Odyssey of the Mind

Information Meeting

OVERVIEWDefinitionBenefitsParticipantsCompetition/Kinds of ProblemsSequenceRequirementsTeam Formation2013-2014 ProblemsImportant DatesConclusions

WHAT IS OOTM?An international educational program/competition which provides creative problem solving opportunities for

students, K-college

BENEFITSParticipants learn:

Team-building skills by working in groups

How to effectively brainstorm How to identify the real challenge How to seek out-of-the-box solutions How to think on their feet How to present solutions and answers in

a large group setting How to “open up” and express

themselves How to work independently

PARTICIPANTSANY student in grades

Kindergarten through collegeDivision 1: K-5th grade

K- 2 does Primary ProblemDivision 2: 6th through 8th gradeDivision 3: 9th through 12th gradeDivision 4: College students

COMPETITIONPreparation begins in September (or earlier if team stays together) for March regional competition

Consists of two parts: Long term problem

Spontaneous problem

LONG TERM PROBLEMS (5 kinds)

Mechanical/Vehicle:Teams design, build and

operate vehicles of various sizes and with various power sources

LONG TERM PROBLEMSTechnical Performance:Teams make innovative

contraptions and incorporate artistic elements into their

solutions.

LONG TERM PROBLEMSClassics:

Teams write and perform skit based upon

the classical -- from literature to

architecture to art.

LONG TERM PROBLEMSStructure:

Teams design and build structures using only balsa wood and glue

which are weight tested.

LONG TERM PROBLEMSPerformance:Teams present

performances that revolve around a specific theme and incorporate

required elements.

LONG TERM PROBLEM GUIDANCEPlaces multiple constraints on the team

which they must consider as they develop their solution.

Examples for performance: Must be done 8 minutes or lessMust be done in a presentation area not

larger than 7 feet by 10 feetIs judged in many areas Could garner penalty points for a variety of

infractions

SPONTANEOUS PROBLEMS

Verbal

Verbal Hands-On

Hands-On

SEQUENCEParents/students attend orientation

(May/June & August/September)Students choose problem/coaches volunteerTeams form/formedMeetings held (September through March)School registers for competition (January)Teams practice/dry run (February-March)Teams compete at Regional level (March)

REQUIREMENTSSchool membership fee ($135/first team, $100/addl teams) CoachesPlaces to meetFunds for long term problem ($125-$145/team)Competition registration fee ($60/team)One Judge and one volunteer from each team (CEUs for

teachers)

COMMITMENTStudents TIME

Hard work Open mind Positive attitude EncouragementCreativity Punctuality Sense of humor Teamwork Respect

Parents

Funds Time Punctuality Planning

< $30/studentto participate

TEAM FORMATIONTeams consist of 5 to 7 members Teams form in many ways throughout US:

Gifted (as defined by the school district) Try-outTest LotteryCoaches choose Coaches form Coordinator formsStudents formTeachers form

TEAM FORMATION

Method is School’s choice

NOTE: Recommend school coordinator not guarantee placement of any student on a team unless that student’s parent or guardian is a coach.

2013-2014 PROBLEMS

MECHANICAL/VEHICLEProblem 1: Driver's Test

Teams will design, build, and drive a vehicle that will travel a course where a student driver attempts to complete tasks in order to pass a driver’s test.

Vehicle will travel using one propulsion system and then travel in reverse using a different propulsion system.

Vehicle will encounter a directional signal and have a Global Positioning System (GPS) that talks to the driver.

Teams will create a theme for the presentation that incorporates the vehicle, a driver’s test, a student, and the talking GPS. Cost limit: $145 USD.

TECHNICALProblem 2: The Not-So-Haunted House

Teams will create and present an original performance that includes a "pop-up-style" not-so-haunted "house" where four special effects take place. Intent of the special effects will be to scare others, but they

will produce a different result instead.Performance will include at least one character that

experiences the special effects and a narrator who relays the experiences to the audience.

Performance will also include a surprise ending and special effects will be scored for originality and engineering. Cost limit: $145 USD.

CLASSICSProblem 3: It’s How We Rule

Teams will re-create a King's Court from history and make their own Royal Court set in an original kingdom at a different time and place.

The Historic Court will issue a decree that fits in with its history, while the team-created Royal Court will issue a decree that changes an everyday behavior for the people in the kingdom.

The Historic court will be composed as the team wishes, but the original Royal Court will be made up of a leader, a minstrel that performs a song while playing a team-created instrument, and a jester that makes fun of the leader.

Performance will include puppets and a Peoplet (a person portrayed as a puppet), and will be scored for humor. Cost limit: $125 USD.

