Staying up to date on the literature by reading the ACR peer-reviewed journals & The Rheumatologist will mean more points in the Knowledge Bowl—& let’s face it: It will make you a better rheumatologist.
Puns in the Knowledge Bowl category name are popular. These can give you clues to the answers. In a category called Rheum in the Kitchen, for example, you may expect one of the answers could be, “What are strawberry gums?”
Practice, practice, practice. Becoming a Knowledge Bowl champion is a team effort that extends beyond the three individuals on the stage—or even a supportive audience at ACR Convergence. Divisions can support Knowledge Bowl teams through practice sessions, which can be done during usual conference times to ensure attendance and engagement. To do this, the division may consider building a library of questions, which can be submitted by faculty and fellows, and obtained from the many resources mentioned above. An enthusiastic faculty member, serving as the host, compiles the questions and inputs them into a slide presentation in a quiz show format, templates for which are widely available online. In the practice session, Knowledge Bowl hopefuls play against one or two teams of other fellows and/or faculty members.
Practicing as a division, with all members of the department combing textbooks for trivia, composing quiz questions and participating in game show-style sessions, can extend the benefits of active learning—and serve as Board preparation for all learners involved, not just the prospective competitors. Such practice sessions also allow the team to practice its strategy, brush up on high-yield concepts, build team spirit and have fun—with a healthy dose of friendly competition tossed into the mix.
Be confident in yourself. Preparation for the ACR Knowledge Bowl may seem intimidating. Teams from many prestigious institutions may participate. You may have to go up against reigning champions who have prior experience with ACR Knowledge Bowl preparation. The organizers are aware of these factors and are committed to helping ensure equity in opportunities for smaller institutions with fewer resources and programs that haven’t previously fielded teams. Questions are thoroughly vetted in the months prior to the annual meeting to level the playing field. And historically, winners have come from all corners of the nation.
What to Expect During the Knowledge Bowl
Understand the components of each round. The Knowledge Bowl occurs in three rounds: a preliminary round and semifinal round that take place in one session of ACR Convergence, followed by a final round that typically occurs the next day. The reigning Knowledge Bowl champion automatically claims a spot in the finals.
