AStep-by-StepGuideto

GettingStaredasaNewDestinationImagination(DI)TeamManager

ByScottDalgleish,August2015

INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................2

I’MALREADYOVERWHELMED,WHYAMIEVENCONSIDERINGMANAGINGADITEAM?.....................2

THISISYOURTEAM–MANAGEITYOURWAY.....................................................................................3

BRINGINGYOURSELFUPTOSPEEDONWHATYOUDOASATEAMMANAGER.....................................4AREALCENTRALCHALLENGEATATOURNAMENT..............................................................................................5AREALINSTANTCHALLENGEATATOURNAMENT..............................................................................................6LEARNABOUT“INTERFERENCE”ANDROLEOFATEAMMANAGER........................................................................6LEARNMOREDETAILSABOUTMANAGINGADITEAMATALOCALMEETINGORWEBINAR.......................................7

DECIDEWHICHCENTRALCHALLENGESYOUAREWILLINGTOMANAGE...............................................7

THEBIGPROBLEMSIEXPERIENCEDINMYFIRSTYEAR.........................................................................8

GETTINGOFFTOAGOODSTART-WAYSTOAVOIDTHEBIGFIRSTYEARPROBLEMS............................9GETTINGSTUFFDONEDURINGMEETINGS–WHILEHERDINGTHECATS...............................................................9AVOIDSCHEDULEPROBLEMSANDBABYSITTINGTHROUGHTEAMSELECTION.........................................................9CREATINGYOURMEETINGSCHEDULEFORPARENTSANDKIDSTOCOMMITTO....................................................10

SCHEDULEANDPREPAREFORYOURFIRSTDIMEETING–WITHKIDSANDPARENTS..........................11

PREPAREFORTHESECONDMEETING.................................................................................................13

PREPAREFORYOURTHIRDAFTER-SCHOOLMEETING........................................................................15

PREPARINGFORTHE4THAFTER-SCHOOLMEETING............................................................................16

PREPAREFOR5THMEETING................................................................................................................17

BUILDINGINSTANTCHALLENGESKILLS..............................................................................................20

UNDERSTANDINGCLARIFICAITONS....................................................................................................21

Introduction Thisismy7thyearasaDIteammanager.Lastyearwasunique,though,becausemytwoolderdaughters“graduated”fromDIandIstartedanewteamwithmy4thgradeson.So,Iwasa6-yearteammanagerwithafirst-yearteam.BecauseofthelessonsIlearnedfrompastteams,startingthissecondnewteamwasmucheasierthanmyfirstteam.IwantedtoputtogetherthisguideandsharewhatIlearnedtohelpnewteammanagersgetofftoabetter,easierstart.

ImadesomecommonmistakesmyfirstyearthatIthinkcanbeavoidedwiththeadviceinthisguide.

Thereisahighdemandforteammanagers–andwewantthisfirstyeartobefunandrewardingsothatyouhaveagoodfirstexperienceandcomebackagain.IhopethisdocumentwillhelpyougetofftoagoodstartonalongandwonderfulDIjourney,likemine.

Hello,ThisisKateDonelan,theExecutiveDirectorofDestinationImaginationColorado.Scottdidanamazingjobwiththisguide.FromtimetotimeIamgoingtointerrupttogiveanalternativeperspective.Oneofthekeythingstorememberisthateveryoneteammanagesinauniquewaydependentontheirpersonalityandthepersonalitiesoftheirteam.Usethisguideasastartingpointformanagingyourteam.BeingasuccessfulteamorasuccessfulTeamManagerisself-defined.Itdoesn’t’necessarilymeanadvancingtothenextcompetition,butcouldmeanlearningamazingskillsandteamwork.

ThankyoutoScottfortakingthetimetosharehisperspectiveandadvice.

I ’m Already Overwhelmed, Why am I Even Considering Managing a DI Team? EveryyearIaskmyself,“WhyshouldImanageaDIteamwhenI’malreadyoverwhelmed?Itrytobeagoodfathertomy3kids,agoodhusband,myjobnowrequires60+hoursaweek.Whyaddanothermajortimecommitment?”

Thisiswhy:

• UnlikeanyotherorganizationI’vecomeacross,IseethatDIteachesextremelyvaluablereal-worldskillsthatwillgivemykids,andthekidsonmyteamamajorhead-startinlife.Theydon’tgetthesevaluableskillsinschool,andveryfewotherorganizationsareeffectiveatteachingandencouragingthem.Morethanever,theengineofoureconomyis“AmericanIngenuity,”andIwantmykidstoentertheworkingworldwithstrongskillsinthisarea.

• BeingpartofDIisverysatisfying–andworthmytime.o Thisisn’taleapoffaith.Inmy6years,eachyear,Iseehugegrowth,learningand

developmentofanextremelyvaluableanduniqueskillsetinthekidsonmyteam(whichincludeMYkids).

! Itissocoolandpersonallyrewardingtoseethatyoucanteachthesevaluableskills–thenwatchyourkidsdotrulyamazingthings!

• I’vedevelopedamuchdeeperandmeaningfulrelationshipwithmykids(andotherDIteammembers)throughDI.DIhaspromptedsomegreat“kitchentable”discussionswithmykidsonverypracticalreal-worldissues.It’salsoallowedmetoplayamajorincreasedroleintheirlivesandintheirdevelopmentthatIknowtheyvalue.

o _____OptionalTask:Ihaveablogpostonthisthatyoucanreadatyourconvenience:“Wow,YetAnother“LoveandLogicMoment”atOurDIMeeting”http://www.dicolorado.org/wow-yet-another-%E2%80%9Clove-and-logic-moment-at-our-di-meeting/

• IlikebeingpartoftheDIfamily.Ilikebeingaroundkids,families,andothervolunteerswhovaluecreativity,arethrilledwithinnovation,liketoteachkidsreal-worldskills,likegettingoffthebeatenpathandliketobearoundotherfree-thinkers.Unlikemanyotheradultgatherings,IfeelreallycomfortableintheDIWorld.

• IfeellikeDIoffersamuchmuchricherreal-worldlearningexperienceforthekids(andteammanagers)thananyotheractivity–andifI’mgoingtocoachoneofmykids’teams,DIiswhereIgetthebiggestimpactforthetimeIinvest–byfar.

• Mykidsandthekidsontheteamhavegottentoknowmemuchbetter.Severalyearsago–twoofthekidsonmyteamwrotetheiressayon“TheEverydayHeroinmyLife”aboutme,theirDIteammanager.Iconsiderthoseessaysoneofthemostprizedpossessionsinmylife.

Asyouevaluateifyouwanttobeateammanager,Ithinkitisalsoimportanttopointoutthatmanagingateamisalotofwork.Inthepast,Idon’tthinktheamountofworkthatisinvolvedwithmanagingateamwaseffectivelycommunicatedtonewteammanagers–anditwasn’talwaysapleasantsurprisewhennewteammanagersdiscoveredthis.

So,yes–managingateamisalotofworkontopofeverythingelseyouaredoing–butitisvery,veryrewardingandbeneficialforkids.Ialwaysplannedoncoachingmykids’basketballteam,butwhenIdiscoveredDI,IknewmytimewouldhaveamuchmuchlargerimpactwithDI.So,Iletanotherparentcoachbasketball,andIfocusedontheactivitythatIfelthadbyfarthelargestimpactforthecoachingactivityIdowithmykids.

This is Your Team – Manage it Your Way. Newteammanagershavebeenrequestingastep-by-stepguidetogettingstarted–andI’mgoingtoprovidethat.Pleasekeepinmind,though,thatthisisyourteam,andyoushouldmanageityourway.I’veseenteammanagerswithdramaticallydifferentstylesandapproacheshavegreatexperiences.

