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Imagine the Possibilities

Imagine the Possibilities. Odyssey of the Mind at Imagine Charter School at Firestone. Odyssey of the Mind.

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Imagine the Possibilities

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  1. Imagine the Possibilities Odyssey of the Mind at Imagine Charter School at Firestone

  2. Odyssey of the Mind • is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.

  3. A Creative Experience – Odyssey of the Mind • Video

  4. What makes Odyssey different? • Odyssey of the Mind is a competitive program, but it's nothing like your typical sporting event. The competitive element encourages kids to be the best that they can be, but it's a friendly competition. Kids learn from and even cheer on their competitors. Odyssey of the Mind is not a college bowl or a competition about knowledge. It's all about creativity, an often overlooked element in the growth and development of many students. Kids are rewarded more for how they apply their knowledge, skills and talents, and not for coming up with the right answer. In fact, in Odyssey of the Mind problems, there isn't one right answer. Ever.

  5. How do students benefit from participation? • In Odyssey of the Mind, students learn at a young age skills that will last a lifetime. They work in teams so they learn cooperation and respect for the ideas of others. They evaluate ideas and make decisions on their own, gaining greater self-confidence and increased self-esteem along the way. They work within a budget, so they learn to manage their money. They see that there’s often more than one way to solve a problem, and that sometimes the process is more important than the end result.

  6. How does it work? • Schools or community groups purchase a membership and form teams of up to seven students. Each team chooses one of five competitive problems to solve. The problems appeal to a wide range of interests; some are technical in nature, while others are artistic or performance-oriented. Under the guidance of an adult coach, teams work on their solutions throughout the school year and, if they choose, present them in organized competitions in the spring. The "friendly" competitive aspect encourages students to be the best that they can be.

  7. What are the competition levels? • In the U.S., the first level of competition is usually within a region of a state. Teams who place are invited to compete at the state level. These championship teams are then invited to participate in the annual Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, where they compete with teams from countries around the world, including Canada, China, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. New countries join the program each year.

  8. How are teams judged in competition? • Thousands of volunteers from around the world judge the competitions and serve in various positions to help make the tournaments a success. Teams are scored for their long-term problem solution, how well they solve a "spontaneous" problem on the spot, and "style" -- the elaboration of their long-term problem solution.

  9. Who runs the Odyssey of the Mind? • Not-for-profit organizations administer the Odyssey of the Mind program in each participating U.S. state and country. Each organization is run by a local Association Director. The organizations are licensed by Creative Competitions, Inc. (CCI), which provides all of the problems and materials necessary to run training sessions and tournaments.

  10. How did Odyssey of the Mind get its start? • Odyssey of the Mind was created by Dr. C. Samuel Micklus, Professor Emeritus at Rowan University in New Jersey. In 1978, 28 New Jersey schools participated in the very first creative problem-solving competition ever. "Dr. Sam" still develops all problems for the program, along with his son, Sammy, President of CCI.

  11. The Logistics • Students will register and choose what problem they would like to work on. • One team per division per problem (Division I is K-5, Division II is 6-8). • One Coach per team (volunteer) • Teams will start meeting on Wednesdays after school from 3:30-4:30 in October. Teams will start working on their long-term problems as well as spontaneous problems. Teams and coaches can later decide to change their meeting date as necessary. • Teams will compete in competitions in the Spring.

  12. Registration • Students will need to look over the problems and decide which problems they would like to work on. This will determine what team they are on. • Student registration form will need to be turned in to Mrs. Lohmann or the front desk of the school by Friday, September 30th. This form is available tonight as well as on the school’s website. • Students (and parents) will need to be committed to completing the program as only the original seven team members can be on a team – no substitutions!

  13. Registration… costs • The cost for this year-long plan will be $50 per student (payment plans and scholarships are available – please contact Mrs. Lohmann or the front desk). This will cover the cost of the teams’ membership, the cost of supplies while working on the long-term plan, and the cost of competing in the Regional and State Tournaments. • If a team competes and wins Regionals (March 12, 2012), then they will compete in State (April 9, 2012). If they win State, then they may compete in the World Finals (May 23-26, 2012 at Iowa State University). *Fundraising and parents will need to pay for the travel and accommodations portion of this trip.

  14. Coaches • Parents and family members are encouraged to volunteer in the program. Dedicated volunteers are needed to be coaches of the teams. • Coaches will need to attend training in October or November (a Saturday) – but exceptions can be made (however this causes our Tournament Fees to go up $50 for that team.) • Coaches are very valuable to the teams as they organize practice time, ensure that teams are on-task, ensure that teams get to competitions, and help with the overall guidance and encouragement of the team. • Volunteers/Coaches really need to be “hands-off” regarding the solving of the problems.

  15. What Will the Teams do? • Meet weekly, possibly more in the Spring to prepare for competitions • Practice Long-Term Problems • Work on Spontaneous Problems • Work on the team’s specific Long-Term Problem • Learn to work in teams - cooperatively • Learn to manage a budget (with help) • Learn to perform or present their problems • Learn to follow specific rules and guidelines related to the competition and problems • Work on problems without adult help (but can learn how to do something from an adult) • Be Creative!!!

