1. Alfred G. Waters Middle School
Odyssey of the Mind
Alfred G. Waters
Middle School

2. Odyssey of the Mind . . .
is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college.

3. Team Members
apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics.
bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.

4. What makes Odyssey different?
Odyssey of the Mind is a competitive program that encourages kids to be the best that they can be, but it's a friendly competition. Kids learn from and even cheer on their competitors.

5. How do students benefit from participation?
Students learn to
Cooperate and respect for the ideas of others.
Evaluate ideas and make decisions on their own,
Gain greater self-confidence and increased self- esteem along the way.
Work within a budget, so they learn to manage their money.
Realize that there is more than one way to solve a problem, and that sometimes the process is more important than the end result.

6. Odyssey and Common Core State Standards
The structure of Odyssey of the Mind is a perfect match for the demands of the Common Core—ensuring that all students can apply their knowledge through higher order thinking skills. Students are given interdisciplinary problems designed to encourage creative thinking and innovation. Spontaneous problems encourage students to respond quickly and creatively, while long-term problems encourage the depth of thinking required in the Common Core. Teamwork is essential, and while adult leaders serve as facilitators, the work is student-driven. Having been involved in two school systems with Odyssey of the Mind teams, I can attest to the increase in students' confidence, motivation, and creativity that extends beyond Odyssey of the Mind into students' daily classroom performance. Creativity and innovation are the new "basic skills" for 21st century learners, and Odyssey of the Mind is a wonderful match as we move all students towards higher levels of thinking and learning.
The structure of Odyssey of the Mind is a perfect match for the demands of the Common Core—ensuring that all students can apply their knowledge through higher order thinking skills. Students are given interdisciplinary problems designed to encourage creative thinking and innovation. Spontaneous problems encourage students to respond quickly and creatively, while long-term problems encourage the depth of thinking required in the Common Core. Teamwork is essential, and while adult leaders serve as facilitators, the work is student-driven. Having been involved in two school systems with Odyssey of the Mind teams, I can attest to the increase in students' confidence, motivation, and creativity that extends beyond Odyssey of the Mind into students' daily classroom performance. Creativity and innovation are the new "basic skills" for 21st century learners, and Odyssey of the Mind is a wonderful match as we move all students towards higher levels of thinking and learning.
The structure of Odyssey of the Mind is a perfect match for the demands of the Common Core—ensuring that all students can apply their knowledge through higher order thinking skills. Students are given interdisciplinary problems designed to encourage creative thinking and innovation. Spontaneous problems encourage students to respond quickly and creatively, while long-term problems encourage the depth of thinking required in the Common Core. Teamwork is essential, and while adult leaders serve as facilitators, the work is student-driven. Having been involved in two school systems with Odyssey of the Mind teams, I can attest to the increase in students' confidence, motivation, and creativity that extends beyond Odyssey of the Mind into students' daily classroom performance. Creativity and innovation are the new "basic skills" for 21st century learners, and Odyssey of the Mind is a wonderful match as we move all students towards higher levels of thinking and learning.
Odyssey and Common Core State Standards
The structure of Odyssey of the Mind is a perfect match for the demands of the Common Core—ensuring that all students can apply their knowledge through higher order thinking skills. Students are given interdisciplinary problems designed to encourage creative thinking and innovation. Spontaneous problems encourage students to respond quickly and creatively, while long-term problems encourage the depth of thinking required in the Common Core. Teamwork is essential, and while adult leaders serve as facilitators, the work is student-driven.
“Having been involved in two school systems with Odyssey of the Mind teams, I can attest to the increase in students' confidence, motivation, and creativity that extends beyond Odyssey of the Mind into students' daily classroom performance. Creativity and innovation are the new "basic skills" for 21st century learners, and Odyssey of the Mind is a wonderful match as we move all students towards higher levels of thinking and learning”. Bill Combs

7. How does it work?
Schools purchase a membership and form teams of up to seven students.
Each team chooses one of five competitive problems to solve.
Under the guidance of an adult coach, teams work on their solutions throughout the school year and, if they choose, present them in organized competitions in the spring.

8. Who runs the Odyssey of the Mind?
Not-for-profit organizations.
Each organization is run by a local Association Director.
Bill Combs and Mary Kay Valentine
The organizations are licensed by Creative Competitions, Inc. (CCI), which provides all of the problems and materials necessary to run training sessions and tournaments

9. How did Odyssey of the Mind get its start?
Odyssey of the Mind was created by Dr. C. Samuel Micklus, Professor Emeritus at Rowan University in New Jersey. In 1978, 28 New Jersey schools participated in the very first creative problem-solving competition ever. "Dr. Sam" still develops all problems for the program, along with his son, Sammy, President of CCI.

10. Problems Problem 1: Catch Us If You Can
This is your Odyssey, should you choose to accept it…your team will design, build, and run vehicles from a multi-level Parking Garage to a secret meeting place without being stopped. Vehicles will travel different routes to reach the same destination. During their Odyssey, the vehicles will do something that prevents them from being followed. The performance will include the reason for the meeting, someone that wants to prevent the meeting, a simulation of a scene taking place inside a vehicle as it travels, and a soundtrack to accompany the vehicles’ travel. Cost limit: $145 USD.