So,keepinmindthatthecheckliststhatI’veprovidedworkformeandmystyleandmypersonality.Usethemasastartingpointanddon’thesitatetoeditthemtoworkforyou!

Also,keepinmindthatahappyteammanagerresultsinahappyteamandateamthatreturnsformanyyears.Asyoustartsettingupandrunningyourteam,keepyourneedsinmind.Wewantyoutohaveagreatexperienceandcomebacknextyear!(Moreonthisinthefollowingpages).

Whileitistruethatasateammanager,youcan’thelpwiththesolutiontothechallenge–youareallowedtoMANAGEtheteam.Imanagemyteamwiththeunderlyingprinciplethat“I’moverwhelmed,andmytimeisvaluableanditisnottobewasted.”(Moreonthis,too,inthefollowingpages.)

WhenImanagemyteam,IalsothinkabouttheadviceIreceivedwhenIgotoutofcollegeandstartedasamanagerforProcterandGamble.Iwastold,“Pickamanagerintheplantthatyouadmire,thenimitatethem.”WhenImanagemyteam,Itrytobeagoodmanagerrolemodelthatthekidscanusewhentheyarematureenoughtostarttakingonmanagementtasks.Goodmanagersareinspiringandencouraging.Goodmanagersalsomakethetoughdecisionssuchasremovingteammembersthatcan’tbeconstructiveandhaltingaDImeetingthathasturnedintoagoof-offsession.IfeellikeI’mdoingthekidsagreatservicebydemonstratinggoodmanagementskills–evenwhenthatmeansdoingmanagementthingsthatareverydifficultandsometimesunpopular.

Asyougetstarted,pleasealsoknowthatbecausethisisyourteam,inmostcasesyoucanplayanactiveroleindeterminingwhatkidswillbeonyourteam.

Ifbychanceaparent,teacher,orotherpersonhasissuewithhowYOUaremanagingYOURteam,sendthemthisguideandsuggesttheystarttheirownteamwheretheycanmanageitTHEIRway.

Iagreewhole-heartedlywithScott,howeversomeschoolsassignstudentstoDIteamsbasedonlikeinterestsorlottery.IfyouhavelesscontrolaboutpickingyourteamyoucanstilldemonstrateandteachgreatprojectmanagementskillsandteamworkskillsusingmanyoftheDestinationImaginationphilosophies.Manyteammanagersinthesesituationshaveawonderfulexperiencemanagingtheirteam.

Bringing Yourself Up to Speed on What You Do as a Team Manager WheneverIlearnanewboardgame,thefirstquestionIaskis:Whatistheobjectiveofthegame?

WithDI,theforegroundobjectiveofthegameis:Gotoatournamentattheendoftheseasonand

1) presentyoursolutiontoa“CentralChallenge”thatyouhavebeenworkingonformonths,then2) completean“InstantChallenge”thatisgiventotheteamatthetournament

Onthejourneytocompeteatthetournament,yourteamwillbeaccomplishingthesemoreimportant,veryvaluablebackgroundobjectivesofdevelopingtheseskills:

• Creativethinkingskills• Innovationskills• Presentationskill• Self-confidence• Technicalskill• Thinkingonyourfeet• Projectmanagement

• Teamwork–leadershipandbeingagoodteammember• Independentlearningskills• Anewself-learningprocess–try,fail,learn,tryagainuntilitworks.

SkimtheseblogpoststhatIwroteabouttheuniqueandvaluableskillskidslearnthroughtheDIexperiencetohelpyou“sell”theDIexperiencetopotentialteammembersandtheirparents.

• WhyI’maDIManager–BecauseMyKidsWon’tGettheSkillsTheyNeedinSchoolhttp://www.dicolorado.org/why-i%E2%80%99m-a-di-manager-%E2%80%93-because-my-kids-won%E2%80%99t-get-the-skills-they-need-in-school/

• DestinationImaginationandtheRealWorld:MyParallelExperiencesasaDITeamManagerandaNASAEngineeringProjectManagerhttp://www.dicolorado.org/destination-imagination-and-the-real-world-my-parallel-experiences-as-a-di-team-manager-and-a-nasa-engineering-project-manager-part-1-of-3/

• MyDIPerspectiveon“GoodColleges”http://www.dicolorado.org/my-di-perspective-on-%E2%80%9Cgood-colleges%E2%80%9D/

• CombatingAddictive“ScreenTime”toProducetheNextGenerationofInnovatorshttp://www.dicolorado.org/combating-addictive-screen-time-to-produce-the-next-generation-of-innovators/

• EliminatingWoodShop,MetalShop,and…InnovationinAmericahttp://www.dicolorado.org/eliminating-wood-shop-metal-shop-and-innovation-in-america/

_____TASK:SkimthebackgroundskillsthatkidslearnthroughDIbyreadingtheblogpostssothatyoucanexplainthebenefitsofDItopotentialnewteammembers’parents.

Now,let’stakealookattheCentralandInstantChallengeatatournamentsoyoucangetfamiliarwiththe“foreground”objectivesofDI.

A Real Central Challenge at a Tournament Thevideolinkbelowisofmyfirst-year4thgradeteamdoingtheTechnicalChallengeatthestatetournament.I’veaddedcaptionstoittoprovideanexplanationofwhatishappening.

TheChallengeiscalled,“CreatureFeature”andtherequirementswere:

• Theteammustpresentastoryofadventure.o Thestorythekidscameupwithisaboutagroupofsailorsthatgetship-wreckedon

NachoCheeseIsland.• Thestorymustincludeacreaturethattheteambuilds,andthecreaturemustdo3technical

things.o Theteamchosetohaveacheesemonsterontheisland1)move,2)talkand3)have

smokecomeouthisears.o Forextrapoints,thecreaturemustrepeattheactionsasecondtime.

• Thestorymusttakeplaceinaworldthatincludes2specialtechnicalworldfeatures.o Theteambuiltavolcanothathadacheeseballeruptionandacheesewaterfallmade

outofatreadmillthatstoodupintheair.• Thepresentationmustinclude2“teamchoiceelements”thattheteamwantsscored.

o Theteamchose1)asongthatisplayedbyoneoftheteammembersonakeyboardand2)theboatthattheymadefortheirskit.

WatchthecaptionedCentralChallengeVideoHere:https://youtu.be/36l5d-zccQw

Or,youcansearchYouTubefor:NewDITeamManagerTraining-AnAnnotatedTechnicalCentralChallengefrom2014/15

TherearehundredsofDICentralChallengevideosonYouTube.FeelfreetowatchothercentralchallengestogetafeelforwhataDICentralChallengepresentationlookslikeatatournament.

_____TASK:GetfamiliarwithwhataCentralChallengeslookslikeatatournamentbywatchingthecaptionedvideoandafewothervideosonYouTube.

Now,takeaquickglanceatthechallengesforthisyear…

_____TASK:Take5minutestogetaquickoverviewofthisyear’scentralchallenges.YoucanseeanoverviewofthechallengesontheDIwebsitehttp://www.idodi.org/challenge-program/2015-16-challenge-previewsorinyourDI“ChallengeProgramMaterials”book,inthe“TeamChallenges”section,lookatthefirstpageofeachchallengeandjustreadthe“PointsofInterest”sectiontogetaquickfeelforeachchallenge.

A Real Instant Challenge at a Tournament ThevideobelowfromDestinationImaginationdoesagreatjobexplainingtheInstantChallenge.Thefirst9minutesareanexplanationofhowtheInstantChallengeworks,andthisisthenfollowedby2actualteamsdoinganInstantChallengeatatournament.Youmaynotwanttowatchall29minutesatthistime,butthiswatchenoughtogetafeelforwhatanInstantChallengeis.

