Colorado Odyssey of the Mind
Information Meeting
International Creative Problem-Solving Program.
Creativity is a skill that can be taught and further developed with practice.
Focus is to develop broad, independent-thinking abilities through a challenging, and FUN, learning process.
Thinking outside the boxTaking the path less traveled
Looking at common items or scenarios from a different perspective
What Is Odyssey of the Mind?
Team-effort, based loosely upon a sports model
Teams usually demonstrate their solutions at a tournament in a 8 minute performance
Odyssey develops real-life communication and brainstorming skills
Rewards creativity and “calculated” risk-taking in the solution of complex problems
Every team presenting a solution is a WINNER!
What is Odyssey of the Mind
Each membership is allowed to send one team per Division in their school per Long-Term competitive problem they are eligible for AND 2 Primary◦ K-5 School – usually up to 5 teams + 2 Primary
Teams◦ 6-8 School – usually up to 5 teams◦ 9-12 Schools – usually up to 5 teams ◦ K-8 School – usually up to 10 teams + 2 Primary
Teams ◦ K-12 School – usually up to 15 teams + 2 Primary
Teams
Teams per Membership
Teams of 5-7 students participate in their choice of the current-year Long-Term Problems• All Team Members may participate in the Long Term
problem presentation• 5 Team Members only may participate in
Spontaneous (team choice). Others team members may observe.
• A maximum of 7 “Minds” can work on the problem Teams participate within Age Divisions. In the
U.S., these are based upon age of oldest team member and the grade level.• Primary: K-2• Div I:5th grade or younger• Div II:6th-8th grade• Div III: 9-12 grade• Div IV: College
Team Structure
Long-TermThe Three Components of Odyssey
200 Points• Specific Rules• Open-Ended• All Solutions Presented in Skit Form (8-min)
100 Points• On the Spot• Anything Goes• 3 Types
- Verbal- Hands on
- Hybrid
50 Points• Elaboration of Long-Term• Pizzaz, Sparkle, Polish• Team Chosen Elements
Long-Term + Style + Spontaneous=Total Score
The Three Components of OOTM
Style Spontaneous
Outside AssistanceOne of the most important parts of Odyssey is that the Team MUST conceive, design, construct, and perform their own ideas. Help external to the team is termed Outside Assistance (OA).
The solution is the Team’s design, their work, their performance, and their score. The Team is responsible for what they do, NOT the coach. It’s Important that Parents Know OA Rules TooOdyssey is a Hands-On Program for Kids, but a Hands-Off Program for
AdultsSome great Scenarios can be found in this section of
your Coaches Handbook
OUTSIDEASSISTANCE
Problem 5: Food Court (2010) The problem is to create and present a
humorous performance where a food item is accused of being unhealthy and must defend itself among its food peers. All characters are food items and will include “the accused,” “the accuser,” a jury that is not portrayed by team members, and additional team-created characters. The jury will reveal its decision to the audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RO1AYH2P4I&feature=related
Odyssey of the Mind In Action
Six new Long-Term problems are released each year◦ Vehicle – Problem 1 “Pet Project”◦ Technical – Problem 2 “The Email Must Go Through”◦ Classics – Problem 3 “ARTchitecture: The Musical ”
◦ Structure – Problem 4 “Tumble-Wood”◦ Theatrical – Problem 5 “How You Look At It”◦ Primary – Problem 6 “Top Sea-cret Discoveries” (Non
Competitive)
There is a cost limit to each problem◦ Usually ~$125-$145◦ Therefore solutions cannot be “bought”◦ Only the materials used in competition included in the cost◦ Duct tape & cardboard, lawn-sale value, scavenging◦ Some “standard” and safety items are exempt from cost.
The Long Term Problems
Problem 1: Pet Project Divisions I, II, & III The problem is to design, build, and run three vehicles that will deliver parts to an Assembly Area. The team will create a signal that lets the audience know which vehicle is about to travel and deliver a part. The parts will be assembled into a pet animal. Once assembly is completed, the animal will perform a trick. The theme of the presentation must include the delivery of the parts, the assembly, and the pet animal. Cost limit: $145 USD.
Problem Synopsis
Problem 2: The Email Must Go Through Divisions I, II, III, & IVThe team's problem is to create and present an original performance that includes a technical representation of messages being sent by email. A Sender character will send three emails: one that requires a return receipt, one with a work of art as an attachment, and one that goes through a SPAM filter. Two of the emails will go to a Receiver character and another will go to an offbeat location. Each email will pass through a central server before reaching its final destination. Team members are not allowed to touch the emails while the server is processing the messages. Cost limit: $145 USD.
Problem Synopsis
Problem 3: ARTchitecture: The Musical Divisions I, II, III & IVFor this problem, teams will create and present an original performance that includes a replica of a documented architectural structure that was built between 1,000 AD and 1,600 AD. The performance will include three works of art that "disappear" and two characters that go on a quest to find them. When the works of art are found, they will be incorporated into the replica. The performance must also include two songs that are accompanied by some type of choreographed movement. Cost limit: $125 USD.
Problem Synopsis
Problem 4: Tumble-wood Divisions I, II, III & IVTeams will design and build a structure made of only balsa wood and glue that will balance and support as much weight as possible. Before weight placement begins, the team will present a commercial that includes the structure rolling down a ramp. The structure will be scored for how far it rolls and for how much weight it holds. The team will integrate the placement of the weights into the performance. Cost limit: $145 USD.
