Destination ImagiNation Parent Meeting

1. Destination ImagiNation Parent Meeting

2. What is DI? • Destination ImagiNation® (DI) is an exhilarating after-school activity in which students work in teams to solve mind-bending Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. • Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills—they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving. • 72,000 children participate in DI each year • 12,000 teams compete in DI each year • 1.3 million DI Alumni are developing solutions for our world • 6,000-7,000 schools are involved in DI • More than 30 countries participate in DI • The program consists of two main elements: the Team Challenge and Instant Challenge.

3. Team Challenge • Team Challenges are designed to be open-ended and multidisciplinary. Teams spend several weeks or months working on the Team Challenge of their choice, and they present their solutions at Tournaments. Each of the six competitive Team Challenges has a different educational and creative focus: • Challenge A: Technical/Mechanical Design • Challenge B: Scientific Exploration and Theater Arts • Challenge C: Theater, Literature, and Fine Arts • Challenge D: Improvisation • Challenge E: Structural/Architectural Design

4. Instant Challenge Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick critical thinking. At a Tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. The participants must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes. While Team Challenges build long-term problem solving and teamwork skills, Instant Challenges provide an exciting, impromptu creative experience for competing teams. By practicing Instant Challenges during the course of the season, students can increase their improvisational skills and train their minds to work quickly!

5. Challenge C: Triple Take Road Show • Use three different Storytelling Methods to tell the same story to three team-chosen Pretend Audiences • Portray the Travel Methods used to move your Traveling Road Show between different Pretend Audiences • Integrate a team-created Technical Spectacle into one presentation to a Pretend Audience FocusPlaywriting, Theatrical Presentation, Storytelling, Storytelling Relevance, Special Effects, Innovation and Design Process, Construction, Teamwork • triple take road show / challenge C / fine arts

6. Challenge D: Improvisational • Create a five-minute Improvisational Skit about a Mission involving a Mythical Creature. This must be done in a five-minute Preparation Time prior to your Presentation at the Tournament. • Incorporate research about a Culture from a country • Incorporate three Souvenirs randomly selected from the list of items and combine them to create one Master Prop • Incorporate an Unexpected Problem that is discovered on stage Focus • Research and Understanding of Cultures, Mythology, Improvisational Acting, Story Development, Theater Arts, Teamwork • mythology mission  / challenge D / improvisational

7. Interference Rule • The Team Challenge solution is owned and operated by the team! Only team members may contribute ideas and create the Central Challenge and Side Trip solutions. • That means that parents, Team Managers, teachers, friends and anyone other than team members cannot contribute to the Team Challenge. Help from non-team members, including the Team Managers, is called “Interference.”

8. Time Commitment: Practice • September/October • Middle school team: Biweekly • High school team: Weekly • November/December/January • All teams: Weekly • February/March • All teams: Twice a week • April/May • As needed (at least twice a week)

9. Time Commitment: Tournaments • February: Regional Tournament (Discovery) • March: Affiliate/State Tournament (Bob Jones) • May 23-26 Knoxville, TN: Globals!!!

10. Time Commitment: Fundraising • Three large fundraisers and small ones with BJHS/DMS if needed • Everyone must participate! • Tournament fees ~$50 per team • Globals cost (should we make it!) ~$700-$800 per student and TM • T-shirts $35 • Pins $100 • Registration, room, and board $590

11. Parent Involvement • Two years ago we had 8 members • Lastyear we had 29 members • I must have help for this to work! I can only effectively manage one team. If we are going to have more than one team, parents must be team managers.

12. Ways to Help • Be a team manager • Be an instant challenge leader • Be an appraiser or tournament volunteer • Be a subject matter expert • Help with supplies • Help with fundraising

13. Global Finals!!!

14. What is a team manager? Love kids? Got snacks? Want to be part of an amazing development process? • Team Managers are adults age 18 and up who facilitate DI teams of up to 7 kids. Many TMs are parents, teachers, or community members. Local training (1/2 day Saturday) and most resources are provided. • Very much a facilitative and coordinative role, rather than an instructor. You will be responsible for paperwork and making sure your team is actively working on the challenge. • You will need a background check through Central Office. Each member on your team will be required to donate $10 towards the fee. • You get to watch your team perform in both the team challenge AND instant challenge.

15. What is an instant challenge leader? • You are the person who prepares instant challenges for teams to practice. • This involves printing the challenge, gathering materials, and sending it with your son/daughter to each DI meeting. • Time commitment is about 10-15 minutes per challenge because most items are things you have sitting around your house (newspaper, mailing labels, cotton balls, etc.)

16. What is an appraiser? • This is one of the people who judges DI teams at tournaments. • It is a fun job! Crazy hats are encouraged. • You will be required to attend a ½ day training session on a Saturday. • You will be an appraiser for the local tournament in February and possibly the state tournament in March. • Total time commitment = 2 ½ days maximum

17. What is a tournament volunteer? • You will help with various tasks at the local and state tournament. • You might guard the door or get water for appraisers. • You sign up for a job via email. • Total time commitment = 2 days maximum

18. Subject Matter Expert? • We will need help from people who have tools, workspace, and building skills. • It can be you or someone you know! • You can teach students how to weld in general, but you cannot help them weld anything related to their challenge. • Minimal time commitment

19. Supply Person • We will need parents for the Road Trip challenges to help get supplies from Lowe’s, Home Depot, thrift stores, etc. • If you will be driving students around, you will need to fill out a volunteer driver form and attach a copy of your insurance form Please see me for details. • This will be on an as needed basis.

20. Fundraiser Coordinator • You will organize a fundraiser. • You will be responsible for emailing information to parents/students, holding a meeting about the fundraiser, and working out the details. • I will handle the school’s paperwork and the money! • 1st fundraiser – October/November • 2nd fundraiser – January/February • 3rd fundraiser – April (Pajama Day)

21. Questions??? • Leslie Hughes • lhughes@madisoncity.k12.al.us • School: (256) 430-0001 x222 • Cell: (256) 520-0323 For more information visit: http://www.idodi.org/index.php/2011-12-season/2011-12-challenge-previews • Check out the parent guide! • Thank you for your support!