InstantChallengeVideo:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9zFm3BatYM

Acopyofasimilar“BusStop”InstantChallengeisincludedinAppendixB.

_____TASK:BecomefamiliarwithwhatanInstantChallengelookslikeatatournamentbywatchingsomeofthisvideoandbydoingaquickreviewoftheBusStopInstantChallengeinAppendixB.

Learn About “Interference” and Role of a Team Manager OneoftheverymostimportantaspectsoftheDIexperienceisthatnon-teammemberscannot“interfere”withtheteam’ssolution.Thekidsmustcomeupwithallthesolutionideas,andthekidsmustdo100%ofthebuildingandcreating.

Theteammanagercanmanagetheteamandcanhelptheteam,butcannotinterferewiththeteam’ssolution.

Interferenceandwhattheteammanagercanandcannotdoisdefinedinthe“RulesoftheRoad”sectionofyourChallengeProgrammaterials.Theinterferencerulesfromthe2015guidearereproducedinAppendixCofthisdocument–butyoushouldcheckthisyear’sChallengeProgramMaterialsbookforthelatestrevision.

_____Task:Reviewandunderstandthe“Interference”rulesandtheguidelinesonwhatateammanagercanandcannotdotohelptheteam–locatedinAppendixC.

Learn more Detai ls About Managing a DI Team at a Local Meeting or Webinar LocalDIchaptersoffergreattrainingfornewteammanagerthatwillbeagreatsupplementtothisguide.

_____Task:LookatyourlocalDIwebsiteandputonyourscheduletoattendthelocalteammanagertraining.(Thiswillgiveyoutheadditionaldetailsyouneedtogetofftoagoodstart.ItwillalsogiveyouagreatforumforQ&A.)Ifyoucan’tattendthistraining,thensomestates,suchasColorado(www.dicolorado.http://www.dicolorado.org)offerlivewebinartrainingthatyoucanattend.Thistrainingisoftenrecordedsoyoucanwatchitlatertoo.

_____Task:DuringthetrainingQ&A,askforamentorthatcanhelpyouthefirstyear.(Havinganexperiencedteammanagerthatyoucantalkwithduringtheyearwillbeabighelp.)

Decide Which Central Chal lenges You Are Wil l ing to Manage OK,tostart,noteveryoneagreeswithmeon“SelectingaChallengetoManage”–sojustreviewthissectionanddecidehowyouwanttoproceed.WhatIdiscussinthissectionismyownpersonalopinion–whichnoteveryoneagreeswith.

Pleasenote:DIColoradoadvisesthatyouletyourteamchoosetheirchallengewithoutinputfromtheteammanager.TherearetechnicalandfineartselementsineverychallengeexceptfortheImprovChallenge.Eachchallengeisdesignedtoletindividualskillsandtalentsoftheteammembersshine.

LikeIsaidearlier,happyteamsneedhappyteammanagers.TheremaybesomeCentralChallengesyoudon’twanttomanage.Forme,I’manengineerandIlovedesigningandbuildingthings.Iloveteachingkidstousetools–includingpowertools.IfeellikeIgivethekidsanespeciallygoodexperienceifImanageateamthatwillbeleveragingmyuniqueexpertise.Iknownothingaboutactingandhonestlydon’tthinkIwouldenjoymanaginganImprovorFineArtsteam.So…whenIrecruitteammembers,Isay,“I’mgoingtomanageaTechnical,ScientificorStructuralchallengeteam.”IsetthisexpectationwhenIstartlookingforteammembers.Afterall,thisismyteam,andI’mgoingtomanageitmywaytoassuremyhappinessthroughtheyear.

Mostofthechallengeshavesuchadiversesetofrequirementsthatusuallyevery“typeofkid”willhaveagreatexperiencewitheachchallenge.WhenIcoachedmyfirstteam,mydaughterloveddoingthetechnicalchallenge,eventhoughshehatesthethoughtofbeinganengineer–andisgoingtocollegetobeapoet.

Thecounterpointtothisis:Iknowteammanagerswholettheirkidspickfromallthechallenges.Ialsoknowteammanagersthathaveabsolutelynotechnicalbackgroundbutdidgreatinthetechnicalchallenge.

Themainpointis:Makesureyouaregoingtobehappywiththechallengeyoumanage.IfYOUdon’twanttodoaparticularchallenge,thenjustlistthechallengesyouarewillingtomanageasyouselectyourteammembers.

Someschoolschoosetheirteamsandchallengesbasedonlottery,andsomebasedonasignupsystem.Inthesecasesyoumaygetthechallengeyouwantbutnotthestudentsorvisaversa.Again,Ihaveseenallthesetypesofteamsbesuccessful.

____Task:Decidewhichchallengesyouarewillingtomanage.ReviewtheCentralChallengesagaintodecide.

The Big Problems I Experienced in My First Year Myfirstyear,IgotofftoabadstartthatIwantyoutoavoid.Pleasedon’tbeintimidatedbythislist,becauseIprovidesimplewaystoavoidtheseproblems.Thebigissuesthattookmebysurprisemyfirstyearwere:

• Kidsarereallybusy.Manyareoverscheduled.Tryingtofindatimewheneveryonecouldmeetnearlydrovemecrazy.Whenyouareworkinghardasateammanager,youdon’twanttohear,“Oh,Johnhasasoccergameandwon’tbeattheDImeetingtomorrow,andnextweekhecan’tmakeitduetostudentcouncil.”

• Asyouteachthekidsaboutreal-worldteamdynamics,youalllearnthatonebadapplecanspoilthewholepie.Ihadkidsonmyfirst-yearteamthatdidn’twanttodoDI,andthatcausedproblemsallyear.

• Ialsohadkids(andparents)thatusedDIasababysittingservice.Thesekidslikedthesnacksandgoofingoff,butneverwantedtodoanywork.ThiswasfrustratingbecauseIfeltlikethesekidswerewastingmytime.

• Gettingabunchof4thgraderstotackleabigtaskislikeherdingcatssometimes.Ittakestimeforthemtotransitionfromonethingtoanother.Italsotakeslotsoftimeforthemtolearnnewskillsandseveraltriestoinventnewthings.Meetingsneedtobeplannedwiththisinmind.

• Thesamepoorteambehaviorskepthappeningeveryweek,andittookmeawhiletogetahandleonthis.

• Ihadissueswithparentswantingtodotheirkids’DIworkbecauseIdidn’texplain“interference”wellatthestartoftheseason.

• Kidsgethungry.Ilearnedtofeedthemfillingsnacksafterschoolandaftertheygetthingsdone.

Don’tletthislistdiscourageyou.Onmysecondfirst-yearteam,Ifoundwaystoaddressthesethingsthatleadtoagreatfirst-yearexperience.Below,I’llsharemysolutions.

Getting Off to a Good Start - Ways to Avoid the Big First-Year Problems ThisishowIavoidedthesemistakeswhenIstartedmy2ndfirst-yearteam.(Again,feelfreetotaketheseideasandeditthemtoyourneedsandstyle).

Getting Stuff Done During Meetings – While Herding the Cats I’vealwaysmanagedteamsthatdidchallengesthatrequiredthemtobuildthings,sothismaynotapplyasmuchtoImprovteammanagers…

Ifoundthatgettingthetoolsoutandthepaintoutandgettingthekidssetuptobuildstufftakestime.Italsotakestimeforthemtolearntobecomeefficientatbuildingandpaintingandcleaningup.About1/3intotheDIseason,wetypicallystartbuildingthingsforthecentralchallenge.Atthattime,Imovetoevery-otherSundaymeetingsthattypicallyrunfrom10amto4pm.Wetendtomakegoodprogresswhenthekidshavebigchunksoftimetoworkonthings.Ifounditreallyhardtobuildthingsduringafterschoolmeetings.