STRUCTUREProblem 4: The Stackable Structure

(sponsored by NASA)Teams will design and build a structure made up of separate

components stacked on top of one another. Structure components will be made of only balsa wood and glue, and will

be tested by balancing and supporting weights after they are stacked.Teams will be scored for the number of components they use in

their final structure. Before they are stacked, the separate components will be

integrated into an artistic representation of Earth.Teams will include the stacking of the components, placement

of the weights, and Earth into the theme of its performance. Cost limit: $145 USD.

THEATRICALProblem 5: Seeing is Believing

Teams will create and present an original performance about a community that feels threatened by something in a location it has never visited.

The community townspeople will use a creative method to select one or more Travelers to visit and explore the location.

While at the location, a Traveler will use a means of communication to send a message home to convince the community that there is nothing to fear.

Performance will also include a narrator character, two rhymes about the travels, and a moving set piece. Cost limit: $125 USD.

PrimaryPrimary: The World’s First Art Festival Grades

K-2Teams will create and present an original

humorous performance about a prehistoric art festival.Festival will include artwork, dance, music, song, and —

of course — a team-created audience to experience it all.Teams will also create a backdrop that is a replica

of a cave painting. Cost limit: $125 USD.

IMPORTANT DATES Problems Released: During first full week in SeptemberCoaches’ Training: 16 Nov 13 Mandatory for new coaches

(Tuscarora HS)T-shirt Design Submissions: TBDSpontaneous Coaches’ Workshop: 7 Dec 13 (Park View HS) Regional Registration: 6 Dec-6 Jan, with payment via MAIL only

T-shirt Orders Due: TBD, with payment via MAIL only

Judges’ Training: 8 Feb 14 (Park View HS) Regional Competitions:

Region 14 (Catoctin): Saturday, 15 Mar 14 (Tuscarora HS) Region 16 (Dulles): Saturday, 29 Mar 14 (Park View HS)

State Competition: Saturday, 26 Apr, Franklin County HSWorld Competition: May 2014, Iowa State

CONCLUSIONS

OOTM is an excellent program given benefits realized.

An OOTM program is only limited by the number of coaches available.

Students who compete are all winners no matter where they place in competition.

Questions?

Backup Slides

ORIGINATIONDeveloped by Dr. Sam Micklus, professor at

Rowan UniversityChallenged his students to create vehicles

without wheels, mechanical pie throwers and floatation devices to travel across a lake.

Evaluated solutions not only on success but on ingenuity applied and risks taken.

Students had FUN, word spread and people outside the college “wanted in.”

Led to the development of this world-wide creative problem solving competition.

VERBAL ExampleName things that are “red”Student should think of all of the definitions of “red,”

i.e.: an apple a newspaper Ready at the Switch bread and butter red skies at night A map blood ready, set, go Gingerbread Giant redwoods Readiness

VERBAL HANDS-ON ExampleTeam is given any number of group of materials/things:

PIECE OF STRING, 2 PENCILS, COFFEE FILTER, MEAT BASTER, 6 PAPER CLIPS,2 MARBLES, PAPER CUP, PAPER PLATE, 12" SQUARE OF ALUMINUM FOIL,24" PIECE OF YARN, RULER OR YARDSTICK, NAPKIN (PAPER OR CLOTH),2 RUBBER BANDS, BUSINESS-SIZE ENVELOPE, 6 MARSHMALLOWS, SHEET OFPAPER, 3 COTTON BALLS, PLASTIC SPOON, BALLOON, TENNIS BALL, TOOTHBRUSH, COIN, PLASTIC BAG, HAT, SURGICAL MASK, CLOTHES PIN, ERASER ETC.

Each member chooses three itemsTeam is told items are clues uncovered from a previously

unknown civilizationEach must describe how those objects may have been

used in that civilization’s way of life. Example: Meat baster may have been used to water plants

in a greenhouse.

HANDS-ON ExampleUsually the most difficultEach team is given 40 pieces of spaghetti, 15

pieces of elbow macaroni, 25 miniature marshmallows, 10 toothpicks, 4 straws, and 5 adhesive mailing labels, 5 pounds of penny nails and a pint size plastic container.

Team has 7 minutes to make a structure and 2 minutes to test it. They may talk during build.

HANDS-ON Example (continued)Structure is scored on height and strength.

Must rest on the surface of the table and may not lean against a wall or be supported by anything else.

After completed team must place the container on top of structure.

Judges will measure height from the surface of the table to the top of the container.

Must be at least 8 inches high to receive score.

Once measured team must begin placing weights in container, one at a time.

Weight must be held for 3 seconds to count for score.

Problem is finished when structure breaks, when all the weights have been used, or when time ends.

HANDS-ON Example (continued)