HOSA Success Day
2007-2008

Georgia HOSA Success Day
Answers to Chapter Advisor Questions                      February 13, 2008

Why does HOSA use MLA style instead of APA style in Researched Persuasive Speaking?
The majority of middle and high school students are taught MLA style, whereas in college, there is a mix, depending on the research field of the student.  While college students in science and research fields are usually asked to follow the APA guidelines, HOSA uses MLA style because of the nature of the Researched Persuasive Speaking paper, and because it should be a more familiar style for HOSA members.

With approximately 1 ½ months, as a 2nd year advisor, what would you do first?  I have printed the guidelines, I am reading them, I have been talking to the students to see who is interested, and I am trying to get a list of people who want to go. What is a reasonable amount of students to take the first year?
It sounds like you are doing all the right things.  As far as how many students to take, why not set a standard for state conference participation, and then take all students who meet the standard?  Many advisors charge the students a percentage of the costs involved in attending the state conference.  For example, the students may pay the hotel and registration costs while the chapter pays the transportation fees. 
Some advisors only take students who are passing all their courses in school.  And, some advisors require students to have regular attendance to be permitted to attend the state conference. 
The key to setting standards for participation should be to put the standards in writing long before the registration deadline, and be sure you have administrative approval for your conference participation standards.

Is it possible to get a judge’s critique for an event so they know how to perform and improve?
Judges at HOSA regional, state and national conferences are typically healthcare professionals, many of whom have never judged HOSA events before.  The feedback from judges in actual competition is very similar to the feedback from local judges in practice competition.  For that reason, the BEST feedback to help a competitor improve is feedback from judges in local competition. 

How do you help students compete when you (the advisor) have not participated in event management?  Can advisors get more information for events in addition to using the guidelines?
For most events, the event guidelines provide the single most important tool for event preparation and success.  Keep in mind that at many state and national conferences, approximately half of the judges are judging the event for the first time.  The only tool they have to judge by is the event rating sheet.
For tests, the competitor who knows more than the other competitors taking the test will win the day.  The best preparation is knowledge.
For most other events, practice at the local level with the rating sheet is critical.  Start with a peer conference.  Have chapter members play the roles of the event management team and the judges.  Then, have competitive events at a chapter meeting, and let chapter members provide feedback using the rating sheets.  (Be sure you ask chapter member judges to provide helpful suggestions and honest but respectful feedback.)
When you feel chapter members are ready, provide a practice opportunity with a local judging panel consisting of local healthcare professionals and educators.  Your school administrators, guidance counselors, and other teachers will be happy to help judge your students.  Their feedback, in addition to the peer feedback, should give your students plenty of event experience, and prepare them for HOSA competition.
There are some events where other professionals can be a big help.  For many skill events, finding a professional to work with your student is the best help you can provide.  We like asking an English teacher to help students with written events, and a drama teacher to help with events that involve a performance component.
And finally, don’t hesitate to involve the parents of your HOSA members.  Many of your students’ parents have special skills and are willing to help out when asked.

How many place winners at state go to Nationals?
Each HOSA state is allowed three competitors/teams per event, with the exception of the Recognition category.  Some states move up finalists if any of the top three cannot attend the National Leadership Conference.  Check with your state advisor to determine the policies in your state.

Why does HOSA use so many different reference books for events?
The number of event resources will vary from one event to the next. Often more than one text is listed to give chapter members some flexibility in choosing a resource. In many events, one of the listed resources is sufficient for event preparation.  The test plan provides a guideline for test content, and often HOSA advisors can find appropriate content in textbooks not listed as event resources.
Chapter advisors can contact the publishing company for texts they need and request a free review copy.  Publishing company contact information can be found by typing the name of the publisher in a search engine such as Google.

How do you afford to take so many students to State and Nationals?
Most chapters depend on a combination of fundraising and chapter members paying a portion of the costs, as well as financial assistance from the school or school system.  Sometimes schools will pay the entire trip for first place winners.  Check with your principal and local Career and Technical Education Director to determine if school funds are available.  Other CTSO teachers may be helpful in providing suggestions and sharing their funding strategies.

How do we get practice questions for HOSA Bowl and other events?
Team members can write practice questions from the event resources.  Writing questions is an effective learning tool, and over time, you will develop a bank of questions for a number of events.
For HOSA Bowl, another useful resource is the glossary of any health-related textbook.  Using a variety of resources helps the teams learn to answer the questions when posed in a different way.

How do you “prove” the student is a special needs student?
Special needs students are classified under the provision of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 Public Law 105-17.  There is a form in the event guidelines that must be completed by the appropriate school official stating that the competitor is classified under the provisions of Public Law 105-17 and submitted to the HOSA State Advisor prior to competition.

What happens after a written exam?  Do students go home or stay at the conference?
The State and National HOSA Leadership Conferences are packed with educational and leadership development opportunities.  Many competitors stay at the conference after their competition to participate in other conference activities, support their chapter members, and attend the Awards Session at the conclusion of the conference.

What are some ways to spread the word in the school and community about HOSA?
HOSA provides many opportunities for you to market your health science program and school.  HOSA activities should be announced on the school’s website and in the daily announcements.  After all HOSA activities, the chapter reporter should submit an article with pictures to the local newspaper, school newspaper, and HOSA chapter newsletter.
A chapter newsletter is a great way to network with healthcare partners and parents.  Be sure to make full use of any opportunity to “toot your own horn” by writing about HOSA chapter successes and mailing or e-mailing your newsletter to all your important stakeholders in the health care community.

The following are pictures of Extemporaneous Health Posters that have placed in the top 5 in past National Leadership Conferences.  These were on display for all teachers that attended the HOSA Success Day.  This is to give you an idea of what other students have done.”