Avoid Schedule Problems and Babysitt ing Through Team Selection Ateamismadeofup2to7kids.Firstyearteamsoftenhave7,duetothehighinterestinDI.

First,Irecommendavoidingschedulingfrustrationissueswiththefollowingapproach.ThegeneralgoalistofilltheteamwithteammemberswhowilllikeDIactivitiesandwhodon’thavescheduleconflictsandcancommittoeverymeeting.Myobjectiveistofindonedayafterschool(atthestartoftheseason)andtwoweekend-dayspermonth(laterintheseason)whenalltheteammemberscancommittomeet.

Thefirstkidontheteamismykid,andhisactivityscheduleisthefirstlimitingfactorinscheduling.MysonhadsocceronTuesday,ThursdayandSaturday–sothosedaysareoutforDIMeetings.Period.(Remember,thisisyourteam–manageityourway).

MysonhadafewfriendsthatwebothfeltlikewouldmakegoodDIteammembers,soItalkedtoeachofthesekids’parentsonthesidelinesofthesoccerfield.IgaveaquickexplanationofDI,sayingthatmeetingswillbeonMondayorWednesdayandsomeSundays–andIaskediftheymightbeinterested.Theywereinterested,sothenIhadateamof3tentativeteammembers.ThesethreecouldmeetonMondayafterschoolandSundays.

InextapproachedotherparentsofkidsIthoughtwouldlikeDIandappearedtohavesometimetodedicatetoDI.IexplainedDIandsaid,“I’mmanagingeithertheTechnicalorScientificChallengeandwearemeetingonMondayafterschoolandsomeSundays.”Iftheyhaveconflictingactivitiesonthosedates,thenIexplainedthatitwon’tworkfortheirchild.

Thisexactmethodmaynotbepossibleforyou–butasyouformtheteam,makesureyouareverifyingthateachchildcancommittoattendeverymeetingandalsotrytomakesurethattheDIactivityisagoodfitforthechild.Itmayfeelawkwardtobe“filteringkids”foryourteamroster,buteveryonewillhaveamuchbetterexperienceifyoudothis.Themaximumnumberofkidsyoucanhaveonyourteamis7–somakesurethatsmalllimitedgroupismadeupofthekidsthatwillgetthemostoutofit.

AstheTeamManager,youaregivingagifttothesestudents.DIisnotadropoffservice,andiseverybitasmuchofateamactivityasateamsport.AstheTeamManager,yourscheduleisthefirstonethatmatters;allotherinterestedpartiesmustbeabletocommittothistimeschedule.

ThewayScottformedateamishowmostteamsareformed,withoneortwoparentsleadingtheway.However,thereareschoolsthatformteamsbysignup,lottery,orothermethods.Inanyofthesecases,ifyouaretheTeamManager,yougettosetthepracticescheduleandexpectations.

____TASK:HaveaplantoassuremeetingsworkaroundyourscheduleandallthekidsonyourteamcanattendalltheDImeetings.

____TASK:Evaluateyourpotentialnewteammembers.MakesureeachchildisagoodfitforDIactivitiesandwillbeattendingthemeetingsfortherightreasons.Eventhoughitisuncomfortable,discourageordon’tallowkidsonyourteamwhoarenottherefortherightreasons–orDIisnotagoodfitforthem.ADIteammadeupofstudentswhoseparentsthinkthatitwillbegoodforthem,isnotgoingtobeasuccessfulDIteam;boththestudentandtheparentneedtowantDItohappen.

NOTE:Oneotherfactortoconsideristheboy/girlissue.Onmyveryfirstteam,Iwasreallysurprisedbytheboy/girlstereotypesIencounteredontheteam(andevenwithsomeoftheparents)–noneofwhichweretrue.Forexample,noneofthekidshadexperiencewithtools–andafterteachingthem,thegirlswerethebestatusingtoolstobuildthings,countertothestereotype.Lastyear,whenIformedanewfirst-yearteam,Imadeanextraefforttohavebothboysandgirlsontheteam.Thisgavememanyteachingopportunitiestoconfrontthesestereotypesandanopportunitytoexposethegirlstotechnologyopportunities.Justconsiderthisasyoustarttoformyourteam.

Samegenderteamstendtohavemoreconflictthanboys/girlsteams.Butalltypesofteamshaveworkedverywell.

Creating Your Meeting Schedule for Parents and Kids to Commit To IlearnedmyfirstyearthattheschoolcalendarneedstobeconsideredwhenschedulingDImeetings.ThekidsgetlotsofMondaysandFridaysofffromschool,andoftenfamiliesleavetownontheselongweekends–rulingoutthoseweekendsformeetings.Planningforthatupfrontcansaveyoulotsoftimeandfrustration.

Igotothewebsiteformyschooldistrictanddownloadtheschoolcalendarfortheyear.

IplanmyDImeetingsatthestartoftheseasonbyusingtheschoolcalendar.

• Imarkthetournamentdatesonthecalendar.MostlocaltournamentsareinMarch.YoushouldbeabletogetyourtournamentdatesfromyourstateDIwebsite.

• Ischeduleseveralextrameetingsrightbeforethetournament.(Kidsprocrastinate,justlikeadults.)Ifoundthatawholelotofworkgetsdoneintheweekbeforethetournament–soschedulingforthatinadvancereallyhelps.

• Iavoidmeetingsonholidayweekendsandlongschool-day-offweekends.(InColorado,whereIlive,manyfamiliestakeskitripsthoseweekends).

• WhenwestarthavinglongSundaymeetings,Ispacethemouteveryotherweekendtokeepfromburningouttheteam(andteammanager).

• Ithinkagoodstarttimeforfirst-yearteamsisOctobertoearlyNovember.Thisseemsabouttherightamountoftimetohavetheteammakeagoodshowingatthetournament.Ifyoustartlater,thatisfine.

o WhatIdidn’trealizemyfirstyearwasthatvery,veryfewteamsweregoingtopresentapolishedpresentationthatmeetsallthechallengerequirements.Ifyoudon’thave100%ofthechallengeaddressed,youcanstilldowellatthetournament.

• Ischeduleoptionalwork-daymeetingsforwhenthekidshaveadayoffandprobablywillbeintown.(Formyteam,thisoftenisaschooldayoff–andItakeavacationdayfromwork).

Seemyexample2015/16scheduleinAppendixD.

_____TASK:UsetheschoolcalendartomakeyourDImeetingcalendarfortheentireyear.HaveitreadyforyourfirstDImeetingthatyouschedule.SeeAppendixDforanexample.

Schedule and Prepare for Your First DI Meeting – with Kids and Parents TheDIprogramcanbecomplicated,andIdon’twanttoconfusethekidsatthefirstmeeting.IwantthemtohaveagoodtasteofhowfunDIcanbeinthefirstmeeting,soIfocusongivingthemarelaxed,funexperienceinagoodfirst,shortmeeting.IalsousethismeetingtotrytogainalittleinsightifeachchildisagoodfitfortheDIexperience.

Iliketoscheduleaparentmeetingafterthefirstmeetingwiththekids.Inthatmeeting,IgiveanoverviewofDIandexplainsomeofthedetailsabouthowDIworkstoboththeparentsandthekidsatthesametime.

Atypicalfirstmeetinglookslikethis(editatwilltosuityourneeds):

Scottisabouttolayoutawonderfulplanforafirstteammeeting.TeamManagerscanalsofind16teammeetingideaslaidoutforthemintheRoadmapdevelopedbyDI,Inc.ThisbookcomeswithyourprogrammaterialsandwalksTeamManagersthrough162-hourDImeetings.Allthemeetingideas,teamworkactivities,InstantChallenges,skilldevelopmenttoolsandtimetablecanbeadjustedtofittheneedsoftheTeamandtheTeamManager.

