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Odyssey of the MindCOACHES TRAINING 2014 OKLAHOMA
Why should you trust me?
8 years as an OotM team member
2ish first place finishes at World Finals
2 years as a coach
On State and Stillwater Board
What is Odyssey of the Mind?
Team-driven creative problem solving competition
Team-driven
Creative
Problem solving
Competition
That definition lacks some words
Fun
Hard Work
Stimulating
Educational
Confidence Boosting
Cathartic
What is Odyssey specifically?
Four divisions in Odyssey Primary: K,1st,2nd grade
Division I: 1st-5th grade
Div. II: 6th-8th grade
Div. III: 9th-12th grade
Div. IV: collegiate
Three major parts to Odyssey Long Term 200 points
Style 50 points
Spontaneous 100 points
Long Term Problem
8 minute skit that obeys specific criteria
Worked on entire year
5 different problems Problem 1- Vehicle
Problem 2- Technical
Problem 3- Classics
Problem 4- Balsa wood
Problem 5- Performance
Vehicle Problem
Alternates between large and small vehicles
Vehicles have to complete certain tasks
Runaway Train
Up to 3 vehicles
Travel on tracks to stations
Overcome obstacles from a list
Humorous conductor character
Victory lap with banner
Technical Problem
Build devices to perform specific tasks
Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Create at least 3 devices operated by rubber bands Each’s function different
Complete 7 required tasks Ring bell
Raise a flag
Open book, etc
“Technical Failure” which must be fixed
Mysterious Engineer Character
EVERYTHING MUST FIT IN TWO SUITCASES
Classics Problem
Performance based around classic works Art, literature, architecture, history, etc.
Pandora’s Box
Video game retelling of Pandora’s Box
Prologue with “Representation of the box”
A Gamer Character
Multi-level video game
3 avatars that represent a different evil
Power meter
Hope
Balsa Wood Problem
Teams build balsa wood structures to hold as much weight as possible
Scoring for Balsa wood is crazy*
*My opinion
Lose Your Marbles
Structure holds as much weight as possible
Starts with 5 marbles in structure
Device removes part of structure, releases marble
Integrate weight placement and “losing your marbles” into performance
Performance Problem
Large emphasis on performance elements (humor, stage presence, etc)
Generally some kind of quest with 3 tasks
Silent Movie
Show a silent movie being made in present time
Explain why
Director
Movie Critic
Humorous Villain Character
3 silly acts of villainy
Subtitles
Musical score
Short trailer
Style
Complements Long Term problem
Found in back of Long Term
5 scoring categories, 10 points each 2 dictated to you: Visual appearance, creative use of a material
2 “Free Choice”
1 “Overall Effect of the four Style elements in the performance”
Things that make you go “WOW!”
Doesn’t have to be tangible
Spontaneous
Completely independent of Long Term
No coach present, go into a room and do a problem
3 types of problems Verbal
Verbal-hands on
Hands on
Total secrecy about the problem
Only 5 team members can participate
Spont Problems then break
Duties of a Coach Scheduler Facilitator
determine goals helps them read and
understand the problem helps team keep track of
tasks and deadlines takes notes (remind them
of their previous ideas) leads brainstorming
sessions (without injecting ideas)
explains scoring brings in “experts” to
discuss & teach skills
Teacher
Asks QUESTIONS
Assists team in developing a timeline for projects
Spontaneous practice (practice often, variety, strategies)
Forms (helps Primary and Division I teams fill out forms)
Go-fer (takes team members to store for supplies)
Snack Organizer (fuel for busy minds)
Mentor
Stresses out on team’s account
Outside Assistance
As a coach, you are in control of the team, not the solution.
Nobody is allowed to help with the problem in any way.
No giving them ideas, no telling them their ideas are good/bad, etc.
“The solution is the TEAM’S design, their work, their performance, and their score. The TEAM is responsible for what they do, NOT the coach.”
Show team how to safely use equipment NOT on their stuff
Clarifications
When you don’t understand part of the problem
General Clarifications
Team-Specific Clarifications
Due before Feb. 15th
Submit on OdysseyoftheMind.com
Dissecting a problem
INTRODUCTIONTHE PROBLEM
LIMITATIONS
SITE, SETUPCOMPETITION
SCORING
PENALTIESSTYLE
TOURNAMENTDIRECTORWILL PROVIDETEAM
WILLPROVIDE
Problem 3- 2 years ago
Read through problem
Talk about problem
Look at forms
View solution
Talk about judging long term/style
Forms: Style
3 copies
Can’t be anything already scored in Long Term
BE SPECIFIC
1 and 2 are dictated by problem
3 and 4 are free choices
5 is a bit of writing to make the judges score them well
Forms: Material Values (Cost)
One copy
List everything used during your presentation Go through script and think of all
props, etc used during a scene
Combine small items (Cardboard, duct tape, paint)
Exemptions (Program Guide p.46-48)
Doesn’t include items not used in presentation
Expensive items $5
Forms: Outside Assistance
One copy
Coaches can assist Div. I teams in filling out forms, but must use team’s words.
