Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey Program Coordinators Training

David TsudaDirector, VA Regions 14 & 16Odyssey of the Mind (c)nwregiondirector @ gmail.comWebsites: nwvoices.orgOdysseyoftheMind.com

OVERVIEWWelcome and Thank You! Intro to Odyssey of the Mind (what)

VA Catoctin Region 14 & Dulles Region 16 (who) Revised Allocation of LCPS Schools to Regions

Benefits (why) Calendar of Events (when)

Coordinator’s Handbook (how)New Policies

Purchasing School Membership Up to five (5) Primary teams per membership

Mandatory judge and volunteer; Else, Team will NOT be scored

PARTICIPANTS

ANY student in grades Kindergarten through College

Primary Division: K- 2 Division I: K-5th gradeDivision II: 6th - 8th gradeDivision III: 9th - 12th gradeDivision IV: College students

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

BRIAR WOODS CLUSTER PARK VIEW CLUSTER CHAMPE CLUSTER LOUDOUN VALLEY CLUSTERX Hillside Forest Grove X Aldie X BannekerX Mill Run Guilford X Arcola X EmerickX Eagle Ridge MS Rolling Ridge X Buffalo Trail X Hamilton

Briar Woods HS Sterling X Pinebrook LincolnSully X Mercer MS Middleburg

BROAD RUN CLUSTER Sterling MS John Champe HS X Blue Ridge MSX Ashburn Park View HS Loudoun Valley HSX Discovery FREEDOM CLUSTERX Dominion Trail RIVERSIDE CLUSTER Cardinal Ridge TUSCARORA CLUSTERX Steuart Weller X Seldens Landing X Hutchison Farm X Ball's BluffX Farmwell Station MS X Belmont Ridge MS X Liberty X Frances Hazel Reid

Broad Run HS Riverside HS (2015) X Little River X LeesburgX Lunsford MS Lucketts

DOMINION CLUSTER ROCK RIDGE CLUSTER X Freedom HS X Smart's Mill MSX Lowes Island X Creighton's Corner X Tuscarora HS

Meadowland X Legacy HERITAGE CLUSTERSugarland X Moorefield Station X Cool Spring WOODGROVE CLUSTER

X Seneca Ridge MS X Rosa Lee Carter X John W. Tolbert HillsboroX Dominion HS X Stone Hill MS X Harper Park MS X Kenneth W. Culbert

Rock Ridge HS X Heritage HS X LovettsvillePOTOMAC FALLS CLUSTER X Mountain View

X Algonkian STONE BRIDGE CLUSTER LOUDOUN COUNTY CLUSTER X Round HillX Countryside X Belmont Station X Catoctin WaterfordX Horizon X Cedar Lane X Evergreen Mills X Harmony IntermediateX Potowmack X Newton-Lee X Frederick Douglass X Woodgrove HSX River Bend MS X Sanders Corner Sycolin CreekX Potomac Falls HS X Trailside MS X J. Lupton Simpson MS Independents

X Stone Bridge HS Loudoun County HS Foxcroft School, MiddleburgIndependents The Hill School, Middleburg

X Our Lady of Hope School Loudoun Country Day ScoolAmerican INT'L School, Dulles Virginia Virtual AcademySterling Community Center Community Christian School,Loudoun School for the Gifted Woodstock

Catoctin VOICES Region 14Dulles VOICES Region 16

Revised Allocation to Regions 14 & 16

x

WHAT IS OOTM?

An International Educational Program/Competition

which provides Creative Problem Solving Opportunities

for Students

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

COMPETITIONPreparation begins in September (or earlier if

team stays together) for March regional competition

Preparation for two types of competitive events: Long Term problem

Primary Teams: Primary Problem Division I, II, III teams: Select one from five types

Spontaneous problem - All Teams Three (3) types: Hands on; Verbal; Hands on-Verbal Selection of type kept SECRET until tournament date Must expose team to wide variety of problems of each type

Attend Coaches Training and Master Spontaneous Workshop

LONG TERM PROBLEMSPrimary (Primary): Teams present performances that

revolve around a specific theme and incorporate required elements

Mechanical/Vehicle (Problem 1): Teams design, build and operate vehicles of various sizes and with various power sources

Technical Performance (Problem 2): Teams make innovative contraptions and incorporate artistic elements into their solutions

Classics (Problem 3): Teams write and perform skit based upon the classical -- from literature to architecture to art

Structure Problem 4): Teams design and build structures using only balsa wood and glue which are weight tested

Performance (Problem 5): Teams present performances that revolve around a specific theme and incorporate required elements

LONG TERM PROBLEM GUIDANCE

Meet minimum requirements or constraints for each problem’s solution which the team must consider as they develop their solution

Examples for performance: Must be done 8 minutes or lessMust be capable of being presented within the area size

specified; Actual performance size may be larger Judged in many categories – specified objective &

subjective scoresCould garner penalty points for a variety of infractions

KEY CALENDAR of EVENTS

Coaches, Master Spontaneous, Judges Training: RSVP via Coordinator•Coaches Training, Master Spontaneous Workshop - $30/coach •Check in @ 7:00 am; Training from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm See our website at www.nwvoices.org for neighboring Regions 9, 11, 12 •Alternate Coaches Training Dates & Locations •Alternate Judges Training Dates & Locations