• Note:duringthefirstteammeeting,Idonotdoanythingwiththecentralchallenge.ThereasonisthatIdon’twantthekidstostartworkingonthecentralchallengeuntilIfinalizetheteamroster–andthatwon’tbeuntilafterthisfirstmeeting.

• PotentialDIteammembersridetheschoolbushomewithmysontoourhouse.• Wemeetonourbackdeck.Ihaveaheartysnackreadyforthem.Theyhavethesnackandunwind

fromschool.ManyTeamsappointasnackparenttotakethetaskoffeedinghungrystudentsofftheDITeamManager.

• Whenthesnackisconsumed,ItrytoreeltheminbyjumpingrightintoanInstantChallenge.

• Ifirstdosomethingnon-team-basedandfun.Iputapileofpipecleanersonthetableandsay,“Youhave3minutestomakethetallesttower.Beginnow!”Afterthefirstround,Iletthekidsmakeupachallengewiththepipecleaners.Igowiththeflowandletthemhavefun.

• Ithenmightthenhaveaquickcontesttoseewhocanmakethefunniestface.• IthendoateamInstantChallenge.Idon’ttrytoexplaintheInstantChallenge–Ijustjumpinand

trytomakeitreallyfun.Itwillprobablybechaoticandtheendresultmaynotbesogreat–butthefocusistoletthemhavefundoingit.ThisiseffectiveatgivingthekidsatasteofDIandlettingthemseeiftheylikeit.Italsoletsmeevaluateifeachchildisengagedandseemtolikethissortofactivity.

o SeeAppendixEforsomegoodInstantChallengestododuringthefirstmeeting.• Ithendoaveryimportantexerciseonteamworkthatwillhelpmemanageteamdynamicsforthe

restoftheyear.Onsomepaperorawhiteboard,Iwrite,“GoodTeamMember”and“BadTeamMember”.Iaskeachchildtolistacharacteristicofeach.Webrainstormuntilwehaveagoodlist.(AfterjustdoingachaoticteamInstantChallenge,theywillbethinkingaboutwhatmakesagoodteammemberandbadteammember).

o Whentheystartrunningoutofideas,Iask,“Doyouwanttochangeanythingontheselists?”Wemayhavefurtherdiscussionandwemayeditthelists.

! Note:IthenreviewthislistatthestartofEVERYfutureDImeetingtosettheexpectationforgoodteambehavior–usingthelistofexpectationsthatTHEYcreated.ThisworkedprettywelltosolveteamworkproblemsIhadmyfirstyear.Whenachildisnotbeingagoodteammember,youcanstopduringthemeetingandaskthemtoevaluatehowtheyaredoingagainsttheirownlists.Peerpressuretostopdeviatingfromtheliststendstobeprettyeffectiveinbuildinggoodteam-memberskills.

• IthenaskwhattheywoulddodifferentlyintheInstantChallengetobegoodteammembers,andIletthemdotheInstantChallengesagain.Idon’tworryabouthowtheydo–Ijustletthemhavefun.

• After2hours,theparentsarriveforameetingwhereIexplainmoreaboutDI.SeeAppendixFforthemeetingagendaandhand-outs.

o Duringtheparent/childmeeting,Iintroducetheconcept,“AtDIMeetings,wedoDIthings.”IexplaintothekidsandparentsthatI’mwillingtocommittoalotoftimeaslongastheyarecomingtothemeetingtodoDIthings–andnotgoofofftheentiretime.“DIThings”includes–learningtobeagoodteammember,buildingthings,brainstorming,acting,andproductivitywhileworkingonthechallenges.Iexplain,ifyoudon’twantspendeveryotherSundaydoingDIThings,thenthisactivityisn’tagoodfit.

o Duringthismeeting,Ialsodiscuss“interference”withtheparentsingreatdetailandsettheexpectationwiththeparentsnotto“interfere”withthekids’DIwork.(SeetheparentmeetingpacketinAppendixFformoredetails).

• IendthemeetingpromotingDIbutalsoaskingthekidsandparentstodecideiftheycancommittotheteam.Ifyes,thenpleasecometothenextmeeting.

FIRSTMEETING-PRE-MEETINGTASKS

_____Task:SendanemailwiththefirstDImeetingdate.Asktheparentstoconfirmtheirchildcanattend.Schedule~2hourswiththekidsandanotherhalf-hourmeetingwiththeparentsattheend.

_____Task:Purchasepipecleaners(chenillesticks).

_____Task:Pick3InstantChallengesfromAppendixEandcollect/purchasethematerialsfortheInstantChallenge.Buymaterialstodoeachonetwotimes.

_____Task:Getaheartysnackforthekids.

_____Task:EdittheparentmeetingnotesinAppendixFandprintthemoutoneforeachoftheparentstoreviewwiththeirkids.

_____Task:PrintouttheschoolcalendarthathasDImeetingsmarkedonit.

_____Task:Print-outthe“Interference”hand-outforeachchildthatispartofthefirstmeetingagenda.ThisinAppendixX.

_____Task:haveawhiteboardorlargepaperreadyforthe“GoodTeam–BadTeam”exercise.***Savetheresultsfromthisexercise–youwillusethisallyear.Takeaphotowithyoursmart-phoneorcamera,ifneeded.

_____Task:Duringthemeeting,asktheparentsandkidsiftheywanttocommittotheDIscheduleandactivitiesbythenextmeeting.

POST-FIRST-MEETINGTASK

_____Task:Ifduringthemeeting,yousawbehaviorfromachildthatindicatedthatDImaynotbeagoodfitforthem,thenaddressthisoverthenextweektoseeiftheyshouldcontinuewithyourDIteam.(Remember,whenyoudothis,youarebeingagoodmanagerrolemodelforyourteammembers.)

REMINDER:Justusethisdocumentasaconceptualguide.Changeittomeetyourneedsandyourstyle!

Prepare for the Second Meeting ____Task:Createanemailgroupoftheparentsthatcametothemeeting.

____Task:Emailtheparentsand1)askiftheycancommittojoiningtotheteamandattendingallthemeetingsontheschedule.2)Sendareminderaboutthesecondmeetingtime.3)Remindparentstosendacheckforaninitial$100topayfortheteamexpensesthroughtheyear.HandlingDIFinances:TeamManagershandleDIexpensesinavarietyofways.$100perstudentwillmostlikelycover:TeamMembership,MaterialsCosts,TournamentRegistrationandpossiblyT-shirts.Theuseofrecycledorreusablehouseholditemsisencouraged.SomeTeamManagerscollectmoneyweekly,someatthebeginningorendoftheseason.DependingontheTeamChallengeselected,thecostwillvary.

____Task:Haveasnackpreparedforthekids.Youmaywanttoaskoneoftheotherparentstobringasnackfortheteam.

____Task:PrepareafewInstantChallengesfortheteam.YoucanuseonefromAppendixE.

____Task:Haveyourwhiteboardorposterboardof“GoodTeamMember”andBad“TeamMember”ondisplayinyourmeeting/snackarea.

____Task:PreparetoshowthekidssomevideosofaCentralandInstantChallengesotheycangetafeelforwhattheyareworkingtoward.YoucanhookaPCtoatelevision–orjusthavethekidswatchonyourcomputerscreen.1)ShowthemtheInstantChallengevideo2)Showthemacentralchallengevideo–itmaybetheoneinthistraining,oranotheroneyoufoundonYouTube.

____Task:Bereadytosharethe“PointsofInterest”foreachCentralChallengewithyourteamduringtheteammeetingsoyourteamcanstarttothinkaboutwhichchallengetheywanttotackle.