11. Problems Problem 2: Odd-a-Bot
For this problem, teams will create a humorous story about a family that brings home an “Odd-a-Bot.” Instead of being programmed to perform tasks, this Odd-a-Bot robot learns from watching others. Teams will design, build, and operate an original robot that demonstrates human characteristics when performing tasks. In the performance, the Odd-a-Bot will move and learn human actions from watching characters perform activities such as household chores, creating art, and dancing. The Odd-a-Bot learns more than it was expected to learn, and will confuse its actions with humorous results. Cost limit: $145 USD.

12. Problems Problem 3: Classics... It's Time, OMER
The future and the past collide in this problem about important works of art – both existing and yet-to-be-created. Teams will create and present an original performance about time travelers looking to discover the inspiration for great works of art, little did they know – it was OMER every time! The travelers go back in time — twice into our past and once into our future. They will see OMER inspire two classical artists and a team-created artist from our future. The performance will include how the three works of art positively impact the world, a visual and audible effect that indicates when time travel is occurring, two re-creations of the classic works of art selected from a list, and a team-created work of art.

13. Problems
Problem 4: Ready, Set, Balsa, Build Creativity can be defined by using only what you have to get a job done. In this problem, teams will design, build, and test a structure made of only balsa wood and glue that will balance and support as much weight as possible. The structure must include sets of balsa pieces of predetermined sizes and quantities as listed in the problem. Some sets must be parts of the structure while others, if incorporated, will receive additional score - the more sets of pieces used, the higher the score! Teams will present a performance with a theme about using what's available and that incorporates weight-placement and assembling original team creations. .

14. Problems Problem 5: To Be Continued: A Superhero Cliffhanger
Creativity being taken away from the world, and it is up to Odyssey teams to rescue it! Teams will create and present a humorous performance about an unexpected superhero that encounters three different situations where it must save creativity in some way. The superhero will change appearance when it displays its superpowers and go back to blending in with society when not. The performance will also include a clumsy sidekick, a nemesis character, a choreographed battle, and a cliffhanger ending.

15. How are teams judged in competition?
Thousands of volunteers from around the world judge the competitions and serve in various positions to help make the tournaments a success.
Teams are scored for their long-term problem solution, how well they solve a "spontaneous" problem on the spot, and "style" -- the elaboration of their long-term problem solution.
Kids are rewarded more for how they apply their knowledge, skills and talents, and not for coming up with the right answer. In fact, in Odyssey of the Mind problems, there isn't one right answer. Ever.

16. Long Term Problems
These problems can't be solved in 10 minutes, or even 10 days! They are fun activities to be worked on in sessions spanning a month or longer. Thinking of a solution might be easy, but creating a solution that satisfies your expectations takes time.

17. Spontaneous Problems
These brain testers are really brain builders! They can be used in 10- to 30-minute sessions. Some spontaneous problems build verbal skills, some build mechanical (hands on) skills, and some build both, but all will improve your creative problem-solving talents.

18. Spontaneous Example Be Patient
Your problem is to pretend you are a patient in an operating room and you hear noises and conversation. Say what you would like to hear or what you would not like to hear. You must begin each response with "I would like to hear . . ." or "I would not like to hear "

19. Parent Involvement – Every parent of a team member has a role . . .
Head Coach - without coaches there are
no teams
Co-Coach – spontaneous problem
Provide place for team to meet
Team shopper
Prop and scenery transportation
Snack organizer/provider
Teach a skill as needed
Show up last 45 min of meeting to help clean up. Coaches shoud not be left with the mess, in addition to coaching.

20. Important Dates for Coaches
November 5, (register by Oct. 28)
Coaches Training #1 for Long-Term Style
8 am to Noon - Independence School – Hockessin
Spontaneous Coaches Training #1
1PM to 5PM Independence School - Hockessin
November 12, 2016
Coaches Training #2 for Long-Term Style
8 AM to Noon – Lake Forest Central Elem. School
Spontaneous Coaches Training #2
1PM to 5PM – Lake Forest Central Elem. School
January 7, 2017
Coaches Training #3 for Long-Term Style
8AM to Noon – Location TBA
Spontaneous Coaches Training #3
1PM to 5PM – Location TBA

21. Each team must provide a judge.
Judges Training #1 (register by Jan. 11)
Feb. 11 at Appo. HS –
New Judges - Arrive at 8:30 AM
Experienced Judges – Arrive at 10:00 AM
Judges Training #2 (register by Jan. 11)
Feb. 18 at Milford Central Academy School –

22. WORLD FINALS Pre-Tournery Coaches River Regional Meeting
Feb Brandywine HS, Faulk Road
March 11, 2017: River Regional Tournament
Appo High School
March 25, 2017: State Tournament –
Location TBA
WORLD FINALS
May 24-27, Michigan State University

23. Websites