  16. 2011-2012 Long-Term Problems • Problem 1: Ooh-Motional Vehicle Divisions I, II, & III The problem requires teams to design, build, and drive a vehicle that will travel a course where it will encounter three different situations. The vehicle will display a different human emotion for each encounter and one will cause it to travel in reverse. The team will create a theme for the presentation that incorporates the vehicle and the different emotions. The emphases will be on the technical risk-taking and creativity of the vehicle's engineering for travel and change of emotional appearance. Cost limit: $145 USD.

  17. 2011-2012 Long-Term Problems • Problem 2: Weird Science Divisions I, II, III, & IVThe team will create and present a performance about a team of scientists on an expedition to uncover the cause of mysterious events. The team will select the location of the expedition from NASA Earth Observatory Photographs . The scientists will collect two samples and will report on their findings. The performance will also include a technical representation of the mysterious events, a moving backdrop that helps portray traveling, and a team-created device that the scientists use on the expedition. Cost limit: $145 USD.Sponsored by NASA.

  18. 2011-2012 Long-Term Problems • Problem 3: To Be or Not To Be Divisions I, II, III & IVIn this Classics problem, teams will put a musical theatre spin on one of William Shakespeare's most famous lines: "To Be Or Not To Be." Hamlet, the title character, ponders this question and realizes that the easy way out is not always the correct choice. An original "Hamlet" character will face a team-created dilemma. Unlike Shakespeare's Hamlet, the team's character will take the easy way out only to discover that it was the wrong choice. Teams will also incorporate a character that portrays Hamlet's conscience, a creative scene change, a creative costume change, and use of a "trap door." A portion of the performance will include musical theatre elements. Cost limit: $125 USD.

  19. 2011-2012 Long-Term Problems • Problem 4: You Make the Call Divisions I, II, III & IVFor this problem, teams will design and build a structure made of only balsa wood and glue that will balance and support as much weight as possible. The structure may have a maximum weight of 9 grams and will receive 2 times the weight held, or 12 grams and receive 1 ½ times the weight held, or 15 grams and receive the actual weight held. The testing of the structure will be presented in a performance that includes mathematics in its theme. Cost limit: $145 USD.

  20. 2011-2012 Long-Term Problems • Problem 5: Odyssey Angels Divisions I, II, III & IVThe team will create and present a performance where a group of students travel throughout one or more team-created places where they encounter negative situations. These “Odyssey Angels” change what they find and turn them into positive situations. On their journey, they help two individuals with different problems and help save an entire community from a bad situation. One Odyssey Angel cannot speak, and another has a special team-created power. Cost limit: $125 USD.

  21. 2011-2012 Long-Term Problems • Primary: Hide and Peek *Grades K-2The team is to create a device that uncovers three surprise objects by lifting a team-decorated container off of each of them from 5, 8 and 10 feet away. The containers may be raised at any time, in any order, and may be raised simultaneously. The demonstration of the solution will be presented during a performance that integrates raising the containers and the surprise objects in its theme. There will be a narrator character and a setting. Cost limit: $125 USD.

  22. Examples of Spontaneous Problems • Animal Rhymes Your problem is to make a rhyme using a name or species of an animal. For example, you might say, "I think mice are nice" or "There's a cat in the hat."The Full ProblemBe Patient • Your problem is to pretend you are a patient in an operating room and you hear noises and conversation. Say what you would like to hear or what you would not like to hear. You must begin each response with "I would like to hear . . ." or "I would not like to hear . . . ."The Full ProblemCantilever Structure • You are to build a structure of toothpicks and clay that will sit on a table behind a boundary line. The structure will cantilever, or stick out, as far as possible beyond the boundary line without touching the table surface.The Full ProblemNames • Your problem is: Use a word or words to make a first and last name. You must relate this name to an occupation.The Full Problem

  23. Now What? • Look over the Long-Term Problems with your child to see if he/she is interested in working on any of the problems. • Discuss the commitment and involvement of your child (and you) to complete the program (Oct – March/April/May). • Decide how much you can help with the program (as an assistant coach, a coach, or volunteer for miscellaneous things). • Complete the Student Registration Form and turn it into the front desk or Mrs. Lohmann by Friday, September 30th. • Pay the $50 per student or make arrangements for payment/scholarship (Checks made payable to Imagine Charter School at Firestone.)

  24. Coming Soon • I will be contacting all registered students and parents in regards to what problem and team they will be working on, as well as who is the coach. • I will be contacting all coaches as to when the coaches’ trainings are. • I will be notifying everyone as to when we will have our first practice and meet all the teams and coaches (mid-October.)

  25. Need More Information? • Check out www.odysseyofthemind.com – There is an Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide (68-page guide) • Check out www.coloradoodyssey.org – Has local information including (to be announced) Coaches’ trainings • Email Mrs. Lohmann at sheri.lohmann@imagineschools.com • Basic information on the school’s website at http://imaginefirestone.org/k-8-program/extracurricular-activities/

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