SecondMeetingAgenda(again,justusethisasaguide–everyteamisdifferent)TheDIRoadmapalsohasanalternative2ndmeetingscheduleandhandouts

• Feedthehoardwhentheyarrive.Letthemgoofoffandunwindfromschooluntilthesnackisconsumed.

• Reelinthekidsandthenreviewthe“GoodTeam”and“BadTeam”liststhatwerecreatedinthefirstmeeting

o Duringthisexercise,Iinsistonthemtakingitseriously.AfewjokeshereandthereareOKaslongastheyarefocusedontheexercise.Iusethisexerciseeveryweektosetexpectationsaboutbeingagoodteammember–buttoalsosetatonethatIexpectthemtotake“teachingmoments”seriously.Remember,thisisaDImeetingandatDImeetingswedoDIthings–liketalk/learn/brainstormaboutteamwork.Ifneeded,re-setthatexpectationwiththekidsasyoustartthisexercise.Iftheydon’tlikedoingDIthings,thenthesooneryourealizethis,thesooneryoucanmanagethesituation.

o AteveryteammeetingIask,“Doesanyonewanttocrossoutanyoftheseitemsofftheteammembergood/badlist?”Ialsoask,“Doesanyonewanttoaddanythingtothelist?”Wehaveahealthydiscussionaboutteamworkuntilthediscussionrunsoutofsteam.

• WethendooneortwoInstantChallenges.(Thekidswillprobablybeaskingtodothisagainafterthefirstmeeting).

• ReviewtheteamworklistsagainaftertheInstantChallenges.Trytokeepthediscussionpositiveandalearningexperience.(TheyprobablybrokelotsoftheteamworkrulesduringtheInstantChallenge.ThatisOK–thatiswhatyouwillworkonduringtheyear.Youwillbeamazedatthegrowthduringtheyear,buttakeitslowanddon’tlettheteammembersgetupsetwitheachother).

• Now,explainthatattheendoftheyeartheteamwillgotoatournamentanddoanInstantChallengeandaCentralChallenge.

o ShowthemthevideosoftheInstantChallengeandtheCentralChallengeandexplainitasitunfolds.

• Ifthereistime,readthe“PointsofInterest”fromeachchallengethatyouareinterested/willingtomanagetoletthekidsstartthinkingaboutwhichcentralchallengetheywanttodo.

Prepare for Your Third After-School Meeting ____Task:Setupasnack.Seeifanotherparentcanprovideit.

____Task:GetapacketofInstantChallenges.GotheDIstore:http://resources.destinationimagination.org/Download“InstantChallengeVolume6”for$15.OrVolume7for$39.95.Note:Volume7isgoodbecauseithasamasterlistatthefrontthatlistsallthematerialsyouneedtodoalltheInstantChallengesinthebook.

IntheRoadmapthereare16freeInstantChallenges.ThereisalsoafreeonlineInstantChallengePackintheResourceAreaofwww.destinationimagination.org,YouwillneedyourTeamNumberandaShopDIaccounttoaccesstheseresources.

____Task:SelectafewInstantChallengesforyourteamtodointhenextmeeting,basedonwhatyouthinkwillhelpthemdevelop.

____Task:CollectorpurchasethematerialsyouneedtodosomeoralloftheInstantChallenges.(Maybeyoucandelegatethistoanotherparent).

____Task:Makeacopyforeachteammemberofthefirstpageofeachchallengethatyouareconsideringdoing.

____Task:Review“BuildingInstantChallengeSkills”sectioninthisdocument.Startthinkingabouthowyoucanintroducetheseconceptstoyourteammembers.

____Task:Bereadytotalktoyourteamabout“ConsensusDecisionMaking”whichisespeciallyimportantintheInstantChallenge.Hereisonesitethatdiscussesthis:http://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/consensus

ThirdAfter-SchoolMeetingAgenda

• Snack• ReviewGoodTeamMember/BadTeamMember

o Askifthereareeditstothelisto Takeamomentandtalkaboutmakingcompromisesandcomingtoateamconsensus

whenteammemberscan’tcometoperfectagreement.(Asyoumakeadecisiononwhichchallengetodo,itislikelythatsometeammemberswon’tbehappywiththedecision.Ifyoutalkaboutcompromisingforthebenefitoftheteamfirst,thenthefirstbigteamdecision(onwhatchallengetodo)maygomuchsmoother.

• TalkaboutpickingaCentralChallenge.Usethesheetyouprintedoutoneachchallengetohelpthekidsdecide.

o Discusswhichchallengetodo.o Oktoletthisgoanotherweek,butsettheexpectationthatnextweektheyneedto

decide,eveniftheycan’tcometoaperfectagreement.• InstantChallenges

o See–BuildingInstantChallengeSkillssectionandstarttointroducetheseconceptsifthereistime.

Preparing for the 4th After-School Meeting InadditiontotherulesintheCentralChallenge,therearerulesthatapplytoEVERYchallenge.Thesearecalledthe“RulesoftheRoad”,andyoushouldnowbecomefamiliarwiththem.

____Task:Reviewthe“RulesoftheRoad”sectionofyour“ChallengeProgramMaterialsBook”.Youwillneedthisbackgroundknowledgewhenyourteamstartstalkingabouttheirsolutiontothecentralchallenge.

____Task:VeryCarefullyreadthesesectionsoftheRulesoftheRoad

• InterferenceSection(Thissectionwillprovidelotsofguidanceonwhatyoucanandcannotdoasateammanager).

• TeamBudgetSection–NOTE:ThissectionoutlinesmanyitemsthatyoucanuseinyourcentralchallengethatareFREEinyourbudget.CRITICAL:VerycarefullyreadtheEXEMPTBUDGETITEMSfromthissection.Experiencedteamsuselotsandlotsofexemptitemstomakemore/betterstuffandscorehigher.(Youcantoo,nowthatyouknowthistrick).

• DeterminingtheValueofYourSolutionsection.ReadthissectionCAREFULLY.Youwillmanagethebudgetforyourfirstyearteamandyoucanconstantlyremindthemonhowthebudgetwillbecalculated.Bookmarkthispage.

• SafetyGuidelinesandRestrictionssection.Manyitemsarebannedfromthetournament,somakesureyouknowwhatitemsarebanned.

• CopyrightsandTrademarks-quickreview.Summary:don’tusecopyrightedmaterial.

• Clarifications–thiswillbediscussedmorelater.• MovingSceneryandProps–thissectionisafewpageslater.Makesureyoureview

it.

____Task:BeforeyoutalkaboutwhichCentralchallengetotackle,introducethetwosimplecreativethinkingskillsthatarelistedbelow.(Theseseemedtoworkrealwellwithmyfirst-yearkidsingettingthemtothinkcreatively).

• Obvioussolutionsarenotcreativesolutions.AvoidobvioussolutionsincentralandInstantChallengeswiththesetwoquestions:

1. Useopposites…Askyourself:Whatistheobvioussolution?Thenaskyourself,whatistheoppositeofthat?Thenaskyourself,howcouldImaketheoppositeoftheobvioussolutionwork?ArethererelatedideastothisthatIcouldusethatarecreative?

2. Askyourself:DoIthinkanotherteamwillpresentasimilarsolution?Ifyes,thenitprobablyisn’trealcreative.Thismaybeanindicationthatyouneedtokeepbrainstormingtofindamorecreativeidea.

Therearemanywaystogeneratecreativeideas,.PleasereviewtheRoadmaptolearnaboutthesetypesoftools.

____Task:Makeaprint-outforeachteammemberofthepagefromtheone“RulesoftheRoad”under“ExpenseReportCategories”thatlistsExemptItems.

