1. Odyssey of the Mind
Information Meeting

2. OVERVIEW Definition Benefits Participants
Competition/Kinds of Problems
Sequence
Requirements
Team Formation
Problems
Important Dates
Conclusions

3. WHAT IS OOTM?
An international educational program/competition which provides creative problem solving opportunities for students, K-college

4. BENEFITS Participants 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

5. ANY student in grades Kindergarten through college
PARTICIPANTS
ANY student in grades Kindergarten through college
Division 1: K-5th grade
K- 2 does Primary Problem
Division 2: 6th through 8th grade
Division 3: 9th through 12th grade
Division 4: College students

6. COMPETITION
Preparation begins in September (or earlier if team stays together) for March regional competition
Consists of two parts:
Long term problem
Spontaneous problem

7. LONG TERM PROBLEMS (5 kinds)
Mechanical/Vehicle: Teams design, build and operate vehicles of various sizes and with various power sources
Mechanical/Vehicle
Could be driven or have to perform tasks such as overcoming obstacles or visiting other "countries" to retrieve artifacts
Classics
Could be writing and portraying an additional chapter to Moby Dick or bringing painting to life
Structure
Teams test structure by supporting and holding as much weight as possible -- sometimes more than a thousand pounds!
Teams present a skit as part of the Style presentation.
Technical Performance
Might be asked to write an original musical score to play on a "new" type of instrument
Might be asked to build a robot with human characteristics, or to perform tasks using a chain reaction of snapping mousetraps.

8. LONG TERM PROBLEMS
Technical Performance: Teams make innovative contraptions and incorporate artistic elements into their solutions.
Mechanical/Vehicle
Could be driven or have to perform tasks such as overcoming obstacles or visiting other "countries" to retrieve artifacts
Classics
Could be writing and portraying an additional chapter to Moby Dick or bringing painting to life
Structure
Teams test structure by supporting and holding as much weight as possible -- sometimes more than a thousand pounds!
Teams present a skit as part of the Style presentation.
Technical Performance
Might be asked to write an original musical score to play on a "new" type of instrument
Might be asked to build a robot with human characteristics, or to perform tasks using a chain reaction of snapping mousetraps.

9. LONG TERM PROBLEMS
Classics: Teams write and perform skit based upon the classical -- from literature to architecture to art.
Mechanical/Vehicle
Could be driven or have to perform tasks such as overcoming obstacles or visiting other "countries" to retrieve artifacts
Classics
Could be writing and portraying an additional chapter to Moby Dick or bringing painting to life
Structure
Teams test structure by supporting and holding as much weight as possible -- sometimes more than a thousand pounds!
Teams present a skit as part of the Style presentation.
Technical Performance
Might be asked to write an original musical score to play on a "new" type of instrument
Might be asked to build a robot with human characteristics, or to perform tasks using a chain reaction of snapping mousetraps.

10. LONG TERM PROBLEMS
Structure: Teams design and build structures using only balsa wood and glue which are weight tested.
Mechanical/Vehicle
Could be driven or have to perform tasks such as overcoming obstacles or visiting other "countries" to retrieve artifacts
Classics
Could be writing and portraying an additional chapter to Moby Dick or bringing painting to life
Structure
Teams test structure by supporting and holding as much weight as possible -- sometimes more than a thousand pounds!
Teams present a skit as part of the Style presentation.
Technical Performance
Might be asked to write an original musical score to play on a "new" type of instrument
Might be asked to build a robot with human characteristics, or to perform tasks using a chain reaction of snapping mousetraps.

11. LONG TERM PROBLEMS
Performance: Teams present performances that revolve around a specific theme and incorporate required elements.
Mechanical/Vehicle
Could be driven or have to perform tasks such as overcoming obstacles or visiting other "countries" to retrieve artifacts
Classics
Could be writing and portraying an additional chapter to Moby Dick or bringing painting to life
Structure
Teams test structure by supporting and holding as much weight as possible -- sometimes more than a thousand pounds!
Teams present a skit as part of the Style presentation.
Technical Performance
Might be asked to write an original musical score to play on a "new" type of instrument
Might be asked to build a robot with human characteristics, or to perform tasks using a chain reaction of snapping mousetraps.

12. LONG TERM PROBLEM GUIDANCE
Places multiple constraints on the team which they must consider as they develop their solution.
Examples for performance:
Must be done 8 minutes or less
Must be done in a presentation area not larger than 7 feet by 10 feet
Is judged in many areas
Could garner penalty points for a variety of infractions

13. SPONTANEOUS PROBLEMS
Verbal
Verbal Hands-On
Hands-On

14. SEQUENCE
Parents/students attend orientation (May/June & August/September)
Students choose problem/coaches volunteer
Teams form/formed
Meetings held (September through March)
School registers for competition (January)
Teams practice/dry run (February-March)
Teams compete at Regional level (March)

15. REQUIREMENTS School membership fee ($135/first team, $100/addl teams)
Coaches
Places to meet
Funds for long term problem ($125-$145/team)
Competition registration fee ($60/team)
One Judge and one volunteer from each team (CEUs for teachers)
COMMITMENT
Students TIME
Hard work Open mind Positive attitude Encouragement
Creativity Punctuality Sense of humor Teamwork Respect
Parents
Funds Time Punctuality Planning
< $30/student
to participate

16. TEAM FORMATION Teams consist of 5 to 7 members
Teams form in many ways throughout US:
Gifted (as defined by the school district)
Try-out
Test
Lottery
Coaches choose
Coaches form
Coordinator forms
Students form
Teachers form

17. Method is School’s choice
TEAM FORMATION
Method is School’s choice
NOTE: Recommend school coordinator not guarantee placement of any student on a team unless that student’s parent or guardian is a coach.