If there was OA, list on form, may receive penalty
Forms: Team Required List
3 copies
*Tells the judges what to score*
^^^IMPORTANT
Vary from problem to problem
NOT ON OotM WEBSITE, IN PROBLEM
Problem 3- 2 years ago
Read through problem
Talk about problem
Look at forms
View solution
Talk about judging long term/style
How to register for competition
Odysseyofthemind.com
Member area
Register for competition Make sure you spell team members’ names properly
Dec 15, 2014: $140 per team and 2 coaches
Jan 15, 2015: $175 per team and 2 coaches
Competitions
3 Competitions Super Regionals-
Feb. 28, Sequoyah Middles School, Edmond
State-
March 28, Oklahoma State Student Union
World Finals-
May 20-23, Michigan State University, East Lansing
Div I teams perform in the morning, higher divisions later
Spont all day Go to holding room ~15 minutes before hand
Somebody will take the team to judges, they’ll come out ~15 min later
In the spont room (how to solve a spont problem)
Verbal, verbal/hands on- 5 desks set up with response cards
Hands on- everything pushed to side with materials in middle
Procedure: You have 1 min to select members of your team who participate
Judges read problem through twice
Time starts now
Ask questions about problem
Strategize for solution
Perform solution
Judges congratulate you, leave
Competitions (cont)
You’ll probably need to fix stuff before Long Term performance
Find area in hall near problem, set up, work, don’t block traffic
Meet with Staging Area Judge at least 15 min before you perform Give them forms, etc
Perform for an audience of adoring fans
Move your stuff away
Enjoy rest of day! (WATCH OTHER TEAMS- ESP. DIV III)
Placement
Top 6 teams per problem per division advance from Super Regionals to State
2 teams per problem per division advance to World Competition
Scores are a combination of all three scoring categories put together
Special Awards OMER Award
Ranatra fusca Award
Ranatra fusca award winners advance automatically to World
End of survival information!
What teams should be doing now
Selecting Problems
Showing them previous solutions to let them know what OotM is.
Thoroughly reading through problem
Brainstorming ideas for the solution
When they have a good idea, go through problem looking for scoring criteria
Start writing script
Start working on costumes, props, backgrounds, etc.
Clarifications
Closer to competition
Finish script
Read through script, make changes
Look through problem, does script earn points?
Look at style: Are we working on the 2 required items?
Work on solution
1 week out
Scramble to finish everything
PERFORM RUNTHROUGHS,
speak loudly, block
Memorize script
Do forms!
Practicing Spontaneous
Tons of resources in handout
At first, have everybody participate, narrow down closer to competition
Great to do verbal as teams come in/snack time
Don’t forget about Spont when you get closer to competition!
You can do sponts formally and informally Try formally a couple of times close to competition
The art of questioning
No outside assistance
Bad: That’s a great idea!
Good: Okay! Team, what did you think of __’s idea?
Bad: I would use hot glue for that
Good: Are you sure duct tape is the best tool for the job? Lets look at other ways to attach things!
Note: If teams are doing something dangerous, intervene!
How to brainstorm
Allow for an open idea environment- don’t shoot down ideas
Coach can write team’s ideas and remind them later
Should be fun, off the wall
Make sure everybody gets to speak
Your idea of a good solution may be worlds away from theirs
OotM doesn’t have a correct answer
Let them piggy back off other ideas
Sort and sift, evaluate ideas
Disagree respectfully!
Team management
Unruly team members
Dealing with other commitments
Need to get week before competition free NOW
Often don’t need full team at all times, only spont/run through days
Calendar Days
Sit down with giant calendar, show team how much time is left until competition
Learning to use new tools
Variety of tools used in solution
Teach using a different item
Guide them to correct tool
Reverence for dangerous tools
Youtube is a good way for students to learn (how to spray paint plastic, etc)
Don’t be afraid to teach them how to use a tool without context They come in, today we’re going to learn how to use google drive!
Hopefully they’ll think of it later
Great tools you might not know about
Google Drive
YouTube
Spont Websites
Zip Ties
Other Coaches
Spont/skills Workshop
Thrift Shops
Lastly, make friends!
Easy to just hang out with your team
Sit by somebody else during awards
Make a buddy team, practice spont together
Email other coaches in your problem, meet up for food at state