____Task:Haveasnackready.

____Task:HaveGoodTeam/BadTeamsheetsdisplayed.

____Tasks:Havetheprint-outsfrompage1ofeachofthechallengesthatyouareconsidering.

____Task:Reviewthe“InstantChallengeSkills”sectionofthisdocument.Bereadytodiscussthisinthenextmeeting

____Task:SelectafewInstantChallengesandpullthemtogether.

____Task:ConsideraskinganotherparenttobeinchargeofpullingtogetherfutureInstantChallenges.

4thAfter-SchoolMeetingAgenda

• Snack• Discussmakingcomprises/consensusforthegoodoftheteam–becauseoftenmanyteams

can'tcometocompleteagreement.• Goodteam/BadTeamreview.• Introducethebasiccreativethinkingskillsthatarereviewedabove.Astheteamstartstalking

aboutsolvingtheCentralChallenge,youwantthemtoheaddownacreativepath,nottheobviouspath.

• ReviewCentralchallengesandpickonetodo.o VERYIMPORANT-Verycarefullyreadthechallengetogether.Insistthattheteam

memberspaycloseattentiontotherequirements!Quizthemaboutthechallengeasitisbeingread.MAKESURETHEYHAVEAREALLYGOODUNDERSTANDINGOFTHECHALLENGEREQUIREMENTS–sothattheydon’tspendtimeonthingsthatarenotpartofthechallenge.

• InstantChallenge• StartsomeinitialbrainstormingonhowtosolvetheInstantChallenge.

Prepare for 5th Meeting Atthispoint,yourteamisupandrunningandreadytostartonthechallenges.Fromthispointon,itishardtogivestepbystepinstructions–soI’llprovidethesegeneralguidelines.

____Task:FortheCentralChallenge-printacopyoftheentirechallengeforeachteammember.

____Task:Attachthesheetfromthe“RulesoftheRoad”thatdescribestheexemptmaterialsthattheteamcanuseandnotcountagainsttheirbudget.

____Task:Ifyouhavenotalready,preparetostartdividingyourInstantChallengerolesbyreviewingtheInstantChallengeSectionofthisdocument.

____Task:Makeageneralprojectplantosharewiththekids.Takeyourmeetingscheduleandmarkthatthelast3meetingsforrehearsal.Then,lookatthescoringsheetforyourCentralChallengeand

thinkabouthowyouaregoingtouseyourremainingmeetings(beforerehearsals)todivideupyourteamandstartaddressingthechallenge.

____Task:PrepareanInstantChallengetodo.

NextMeeting

• Snack,ifafterschool.• QuickGoodTeam/BadTeamreview.• Ifnotalreadydone,doadetailedreadingofthechallenge.• Lookatthescoresheetandseewhatchallengerequirementshavelotsofpointsandwhat

challengerequirementshavelowerpointvalues.(Experiencedteamsusuallystartwiththehighest-point-valuetasks).

• Reviewyourmeetingscheduleandshowthekidshowmuchtimetheyhavetogetthechallengedone.

• Brainstormasateamhowyouaregoingtoaddresseachpartofthechallenge.(Thistypicallytakes2weeks).

• DoanInstantChallengeintheresomewheretobreakuptheCentralChallengemeeting.

MovingForward…

Nowyouareupandrunning.

Herearesomehelpfulhintsfromexperiencedteammanagers.

• Interferenceo TeammanagersmayNOTcontributeideastothechallengeandmaynothelpbuild

anythinginanyway.Thisevenincludesholdingmaterialswhileteammemberscutthem.

o YoumayNOTaskleadingquestionsorgivehintstowardasolution.

• Safetyo YouMUSTstopteammembersatanytimeandmay“interfere”ifyouseesomething

unsafehappening.

• TheTEAMMANAGERMAYDOTHESETHINGSo Youmayhaveanin-depthknowledgeofthechallenge.Whenyourteamdriftsawayfrom

therequirementsofthechallenge,youMAYremindthemofwhatthechallengesaystohelpkeepthemfocused.

o YouMAYremindyourteamaboutthebudgetrulesandaskthemtoconsiderhowtheyarespendingtheirbudget.

o YouMAYmanagetheteam–meaningthatyoucanhelporganizethemeetings,youcankeepthemeetingsincontrol,youmaymakemeetingagendas,youmayrunthemeetings,andyoumaymanagethebudget.(Overtheyears,asthekidsgetolderandmoreexperienced,youcanhandoffthesetaskstothem).

o YoumaygetmaterialsfortheteamiftheygiveyoualistofSPECIFICitemstopurchase.(Youcannotprovidematerialsthatwillleadthemtoyourideaforasolution).

o YoumayASKLOTSOFQUESTIONSaboutthesolutionthattheteamwantstoundertaketohelpthemsortouthow/iftheywilldocertainthings.(BUT,Thequestionsmaynotleadtheteamtospecificsolutions.)Someofmyfavoritequestionsare:• Doyouthinkyoucangetthatdoneintime?• Doyouthinkthatwillfitinyourbudgetwitheverythingelse?• Canyoulist10differentwaystomakethat?Whichofthosetenarepossiblewithour

schedule?• Ratherthandelayingbuildingitforaweek,isthereawayyoucouldbuilditnowwith

thesupplieswehaveherenowinthegarage?• Thatsoundslikealotofworkandthatisn’tworthmanypoints.Doyouwanttospend

lotsoftimeonsomethingthatisonlyworthafewpoints?• Workmanship(creativity,innovation…)isajudgingcriteriaforwhatyouareworking

on.Howwouldyougradetheworkmanshipofwhatyoubuilt?Whatquickandsimplethingscouldyoudotoimprovethatscore?

• Isthissolutionobvious?Isitunexpected?Isitcreative?Doyouthinktherewillbeanotherteamatthetournamentthathasasimilarsolution?Ifanotherteamshowsupwithasimilarsolution,howdoyouthinkyourcreativitywillbescored?

o Ifyourteamneedsnewskillstocreatetheirsolution,youmayhelpthemfindwaystogetthoseskills(includingoutsideinstructors),butnooneisallowedtocontributetothesolutionwithideasorwithwork.(Seesection3oftheInterferencesectionintheRulesoftheRoad).WhenIsetupanexperttohelp(whichisagreatexperienceforthekids),Iexplaintothekidsandtheexpertthattheycan’tshareinformationaboutthechallenge–andcanonlygetnewskillsorunderstandingaboutasubjectfromtheexpert.

NextMeeting

• Sameroutineasbefore.• Reviewthe“ExemptList”sothattheteammembersknowtheycanusethesematerialswithout

countingagainsttheirbudget.• FocusonfinalizingtheplanstosolvetheCentralChallenge.Remindthemofthescheduleand

usethistopushthemtowardmakingrealprogress.o DivideupeverythingthatneedstobedonefortheCentralChallengeintosmallgroups

(orindividuals)soyoucanstartmakingprogressonseveralthingsinparallel.o Geta“materialslist”goingofthingsyouneedtogetthingsbuilt.Seeifyoucanget

thesematerialsinadvanceofthenextmeetingbyaskingteammemberstomakeaspecificlistofstuffthattheywantyoutoget.

• DoanInstantChallengeortwowhenyourteamneedsabreak.Trytostartworkingeachteammemberintodifferentrolestopractice.

Building Instant Chal lenge Ski l ls OnereasonisthatIlovetheDIprogramisthecombinationoftheInstantChallengeandcentralchallenge.Bothbuilddifferent,valuableskills.

