Welcome to MA © 2009 Masschusetts Destination ImagiNation MADI Appraiser 101 Destination ImagiNation ® Appraiser Training

Session 101 What is Destination ImagiNation ® and why is your role so important? Goals Massachusetts program What we teach Program structure Tournaments & Appraisers Special awards The Team Challenges for this year ( ) Who we are, why we do it, and why tournaments are so fun!

Destination ImagiNation ® is... The “Flagship” program sponsored by Destination ImagiNation, Inc., a 28 year-old non-profit 501(c)3 corporation the largest kid-powered & team-driven creative problem-solving program in the world! © Destination ImagiNation, Inc in which the kids have fun, and learn without realizing it!

 A school & community-based program run by volunteers for over 30 years in Mass.  One of the top 4 DI programs worldwide  400 schools, over 800 teams statewide  9 regions  MADI ™ helps train over 1,400 team managers 800 tournament officials  Largest Affiliate DI college scholarship program in the USA

Destination ImagiNation ® teaches... Total Team-generated Solution without adult “interference” Creativity Creative problem-solving skills Teamwork to solve Challenges both sustained and impromptu No single answer, open-ended Challenges Balance time, budget, ideas Performance and Improvisational skills Creative use of materials All in a supportive environment where all ideas are team-generated so that team members have ownership of the solution. © Destination ImagiNation, Inc. 2004

Destination ImagiNation ® Program Structure Teams form of 5-7 participants They learn the Creative Problem Solving process and tools to help them as a team solve a Team Challenge over a sustained amount of time, as well as practice the application of the skills in impromptu challenges called Instant Challenges Culmination of their work is showcased at Destination ImagiNation ® tournaments Local, Regional and Affiliate Tournaments, and Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Global Finals What they learn on this journey are the tangible rewards of the program! Tournaments are incredible expositions of the teams’creativity © Destination ImagiNation, Inc. 2004

Destination ImagiNation ® Tournament Day A constant buzz of activity Team solution presentations going on in parallel at different Team Challenge sites Teams doing on-the-spot challenges at the Instant Challenge site Scores being constantly delivered to the score room Final awards ceremony at the end of the day

Purposes of the Tournament Opportunity to present their unique solution and to be appreciated for the creativity they demonstrate in front of their peers, parents, supporters and YOU (they’ve worked all year long for these few minutes) Second and less important, to award points to identify the teams that have solved the challenges and showed creativity Volunteer Appraisers make a tournament possible for the kids!

The Role of the Appraiser To award as many points as possible for what a team does Nominate outstanding teams for special awards Show genuine appreciation of the teams’ efforts by listening and asking (give stickies) It’s OK to laugh and applaud Issuing deductions only when absolutely warranted With training, all teams will receive equal treatment

Special Awards  DaVinci Award For outstanding creativity.  Spirit of Discovery & Imagination Award For spirit, sportsmanship, volunteerism, teamwork  Renaissance Award For outstanding design, engineering, execution or performance

Important Note You must give equal and undivided attention to each and every team. If you have a child or friend in another challenge you will not be able to leave your venue to watch their performance. If you have a child or friend in this challenge, you should not be appraising this challenge.

To a small child an Appraiser can seem so intimidating......so.. We wear crazy hats for a fun atmosphere And don’t forget to smile

Technical Challenge prompts students to complete tasks by using engineering, research, strategic planning and related skills  Equipment to detect objects in hiding places  Equipment to take the objects out of hiding  Move objects across finish line  Story about a technology that detects things a human cannot sense without help  Create & present 2 Team Choice Elements TECHNICAL TEAM CHALLENGES

Scientific Challenge blends research and curiosity of science with the thrill & creativity of theater arts  Learn about extreme environment  Characters who attempt to adapt to extreme conditions in order to survive  Extreme gear that is demonstrated  Design & create a depiction of the extreme environment.  Create & present 2 Team Choice Elements SCIENTIFIC TEAM CHALLENGES

Structural Challenge asks teams to design, build and test load-bearing structures out of specific materials  Structure tested against two forces  Prop assembled during presentation Prop parts fit completely inside a box  Story in which tension is a threat to stability and is overcome  Create & present 2 Team Choice Elements STRUCTURAL TEAM CHALLENGES

In the Fine Arts Challenge, students flex their acting and artistic muscles as they explore fascinating works of literature and media  Research work of art by a foreign-born artist  Theatrically present a comic strip based on art  Create 3 live comic strip panels  Create an ARTifact that is inspired by art  Design and create a caption contraption for one of the comic strip panels.  Create & present 2 Team Choice Elements FINE ARTS TEAM CHALLENGES

Improvisational Challenge is all about spontaneity & story-telling. Teams receive topics & produce skits right on the spot.  Create an original 5-minute improvisational skit  Develop interaction between a character from the past and a contemporary character  Show how those characters work, using the time period, their occupations and skills, to deal with pandemonium  Use stage makeup to create, develop, and/or enhance one skit character IMPROVISATIONAL TEAM CHALLENGES

The Service Learning Challenge is designed to engage students in community service to address real community issues through personal expression.  Identify and select real community need  Carry out a project that addresses the need  Use play to meet the goal(s) of the project  Use a team-created elevator pitch that can be used to enlist at least one community partner.  Create a live presentation that features the project  Create and present two Team Choice Elements SERVICE LEARNING TEAM CHALLENGES

Rising Stars! is a Challenge created for early learners. To solve the Challenge, 4- to 7- year-old children work together on performances complete with characters, props and scripts  Create your own circus  Learn about circuses & the role of the ringmaster  Learn about balancing things  Learn about geometric shapes  Explore how your team works together to make decisions about the 3 acts of your circus EARLY LEARNING TEAM CHALLENGES

You will See and Appraise their Creations that required many skills Many skills are required for some of these elaborate creations Team work Cooperation Collaboration Time management Communication WOOD-WORKINGSEWING PLASTERING MECHANICAL MAKE-UP

Next Session Instant Challenge Appraisers - > Cafeteria Rising Stars: …Circus…. Appraisers -> Media Center Challenge, Prep, ATO Appraisers stay in auditorium