18. PROBLEMS

19. MECHANICAL/VEHICLE Problem 1: Driver's Test
Teams will design, build, and drive a vehicle that will travel a course where a student driver attempts to complete tasks in order to pass a driver’s test.
Vehicle will travel using one propulsion system and then travel in reverse using a different propulsion system.
Vehicle will encounter a directional signal and have a Global Positioning System (GPS) that talks to the driver.
Teams will create a theme for the presentation that incorporates the vehicle, a driver’s test, a student, and the talking GPS. 
Cost limit: $145 USD.

20. TECHNICAL Problem 2: The Not-So-Haunted House
Teams will create and present an original performance that includes a "pop-up-style" not-so-haunted "house" where four special effects take place.
Intent of the special effects will be to scare others, but they will produce a different result instead.
Performance will include at least one character that experiences the special effects and a narrator who relays the experiences to the audience.
Performance will also include a surprise ending and special effects will be scored for originality and engineering. 
Cost limit: $145 USD.

21. CLASSICS Problem 3: It’s How We Rule
Teams will re-create a King's Court from history and make their own Royal Court set in an original kingdom at a different time and place.
The Historic Court will issue a decree that fits in with its history, while the team-created Royal Court will issue a decree that changes an everyday behavior for the people in the kingdom.
The Historic court will be composed as the team wishes, but the original Royal Court will be made up of a leader, a minstrel that performs a song while playing a team-created instrument, and a jester that makes fun of the leader.
Performance will include puppets and a Peoplet (a person portrayed as a puppet), and will be scored for humor. 
Cost limit: $125 USD.

22. STRUCTURE Problem 4: The Stackable Structure (sponsored by NASA)
Teams will design and build a structure made up of separate components stacked on top of one another.
Structure components will be made of only balsa wood and glue, and will be tested by balancing and supporting weights after they are stacked.
Teams will be scored for the number of components they use in their final structure.
Before they are stacked, the separate components will be integrated into an artistic representation of Earth.

23. THEATRICAL Problem 5: Seeing is Believing
Teams will create and present an original performance about a community that feels threatened by something in a location it has never visited.
The community townspeople will use a creative method to select one or more Travelers to visit and explore the location.
While at the location, a Traveler will use a means of communication to send a message home to convince the community that there is nothing to fear.

24. Primary Primary: The World’s First Art Festival Grades K-2
Teams will create and present an original humorous performance about a prehistoric art festival.
Festival will include artwork, dance, music, song, and — of course — a team-created audience to experience it all.
Teams will also create a backdrop that is a replica of a cave painting.

Cost limit: $125 USD.

25. IMPORTANT DATES Problems Released: During first full week in September
Coaches’ Training: 16 Nov 13 Mandatory for new coaches (Tuscarora HS)
T-shirt Design Submissions: TBD
Spontaneous Coaches’ Workshop: 7 Dec 13 (Park View HS)
Regional Registration: 6 Dec-6 Jan, with payment via MAIL only
T-shirt Orders Due: TBD, with payment via MAIL only
Judges’ Training: 8 Feb 14 (Park View HS)
Regional Competitions:
Region 14 (Catoctin): Saturday, 15 Mar 14 (Tuscarora HS)
Region 16 (Dulles): Saturday, 29 Mar 14 (Park View HS)
State Competition: Saturday, 26 Apr, Franklin County HS
World Competition: May 2014, Iowa State

26. 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.

27. Questions?

28. Backup Slides

29. ORIGINATION
Developed by Dr. Sam Micklus, professor at Rowan University
Challenged 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.

30. VERBAL Example Name things that are “red”
Student should think of all of the definitions of “red,” i.e.:
an apple
a newspaper
Ready at the Switch
bread and butter
red skies at night
A map
blood
ready, set, go
Gingerbread
Giant redwoods
Readiness

31. VERBAL HANDS-ON Example
Team is given any number of group of materials/things:
PIECE OF STRING, 2 PENCILS, COFFEE FILTER, MEAT BASTER, 6 PAPER CLIPS,
2 MARBLES, PAPER CUP, PAPER PLATE, 12" SQUARE OF ALUMINUM FOIL,
24" PIECE OF YARN, RULER OR YARDSTICK, NAPKIN (PAPER OR CLOTH),
2 RUBBER BANDS, BUSINESS-SIZE ENVELOPE, 6 MARSHMALLOWS, SHEET OF
PAPER, 3 COTTON BALLS, PLASTIC SPOON, BALLOON, TENNIS BALL,
TOOTHBRUSH, COIN, PLASTIC BAG, HAT, SURGICAL MASK, CLOTHES PIN,
ERASER ETC.
Each member chooses three items
Team is told items are clues uncovered from a previously unknown civilization
Each must describe how those objects may have been used in that civilization’s way of life.
Example: Meat baster may have been used to water plants in a greenhouse.

32. HANDS-ON Example Usually the most difficult
Each team is given 40 pieces of spaghetti, 15 pieces of elbow macaroni, 25 miniature marshmallows, 10 toothpicks, 4 straws, and 5 adhesive mailing labels, 5 pounds of penny nails and a pint size plastic container.
Team has 7 minutes to make a structure and 2 minutes to test it. They may talk during build.

33. HANDS-ON Example (continued)
Structure is scored on height and strength.
Must rest on the surface of the table and may not lean against a wall or be supported by anything else.
After completed team must place the container on top of structure.
Judges will measure height from the surface of the table to the top of the container.
Must be at least 8 inches high to receive score.

34. HANDS-ON Example (continued)
Once measured team must begin placing weights in container, one at a time.
Weight must be held for 3 seconds to count for score.
Problem is finished when structure breaks, when all the weights have been used, or when time ends.