IMPORTANTNOTE:IntheInstantChallengeONLY(andnotintheCentralChallenge)youcanactivelycoachtheteamandgivethemsuggestionsonhowtheInstantChallengecouldbesolved.ItisOKtodothisintheInstantChallengebecauseatthetournament,theInstantChallengeyourteamreceiveswillbeasurprise–andtheywillhavetosolveitbythemselvesatthetournament.But,inteammeetings,anyonecansuggestsolutionstoanInstantChallenge(notacentralchallenge)tohelpthembuildskills

ThefirstInstantChallengesthatyourteamdoes,theywillprobablywastemostoftheirtimearguingoverasolution.Iletmyteam“feelthepain”offailingbywastingalltheirtimearguing.AfterstrugglingwiththisonthefirstInstantChallengesthattheydo,theywillprobablybewarmeduptolisteningabouthowtoworktogetherbetter.

Iusuallystartwithaconversationthatgoeslikethis:So,youguysspentoverhalfyourtimearguingoverideaAandideaB.Itseemedtomethatbothweregoodideas–butyougotNEITHERdone.Inreal-lifesituationslikethis,itisbesttoquicklypickanideaandexecutethatidea–andnotspendallyourtimearguing.Doyouagree?"<teamshouldagree>Ithensay,“OK,let’sdothisagain,butI’mgoingtobetheleader,andwhenthechallengestarts,I’llgoaroundandgiveeachperson10secondstogivemetheiridea.AfterthatI’mgoingtoA)quicklypickanideaandB)assignteammemberstaskstogetthatideadone.IaskthatnoonearguewithmeandthedecisionsthatImake–becausethereisnotimeforarguing.

WethendotheInstantChallengeagainwithmeastheleader.Thekidsgettosee1)thatitgoesmuchbetterand2)howaleaderactswherethereisn’tmuchtimetosolveaproblem.

IthentalkaboutwhenthereislittletimeateamneedstoQUICKLY:

• Brainstorm• Decideonanideatosolvethechallenge–evenifnoteveryoneagrees• Assignrolesandtaskssotheteamcanworktogether.• Divide-uptheremainingtime• NOTarguewiththeleader,orwitheachother–therejustisn’ttimeforthat.

Ithentalkaboutassigningrolestoeachteammember.Thesetypicallyinclude(inorderofimportance):

• InstantChallengeteamleader• Challengereader–reviewsthechallengeverycarefullytomakesuretheteamisaddressingall

therequirementsandgettingmaximumpoints.• Timekeeper–askstheappraiser“Howmuchtimeisleft”every30seconds.• 30secondperson–duringabuildingchallenge,inthelast30seconds,onlythispersongetsto

touchwhatisbeingbuilt.(Thiskeeps14handsfromaccidentlybreakingitinthelast30seconds).

• Storygatekeeper–whenitisaperformancechallenge,thestorygatekeepermakessurethat:o Thereisaprobleminthestorythatneedstobesolved.o Thereareclearcharactersinthestory,andeachteammemberknowstheircharacter.

o Thereisabeginning,middle,andendtothestory–andtheproblemissolved.• Creativitygatekeeper–Duringbrainstorming,thispersonpromptstheteamtocomeupwith

creativeideas.• Teamworkgatekeeper–thispersonlooksforteammembersthatarenotparticipatingand

drawsthemintohelpwiththeInstantChallenge.

Assigningroles….Iletthekidstryseveralrolesoverseveralweekstofindwhattheywanttodo.Irotateeveryweekwhogetstobetheleader–andImakesureeverychildontheteamisaleader.Afterafewweeks,thekidstendtofall-intotherolethattheylike.Itiscommontohaveafewkidsthatwanttobeleader.WhatIhavedone,thatworkswell,ishaveoneleaderfora“building”InstantChallenge,oneleaderfora“performance”InstantChallengeandoneleaderfora“buildandperform”InstantChallenge.

HereisthemethodmostteamsusetosolveanInstantChallenge:

• Thechallengeisreadtotheteam.Duringthistime,the“ChallengeReader”ontheteamgetstheextracopyofthechallengeandreadsitverycarefullyasitisreadtotheteam.

• Whentimestarts,thechallengereadershareshis/herideaswiththeteam–thengoesoffintoacorneroftheroomandVERYCAREFULLYre-readsthechallenge.Itisthisperson’sjobtogivetheleaderinputiftheteamisgoingoffcoursefromthechallengerequirementsandpoints.

• Theleaderthenpointsateachteammemberandgivesthem10secondstosharetheirideasonhowtosolvetheInstantChallenge.Theleaderneedstokeepthismovingfast.

• Every30secondsthetimekeeperontheteamisaskingtheappraisers,“Howmuchtimeisleft?”Thishelpstheleadermakesureeverythinggetsdoneintime.

• Theleaderthenpicksanideatosolvethechallengeandassignstaskstoeachteammember.o !!!Nooneargueswiththeleader!!!o !!!Teammembersdotheroletheywereassigned–anddon’targue!!!

• Theteammembersworktogethertosolvethechallenge.Theleadertriestoleavetimeforaquickrehearsal,ifitisaperformancechallenge.

• Whenthetimekeeperasks“Howmuchtime”andthereplyis‘lessthan30seconds’–theleaderthensays,“30secondrule!”Atthattime,everyonestepsawayfromthebuildingareaandtheonlypersonthatcantouchthethingbeingbuiltisthe30-Second-Person.

• ThepreparationtimethenrunsoutandtheteampresentstheirInstantChallengesolution.

Understanding Clarif icaitons Thereareoftenthingsinthechallengethatarenotclear,thatrequireaclarification.DIhasaprocesstogiveyouabsoluteanswerstoyourquestions.

Toaskaclarificationquestion,yougototheDInationalwebsite(www.idodi.org)andgototheclarificationsectionofthewebsite.Yougettoask10clarificationquestionsbeforeFebruary15–andnoneafterthat.Youwillgetanofficialresponsetoyourquestionandallappraisersmustabidebythatclarificationatallofthetournaments.Youwillturninyourclarificationsbeforeyourteamcompetessothatalltheappraisersatthetournamentwillknowabouttheofficialclarifications.

Again,yougettoask10clarificationquestionsbeforeFebruary15th–don’thesitatetousethem!

YoucanseesomeexamplesofclarificationsfrompastyearsinAppendixG.

Whenmanypeopleareaskingthesamequestionaboutthechallenge,theInternationalChallengeMasterswillposta“PublicClarification”ontheDIwebsite.Makesureyoucheckthesebeforeyouaskforaclarification.

Clarificationquestionsoftencomeintwoforms:

1. Idon’tunderstand,oritisn’tclear,whatthechallengeisrequiringtheteamtodo.

Ifyoudon’tunderstandarequirementinthecentralchallenge,youcanpostaclarificationquestiontotheinternationalchallengemasters.Beforeyoudothis,makesureyouhaveverycarefullyreadthechallengeandthepublishedpublicclarifications.

Ifthereisa“grayarea”orsomethingthatisopentointerpretation,youcanaskaclarificationquestionaboutthatandgetanofficial,bindingrulingonthatquestion.NOTE:theonlywayyoucangetabinding,final,absoluteanswertoyourquestionisbyrequestingaclarificationfromtheidodi.orgwebsite.

2. Myteam’ssolutionispushingtheboundariesofthechallengerequirementsandIwantarulingtoknowifweareOKbeforewegotothetournament.

Ihavehadseveralcaseswheremyteamwantedtodosomethingsocreativethatitpushedtheboundariesofthechallengerequirements.Tomakesuretheirideameetsthechallengerequirements,I’llaskforanofficialclarificationwhereIask,“MyteamwanttodoXideatomeetYrequirementinthechallenge.Doestheirideameettherequirementofthechallenge?”Byaskingthis,beforetheshowupatthetournament,IknowFORSUREiftheirideawillmeetthechallengerequirements.

SeeAppendixGforsomeexamplesofclarificationsfrompastyears.