Problem Synopsis
Problem 5: It's How You Look at It Divisions I, II, III & IVThe problem is to create and present an original humorous performance that includes two characters that act naturally -- to them -- but odd to those around them. One scene will establish the "normal" behavior of one character that, at some point in the performance, finds itself among others who react to the out-of-place behavior. The other character's behavior will stand out too, but this character will end up in a setting where its odd behavior is considered normal. The performance will also include a meter that indicates the degree of odd/normal behavior and a creative scene change. Cost limit: $125 USD.
Problem Synopsis
Primary: Top Sea-cret Discoveries Grades K-2The problem is to create and present a performance that includes exploring the ocean and making discoveries. Along the way, they will encounter three different types of sea life and a humorous Captain character. Teams will also create an original reason for the ocean's waves and make a silly discovery that they have to help keep secret. Cost limit: $125 USD.
Problem Synopsis
Verbal◦ 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.“
Verbal Hands On◦ Pipe Bending◦ Each of you has an unsharpened pencil and a pipe
cleaner. Your problem is to create something out of them and comment on it. For example you might bend the pipe cleaner into wings around the pencil and say, “It’s a butterfly,” or “My pencil is flying”
Spontaneous Problems
Hands On◦Cantilever Structure◦ You are to build a structure of toothpicks and
clay that will sit on a table. The structure will cantilever, or stick out, as far as possible.
Spontaneous Problems
October & November◦ Register School For National Membership◦ Information Night◦ Form Teams◦ Recruit Coaches◦ Kick Off Meeting ◦ Send Coaches To Training
December & January◦ Tournament Registration◦ Judges Registration◦ Volunteer Registration◦ Spontaneous Workshop Registration
Season Overview
February ◦ Spontaneous Workshop◦ Judges Training◦ Practice, practice, practice◦ Support coaches even when they think their team is
not going to make it March
◦ Tournament Season!◦ Generate excitement and interest in your school to
attend the tournament and support your teams April
◦ State Tournament May
◦ World Finals
Season Overview
Program Structure - Memberships
Team/Tournament Requirements◦ Register and pay a tournament fee (includes both
Regional and State)◦ $75/competitive teams; $50/primary team◦Provide 1 volunteer and 1 judge (fee
assessed if not provided by Jan. 21st deadline) ◦ Teams not meeting these requirements are often
not allowed to advance or must pay additional fees.
Regional Tournaments ◦ Teams placing 1st -3rd and Ranatra Fusca Award
winners advance to the State Tournament State Tournament
◦ 1st, 2nd, and Ranatra Fusca Award winners advance to World Finals in late May
World Finals
Tournaments
First Five Meetings Continued …
CAN DO Volunteer as a judge or tournament volunteer Help provide snacks Transport the team to buy things Teach the team members a skill Open attics, closets, basements, recycle bins, for garage sale
value materials Bring Spontaneous problems and supplies Provide a place to meet and/or store props Help carry props into the building and into the staging area for
the tournament Get everyone and everything to the tournament Applaud A LOT and help get props offstage after the
performance
How Parents Can Help
First Five Meetings Continued …
CANNOT DO Suggest what to buy Modify or repair props if they break for whatever reason Sew anything, paint anything, cut anything, or do anything
to contribute to the team’s problem solution. Put emphasis on score/win rather than fun. Suggest to the team which skills would result in a better
looking or better functioning solution Suggest what materials to use from the attic, closet,
basement or recycle bins Analyze why something failed or did not work Suggest to the team which skills to use to solve a problem
How Parents Can Help
80+ volunteers are needed (2-3 hours each)◦ 15 roles x 4 shifts◦ 7 problems x 3 shifts
Volunteers can select a preference for their volunteer role when registering
Volunteers are not required to attend training Volunteers will be able to see their child’s
performance Volunteers will receive the state pin as a
thank you $50 fee assessed per tournament for a team
not supplying a volunteer
Volunteer Requirement
80+ judges are needed◦ 10 for each long term problem x 6◦ 20 for spontaneous◦ <5 for score room
Judges can select a preference for their role when registering
Judges will be assigned a role prior to training to ensure all roles and problems are covered
When judges attend training they will receive a t-shirt to be worn at tournament
Judges will not be able to see their child’s performance
Only judges can attend judges training $100 fee assessed per tournament for not supplying a
judge
Judge Requirement
Coaches Trainings◦ 3 offered in the fall
Coaches Mentor Program◦ Mary Francavilla◦ 15+ years experience with Odyssey of the Mind◦ Blog on Colorado Odyssey website◦ Respond to or forward coaching questions◦ Spontaneous problems for teams to practice
Contact Information ◦ [email protected]
Support for Coaches
Coaches Training Saturdays, 8:00-5:00◦ Oct. 27th Black Rock Elem Sch. - Erie◦ Nov. 10th Thompson Admin Bldg -Loveland◦ Dec. 1st Kruse Elem Sch. - Ft. Collins
Problem Specific Training ◦ Experienced coaches only◦ Wednesday, Dec. 5th, Longmont Area
Registrations Due – January 14th
◦ Tournament Registration◦ Spontaneous Workshop Registration
Judge & Volunteer Registration – January 21st
2012-2013 Important Dates
Spontaneous Workshop◦ Saturday, January 26th, TBD
Judges Training – Saturdays AM or PM Session◦ February 9th ◦ February 23rd
Tournaments◦ Poudre River Region – March 9th ◦ Longs Peak Region – March 16th
◦ Mt. Evans Region – March 23rd ◦ State – April 13th ◦ World Finals – May 21st – 26th Michigan State
University
2012-2013 Important Dates
Colorado Odyssey ◦ www.coloradoodyssey.org◦ State Information ◦ Spontaneous Workshop Registration◦ Coaches Corner
National Site◦ www.odysseyofthemind.com◦ National Information◦ Tournament, Judge & Volunteer Registration
Websites
Odyssey of the Mind At Our School
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