Date VenueCoordinator Training #1 September 17, 2014 Park View HS LibraryCoordinator Training #2 September 24, 2014 Freedom HS, LR 400Coordinator Training #3 October 1, 2014 Tuscarora HS LibraryCoaches Training October 25, 2014 Freedom HS, South RidingMaster Spontaneous Workshop December 6, 2014 Park View HS, SterlingJudges Training February 7, 2015 Park View HS, SterlingRegion 14 Tournament February 28, 2015 John Champe HS, AldieRegion 16 Tournament March 14, 2015 Park View HS, SterlingState Tournament April 18, 2015 South County HS, Lorton

LCPS Middle School Band Assessment March 14, 2015

OTHER DATES

Regional T-shirt Design Contest: Submissions due: TBD Regional Tournament Registration: TBD (early Dec- early Jan), with check

payment via MAIL only

T-shirt Orders Due (purchase optional): TBD, with check payment via MAIL only

Judges’ Training: Feb 7, 2015 (Park View HS) (no charge)Regional Competitions:

Catoctin Region 14: Saturday, Feb 28, 2015 (John Champe HS, Aldie) Dulles Region 16: Saturday, Mar 14, 2015 (Park View HS, Sterling) Snow date for either region: Mar 21, 2015 (J. Champe HS, Aldie)

State Competition: Saturday, Apr 18, 2015 (South County HS, Lorton)World Competition: 20-23 May 2015, Michigan State University

COORDINATOR’S HANDBOOKGetting Started

Work with Principal and PTA/PTO/PTSA Guidance, Budget

Resources:Odyssey Program Coordinator’s Handbook Odyssey Program Guide, Problem Detail DescriptionsOdysseyofthe Mind.com website; nwvoices.org website; Google search for long term performances on past

problems; spontaneous problems; suppliesCoordinator for Program Development (backed by Regional

Board members) Catoctin R14: Judy Munley; bmunley1 @ verizon.net Dulles R16: David Tsuda; nwregiondirector @ gmail.com

Odyssey of the Mind Information NightSchedule school library as soon as possible

Objective: Identify coaches to attend Coaches Training 25 Oct; or alternate training dates in neighboring regions

Introduce the Odyssey of the Mind Program Objective, Participants, Benefits, Costs, etc. Calendar: Mandatory Training Dates and Tournament Dates

Show an example of a Long Term Problem Gather contact info on Interested Students and

Prospective Coaches Identify Experienced Odyssey CoachesMandatory Requirement to Provide a Judge AND a

Volunteer

REQUIREMENTS & COSTSCOMMITMENT

Students TIMETeamwork Respect Creativity Open mind Positive attitude Punctuality Responsibility Sense of humor Encouragement

Parents: Funds Time Punctuality Planning Priority Assist Coach

School membership fee ($135/first team, $100/additional teams) Coaches and Places to meetFunds for long term problem ($125-$145/team)Competition registration fee ($60/team)Availability on practice days and tournament datesOne Judge and One volunteer to represent each team CEUs for teachers, staff who volunteer as coaches or judges

< $50/studentto participate

SEQUENCEParents/students attend orientation (Sept/Oct)Form teams - Determine meeting dates/times Teams Meet (Oct - Mar): Select problem, develop solution options,

develop & test solutions, finalize design (set, props, skit), build & rehearse solution; Practice wide variety of spontaneous problems

Training for Coaches (Oct); Master Spontaneous Workshop (Dec)

Coordinator/Coach register teams for competition (Dec - Jan)Teams prepare/practice (Jan - Mar)

Teams compete at Regional Tournament (Mar)Advancing Teams compete at State Tournament (Apr)Advancing Teams compete at World Finals Tournament (late

May)

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

SCHOOL MEMBERSHIPSPurchasing School Membership www.odysseyofthemind.com

One Div I, II, III team each – Problem 1, Problem 2, Problem 3, Problem 4, Problem 5

NEW And, up to five (5) Primary teams per membershipIf there is more than one Division I, II, III team per problem, additional

memberships must be purchased

School Membership Worksheet

Membership#XXXXX

Membership#YYYYY

Membership#ZZZZZ

Problem Team A Team B Team CProblem 1 (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)Problem 2 (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)Problem 3 (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)Problem 4 (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)Problem 5 (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)

#XXXXX #YYYYY #ZZZZZPrimary A (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)Primary B (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)Primary C (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)Primary D (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)Primary E (coach name) (coach name) (coach name)

Multiple Memberships

per School

School name

TOURNAMENT REGISTRATIONTournament Registration - Opens (Dec-Jan)

Each Coach will register the team via the nwvoices.org website Specify ANY scheduling conflicts (e.g., MS Band Assessment) Register Judge Register Volunteer

NEW The School Odyssey Program Coordinator will register all of the Primary teams for the tournament with the Region Director nwregiondirector@gmail.com Designate each team A, B, C, D, E Provide Coach’s name, mailing address, email address, phone

number, school name, and team members’ names and ages Register Team Judge Register Team Volunteer Specify ANY scheduling conflicts

TEAM’S JUDGE & VOLUNTEEREvery year, each team must provide one judge and one volunteer

for the regional tournament. When tournament registration opens (Dec-Jan), the coach should

register the judge and the volunteer as representing the team 1. The prospective judge must attend Judges Training (or make up

training at a nearby region) and perform as a judge on the tournament date (all day) a. NEW If the prospective judge misses judges training and/or is

not present to perform as a judge at the tournament, the team will be allowed to perform but the team’s performance will not be scored. Coaches will submit only bona fide excuses to the Region Director for adjudication

b. The judge will not be assigned to the same problem and division as the team the judge is representing. This is to avoid conflict of interest

c. On tournament day, judges will not be excused to go see their child or team’s long term performance

2. The volunteer will be assigned to a two-hour time slot. The time slot will not conflict with the team’s long term performance time

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

ORIGINATION

Developed 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.