competition. Performance indicators are national curriculum standards which are taught in the classroom. INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS Broad areas of content knowledge (i.e., promotion, pricing, emotional intelligence, business law) that are comprised of many performance indicators. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CORE The Business Administration Core is the foundation for all of DECA’s competitive events. Performance indicators in the Business Administration Core are common to all career areas and competitive events. CAREER CLUSTERS There are sixteen (16) career clusters, each representing a distinct grouping of careers and industries based on the knowledge and skills they require. DECA supports four (4) career clusters: • Marketing • Business Management and Administration • Finance • Hospitality and Tourism CAREER PATHWAYS Each career cluster contains several career pathways, or specialized career areas. For example, the Finance Career Cluster has career pathways such as Accounting, Banking Services, Corporate Finance, Insurance, and Securities and Investments.
NEW SAMPLE VIDEOS
Sometimes you just have to see it to understand it. DECA provides an overall video introducing the competitive events program at deca.org, as well as a series of sample competitive events role-plays with judges. In addition to the video, the case study and evaluation form for each video is provided when appropriate. There are a variety of ways to use these with your DECA members. Download the case study and have your DECA members independently write a response or in pairs simulate the role-play by taking turns as the participant and judge. Then, show your members the sample role-play and ask them to compare and contrast their responses to those in the video. Alternatively, task your members to evaluate the performance using the evaluation form. In one case, two video responses to the same case study are provided, allowing members to evaluate each performance and choose a winner. This can spark a classroom discussion about components of a solid presentation.
PREPARED PRESENTATIONS
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS
TIME New this year, the guidelines no longer specify a specific amount of time for the presentation and judge’s questions. Instead, it’s up to DECA members to determine how to manage their alotted time. The evaluation forms for the presentations have been modified to evaluate the overall presentation, rather than the response to the judge’s questions.
DECA members have the opportunities to earn industry certifications through two levels this year – chartered association testing and ICDC testing. Two certifications are currently available.
TECHNOLOGY Will utilizing technology give you a competitive edge? A survey of judges at a recent DECA International Career Development Conference shows that most judges (67%) are not influenced by whether or not students utilize technology in their presentations.
DECA members taking the Financial Literacy Exam who score at least 70% will be eligible for w!se’s Financial Literacy Certification. Learn more about w!se at http://www.wise-ny.org/.
“Some students used technology very well,” one judge said. “But most who used technology let the technology serve as a distraction from what they were supposed to present. They left out important details, thinking that their strength in style would overcome their weaknesses in substance. That influenced my scoring.” “Visual aids must support the message, otherwise they are just a distraction,” noted another judge.
DECA members taking the Hospitality and Tourism Cluster Exam who score at least 70% will be eligible for AHLEI’s Certified Guest Services Professional Certification. Learn more about AHLEI at https://www.ahlei.org/.
Judges are focused on content. Any visual aids used should serve the purpose of supporting the presentation – regardless of whether it’s a presentation board or computer. Whichever method you choose for your presentation, the following are key things to remember:
Chapter advisors can order the certifications by logging into the DECA membership system.
1.
Use visuals only in a relevant way that enhances your presentation.
2. Don’t use your visuals as a crutch – don’t read from your PowerPoint, presentation boards or notecards and don’t rely too heavily on videos. 3. Focus on content. No matter what visual aid you choose, the content of your presentation is what will ultimately set you apart from your competition. Be sure to check each competitive event’s guidelines to determine what visual aids are allowed.
TRANSCRIPT REPORTS
DECA’s transcript reports, available to ICDC competitors, provide evidence of student learning, including an analysis of performance on the exam as well as interview or presentation.
GET AMPED! JUNE 21 — 24
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: •
DENVER, CO • •
Continuing Education Units (CEU) credit to advisors completing all professional learning activities Expertise from leaders in business and industry Best Practices Exchange
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Numerous professional development scholarships are available to new and experienced DECA advisors, which include: • Johnson & Wales University AMPED Scholarship provides five $1,000 scholarships. •
Otis Spunkmeyer Scholarship provides three $1,000 scholarships.
•
DECA Inc. Education Department Professional Learning Grant provides ten $300 grants.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH SCHOLARSHIP VISIT www.deca.org/classroom/advisor-scholarships-recognition.
SEE IT
Sponsored and hosted by
Denver campus
WANT IT
GET IT REGISTER AT
DECA.ORG/AMPED
W W W. S H O P D E C A .O R G