Model USDA administrator resources

Moderators are responsible for: 

• Shepherding your group’s conversation so that the students stay on-time and on-track throughout the simulation. You should do this by adhering closely to the script found in your Scenario Leads Guide.
• Ensuring that students stay in character and that they adhere to the Rules of the Road (see Appendix 1 in your Scenario Leads Guide).
  • If students break character or any Rules of the Road, you can simply remind them of these guidelines. Request that they take care to avoid doing so for the rest of the simulation, then proceed. 
• Call on students if their hands are raised/if they have something they’d like to pose or ask during the discussion. But, do your best to keep within the times outlined in the script. 
• Answer student questions as they arise, but play more of an observer role. This way, you can allow students to drive the conversation forward. 

Float between breakout rooms to observe the students’ small group discussions.

The assistant moderator is responsible for: 

• Tracking attendance each day of the simulation in the Participant Tracker.
• Provide Zoom assistance by following the prompts included in the script. This includes:
  • Monitoring the Zoom chat and flagging and/or responding to questions/concerns within the chat.
  • Providing technical assistance, where indicated in the script (hit play on pre-recorded video on Day 1, drop relevant links into Zoom chat, troubleshoot with ASU’s tech support if urgent needs arise).
• Help the moderator answer student questions as they arise. 

Stay in the main meeting room for your scenario in case students wrap-up their breakout room discussions early. The moderator will be floating between these breakout rooms to observe, but someone (assistant moderator) will need to stay back.

The journalist is responsible for:

• Interviewing stakeholders in your scenario group to get their perspective on the topic as negotiations unfold by 1) posing questions during the built-in Q&A opportunities and 2) floating between breakout room discussions to interview stakeholders while they meet for small group or 1:1 discussions. You’ll then report out your findings as “news alerts” as broadcast messages sent to your scenario group.
  • The script indicates when you should be asking questions, along with question prompts. 
• Broadcasting the crisis event on Day 2 (see script for more details).

Delivering a two-minute summary of your scenario group’s final outcome during the Closing Ceremony. You should work on preparing notes for this while the rest of your scenario group members (co-leads and students) participate in the Debrief.