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Consumer Decision Making

Contest Information and Support Resources for Consumer Decision Making Teams and Coaches

Update webinar for 2013

May 30, 1-2 p.m. & June 4, 9 – 10 a.m. at https://umconnect.umn.edu/cdm2013/

Full information (promotional flyer) (468K PDF)

The webinar is scheduled for 1 hour in length and is available to staff and volunteers interested in learning more about the Minnesota 4-H Consumer Decision Making Judging program.  No registration is required, but please log onto the webinars at least 10 minutes before the meeting. 

For More Information contact: Carrie Olson, Youth Development Extension Educator, olson166@umn.edu.

Contest Photo

The ability to make wise decisions is a vital 21st Century learning skill.  Decision making is an important life skill that young people need to develop for use in individual decision making as well as in making decisions in groups.

In a Consumer Decision Making Contest, participants judge five classes in the areas of Personal Care, Entertainment & Leisure, Clothing & Textiles, Consumerism & Personal Finance, and Nutrition. Participants also have a questions class in which they recall facts about the items in a class. Intermediate participants (grades 6-8) present one set of reasons; senior participants (grades 9+) present two sets of reasons to a judge.

State Judging Contest

  • August 21, 2013 - University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus
  • Coaches letter and contest information (2013 letter coming - 2012 info here for reference)
Judging Resources

How to Judge - Online presentation   How to Judge Consumer Decisions
  Interactive (with audio) online presentation
  (opens in new window)

Are you wondering what "reasons" sound like?

Click on the video below

Curriculum Resources

Practice Class Kits

The following classes and resources are provided for youth, volunteer coaches and other institutions to use. Please keep them in their original state and retain the University of Minnesota Extension identifiers.

The 4-H Consumer Decision Making Contest Committee has made the practice classes available on this page for the benefit of all teams across the state as they practice and prepare for the state contest. The committee would appreciate counties sharing their own practice classes. Read more about submitting practice classes.

Senior Level

Intermediate Level

Practice Classes for both Intermediate and Senior Levels

Group Process

Submitting Practice Classes

The 4-H Consumer Decision Making Contest Committee has made the practice classes available on this page for the benefit of all teams across the state as they practice and prepare for the state contest. The committee would appreciate counties sharing their practice classes. To do so, please e-mail a copy (MS-Word, Publisher, etc.) of the complete class to Sara Croymans, regional Extension educator, bearing in mind these requirements:

  • Only complete classes will be posted on this page. Complete classes include:
    • A situation statement
    • Description & photos (if possible) of the four items. (Note: Digital photos can be taken of items, or pictures of items can be pulled off various websites on the web.)
    • Official reasons for the class, including placing and cuts.
  • Please include a judging card, showing scores for all placings (as shown in the classes already posted on the web). If the class has questions please include a copy of the questions with blank lines for the answers, as well as a copy of the answers.
  • Indicate the date, source & author of class if known, as well as level of the class (Intermediate vs. Senior).
    • For intermediate classes, include the criteria in the situation, AND in in bullet points at the end.
    • Senior classes should have the criteria included in the situation only.
  • Classes that are incomplete, of poor quality, or difficult to transform from a "hands-on" class to an "electronic" class will be sent back to the contributor with questions, suggestions, etc. for improvement.

Feedback
  • Questions? Feedback? Tell us at fourh@umn.edu or 1-800-444-4238

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