Getting Started

Welcome to DebateFlow! If you're new to judging debates, don't worry—we've designed everything to be simple and stress-free. This guide will walk you through your first time using the platform.

Signing in

After creating your account, you'll sign in with either your Google or Apple account. No passwords to remember, no complicated setup.

Your dashboard

Once you're signed in, you'll land on your dashboard. This is home base—where you'll see all your assignments and completed rounds.

What you'll see

Upcoming Judging Assignments

If you've connected your Tabroom account (more on that in our Tabroom Integration guide), your assignments will automatically appear here. No need to manually enter anything—we pull your schedule directly from Tabroom.

Your Past Rounds

Below your upcoming assignments, you'll see rounds you've already judged. Each one shows:

• The teams and tournament name
• When you judged it
• Quick actions to view details, copy your ballot, or delete the round

Starting your first round

When you're ready to judge, click the "Start Round" button on one of your assignments.

Pre-filled details

Here's where the magic happens: everything is already filled in.

You'll see:

• Tournament name
• Both team names
• All four speaker names
• Round number

All pulled automatically from Tabroom. Just double-check that everything looks right.

Recording consent

Before you start, you'll need to confirm that both teams have given permission to record the round. This is important—we take student privacy seriously.

Check the box to confirm consent, then click "Start Round."

Your first-time tour

The first time you start a round, you'll see a helpful tour that shows you around.

The tour covers:

• How to start each speech stage
• Where the timer is and how it works
• When the round is being recorded (and when it's not)
• Where to take notes during the round
• How to navigate between sections

Don't worry if you skip it—you can always come back to these docs or explore on your own. The interface is designed to be intuitive.

Demo Mode (Practice Without Recording)

Want to try DebateFlow without actually recording a round? Demo Mode lets you walk through the entire interface without transcription or audio capture.

How to enable Demo Mode:

1. From your dashboard, hold Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows)
2. While holding, click "New Round"
3. You'll see "Demo Mode" indicated at the top

What works in Demo Mode:

• All interface elements and buttons
• Stage progression and timers
• Note-taking
• Post-speech assessments
• Decision wizard walkthrough

What doesn't work:

• Audio recording (no microphone needed!)
• Transcription
• AI analysis (no real data to analyze)

When to use Demo Mode:

• Practicing before your first real round
• Testing the interface without consent
• Familiarizing yourself with the workflow
• Exploring features without time pressure

What's next?

Now that you know how to start a round, here's what to explore:

Core Workflow:

• Workflow Overview - Complete end-to-end judging process from start to finish
• Recording Your First Round - Learn how to use the recording interface and take notes during speeches
• Understanding AI Analysis - See how DebateFlow helps you track arguments and understand what's happening
• Decision Wizard - Make your decision and assign speaker points
• Generating Feedback - Create helpful feedback using the 3 C's method

Setup & Integration:

• Tabroom Integration - Connect your Tabroom account so assignments appear automatically
• Settings - Customize your experience and manage integrations

Help & Support:

• Quick Reference - Fast answers during a round
• FAQ - Common questions answered
• Troubleshooting - Fix common issues