Destination Imagination as part of a Well-Rounded Education The Role of Destination Imagination as part of a Well-Rounded Education

Every Student Succeeds Act Destination Imagination (DI) can be part of a school district’s efforts to provide a “well-rounded” education.

Destination Imagination Educational Experiences Combine STEM subjects with the arts Allow students to learn skills that are necessary for future success Collaboration Critical thinking Creativity Communication Project management Engage the interests of a variety of students through diverse academic Challenges

Destination Imagination Educational Experiences Tournament Classroom Camps

Destination Imagination Educational Experiences Tournaments Classroom (2017/2018 school year) Camps (Spring/Summer 2018) Offered as an out-of-school activity Team Managers can be parents, teachers, community members Long term and Instant Challenges Begins in September and tournaments are held February through May Training offered for Team Managers Culminates with local tournaments. Top teams from around the world invited to attend Global Finals Offered as part of school curriculum Teachers guide the student teams Specifically designed Challenges Includes content guides and additional activities Professional development available for teachers Culminates with an activity in the classroom or school Offered by out-of-school organizations One day, two day, and week long offerings Mini-Challenges Professional development and training available for camp staff Culminates with an activity within the camp day

Destination Imagination Tournament Experience

DI is Project-Based Learning Learner focused and directed Meaningful challenges Real-world content Deep inquiry Student ownership Reflection

DI Approach to Learning No interference – WE can make this happen. Clarifying Questions – We ask important, critical questions for clarity. Resource awareness – We recognize the value of everything in our solution. Rapid Ideation and Implementation – We process and produce quickly and recognize that success can come from failure. Authentic Self-Expression – Our solution expresses who we are.

DI Challenges SCIENTIFIC – Students research scientific concepts, principles, and topics; use their research to build their solution; and combine their knowledge with the thrill and creativity of theatre arts. TECHNICAL – Teams complete tasks based on engineering, computer science, strategic planning and other related skills. Teams create a story about their solution and present it in theatrical form. ENGINEERING DESIGN – Students design, build, and test load-bearing structures made of specific materials. Each year the structure requirements change and may involve manipulating objects in the structure, testing the structure’s ability to handle compression, or building out of unusual materials. FINE ARTS – Students research stage craft, theatre technology, literature, acting and script writing to flex their artistic muscles as they solve this Challenge.

DI Challenges SERVICE LEARNING – Students engage in public service and address real life issues affecting their community. They create a stage show demonstrating the community issue they worked to solve. IMPROVISATION – This Challenge is all about spontaneity and storytelling. Teams research topics prior to their presentation, receive improv items on the spot, collaborate and use their creativity to produce spontaneous skits. EARLY LEARNING/RISING STARS – Children in preschool through 2nd grade work together on performances that have a STEM element, characters, props and scripts. INSTANT CHALLENGE – All teams engage in Instant Challenges that require quick, creative and critical thinking.

Proven Results Destination Imagination students were found to be: More engaged and imaginative when completing given tasks More creative than non-DI participants More self-confident and tenacious Able to elaborate on and generate more ideas than non-DI participants Great collaborators—86% of DI students agree that their teamwork skills improved within 1-2 years of participation More inquisitive—92% of DI students agree that solutions to problems are often improved by considering a variety of perspectives Results of a study by Dr. Mark A. Runco, Professor of Educational Psychology for the Torrance Creativity Center at the University of Georgia and Board Member for the Center for Childhood Creativity,

ESSA Title I - Accountability Goal: Ensure equitable access for all students to a well-rounded, challenging curriculum Title I funding can be used to: Provide school-wide programs in Arts and STEM to improve opportunities for students, when 40% or more students are defined as low-income Provide targeted support for lower income/at risk students within a school, when a school has less than 40% of students defined as low-income Programs can be offered during school, extended school days and in after-school programs Title I funded programs must be based on a school or district student needs assessment and use evidence-based interventions

ESSA Title IV – Well-Rounded Education Goal: Provide all students with a well-rounded education and improve school conditions for learning Title IV funding can be used for: Programs and activities that use music and the arts as tools to support the promotion of student engagement, problem solving, and conflict resolution Supporting the participation of low-income students in nonprofit competitions related to STEM subjects

Title IV (continued) Title IV funding can be used for: Hands-on learning and exposure to STEM subjects that support the use of field-based or service learning Integrating other academic subjects, including the arts, into STEM programs Programs and activities that promote volunteerism and community involvement Programs and activities that support educational programs that integrate multiple disciplines such as programs that combine arts and mathematics Promoting involvement of parents in the activity or program

Destination Imagination Experiences as part of a Well-Rounded Education Implement a school-wide Destination Imagination Challenge Experience in extended school day or afterschool programs with teachers as Team Managers Use Destination Imagination as part of the curriculum for a particular class, home room or other project hour Support the DI Educational Experience with parents as volunteer Team Managers

DI is the best thing you will ever do for a child’s education. ‘‘ DI is the best thing you will ever do for a child’s education. Melissa Dick  Parent and Team Manager  ’’

The future is already here; It is just not very evenly distributed. - William Gibson ‘‘ ’’ “Like” us on Facebook at Destination Imagination, Inc. Learn more at DestinationImagination.org Tweet with us @IDODI