Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the MindITC 525

Wendy-Lee Magnarelli-SweetOdyssey of the Mind is a registered trademark

Odyssey of the MindTable of contentsAn OverviewHow it demonstrates PA State StandardsThe state siteOutline The problemThe TeamThe SpontaneousOverview of 2009/2010 problem 1The videoSources

Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the Mind, (OM), is an international competition open to students in Kindergarten through college age.The competition embraces the concepts of divergent thinking and teamwork.Students use their creativity and talents.Students must work without adult assistance and thus also develop independent thinking doing research to obtain the information they need.

Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the mind can be used to reinforce PA State Standards: School-Wide Area of Focus - SIS: Student Interpersonal SkillsStandard AreaSIS.1: Develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life successes.Students work on teams of 5-7 students and must demonstrate time management skills and budgeting skills.SIS.1.A: Identify and manage ones emotions and behavior.Students must work as a team demonstrating teamwork and communicating openly to generate ideas.SIS.1.B: Recognize personal qualities and external supports.Students rely on each other and may not use parents for any set design or creation or for any building of the set.Student must demonstrate talents and skills in their presentation.Students may seek out and utilize experts to learn skills for the problem solution.SIS.1.C: Demonstrate skills related to achieving personal, civic and academic goals. Students must demonstrate team effort and cooperative skills necessary for community living.Students must create a budget and follow it.SIS.2: Use social-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships and respect for cultural diversity.Students must use each team member in the creation/presentation of their solution developing their interpersonal and multicultural skills..SIS.2.B: Respect and recognize individual and group similarities and differences.The team must work together and respect their differences and uniqueness utilizing their individuality to create a distinct solution.SIS.2.C: Use communication and social skills to interact effectively with others.SIS.2.D: Demonstrate an ability to prevent, manage, and resolve interpersonal conflicts in constructive ways.SIS.3: Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behavior in individual, family, school, and community contexts. The team must deal with stress inducing issues as they arise and work together to overcome and be successful.If the team loses a team member for any reason, including conflict of interest, the entire team is penalized.Retrieved from http://www.pdesas.org/Standard/Views

PA Odyssey of the MindThe state website does a great job at describing the processes and intents of the program.

See what the state has to say...

Odyssey of the MindSo, what is involved?Student prepare for a regional competition to present solutions to a long-term problem and a spontaneous problem.Students must select a Problem, which is referred to as the long-term problem. The choices are presented up to 8 months prior to competition and teams may begin work immediately.Students must create a team of 5-7 members to work together to present a solution. The solution includes set design and construction, costumes, scripts, mandatory paperwork, directing and presentation all within a limiting budget.

Students will also demonstrate divergent thinking in the presentation of a Spontaneous Solution

Odyssey of the MindProblemThe Long-term Problem:Each year, 6 long-term problems are set forth.One is presented only for students in K-2.5 other problems are presented in specific categories.Problem 1 requires the creation of a mobile vehicleProblem 2 is the demonstration of a technical elementProblem 3 involves classical literature or mythologyProblem 4 involves the creation of a balsa structureProblem 5 is the development of a creative performance

Odyssey of the MindTeamsTeams may be decided by the members themselves or by adults.The competition teams are separated into age groups determined by the age of the eldest team member.Teams must provide their own adult judge for competition day or be penalized.Teams are penalized if a member demonstrates unsportsmanlike conduct at the competition.Teams may be no less than five members and no more than 7 members.All team members must demonstrate involvement in the Long-term problem.Team members may be awarded special individualized and team awards for cooperative efforts above and beyond the competition parameters.

Odyssey of the MindSpontaneousStudents do not know what type of problem they will be presented in spontaneous and must prepare for all three typesMAY BEWorth half the days scorePracticed in type but the exact problem is always a secretAny activity in one of three categories:Hands On-using a manipulative to create an individually designed solutionHands On Verbal-demonstrating a problem solution using a manipulativeVerbal-a spoken response graded on its uniqueness

MAY NOTBe known beforehandBe talked about at all at competitionBe more than 1 problem, the team gets one to solve within 8 minutesInvolve more or less than 5 team members

Odyssey of the MindSpontaneous- Examples to help you understandHands-on- May be team or individual responseTeams will be given 1 piece of construction paper, 6 blocks, 2 straws, a 6 piece of tape, 6 pieces of spaghetti, 3 marshmallows and a paper clip and must create a bridge to hold weight.Response: Score will be determined by the maximum amount of weight the bridge holds and its creative design.Verbal-individual responsesWhat are some different types of chips?Common Responses:Potato chips, tortilla chipsCreative Responses:Buffalo chips, Chips off the old blockHands-on Verbal- individual responsesA wooden spoon is placed on the table. Team members are asked, Show me ways to use a wooden spoon.Common Response:Member demonstrates stirring saying, I can mix batter.Creative Response:Member demonstrates batting saying, I can be a batter.

Odyssey of the MindSometimes, an example is the best explanationThe problem given in the vehicle category for 2009/2010 was:Teams had to design, create and build all elements of the problem and its solution

The solution included a vehicle and trailer that could travel along a nature trail. The vehicle had to be able to carry at least one team member, tow the trailer, and be self-propelled with no engine or electricity used in its propulsion. The trailer had to be able to convert to a secondary form and be left behind at a camp site so the vehicle could travel. There had to be a team designed nature trail where the vehicle would travel and encounter wildlife and clean the environment. Along the trail, the vehicle had to break down, be repaired, and overcome an obstacle.

So, when a team is successful, we can see the following

ReferencesOdyssey of the mind 2009-2010 program guide. (2009). Sewell, NJ: Creative Competitions, Inc.. Pennsylvania department of education standards aligned system. (2010). Retrieved June 14, 2010 from http://www.pdesas.org/Standard/Views#0|0|0|1180 . Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind. (2010). Retrieved June 15, 2010 from http://www.paodyssey.com/ .The Dukes of Dixieland. (1990). The Best of the Dukes of Dixieland [Cassette]. New York: Columbia Records.