Archive for About Odyssey

Program Builds Kids Mental Muscles, Character

// July 20th, 2009 // No Comments » // About Odyssey, Omers in the News

From tbo.com & The Tampa Tribune:
Program Builds Kids Mental Muscles, Character
By Kris DiGiovanni
The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 22, 2008
Updated: 05/22/2008 01:11 am
I’d like to tell you about some ordinary kids who do extraordinary things. Yours might even be one of them.
Every year about this time you can see thousands of them demonstrating their incredible abilities at regional Odyssey of the Mind competitions around the Bay area.
This year, hundreds of groups of up to seven kids in elementary, middle and high schools are solving one of five problems in their own unique and highly creative ways. Some are demonstrating their theory of how dinosaurs became extinct. Others are designing and building a vehicle that performs specific tasks. Still others are creating structures made of balsa wood that balance heavy weights on golf balls.
Many teams have been working since September, or even earlier on their particular problems. By now they have developed and honed their ideas into original props, costumes, structures and storylines. They have used their innate creativity and imagination to produce wonders of construction, drama and innovation. And the neatest thing about their finished products is that they have done every bit of it by themselves.
As a past coach and current co-coach of the Odyssey teams, I can tell you that the rules are very strict about helping the kids. The ideas and the work all have to be the kids’ own. Other than demonstrating a technique, such as how to use a sewing machine or a saw, coaches’ input is pretty much limited to asking two questions, “Are you done yet?” and “Is that the best you can do?”
But the amazing part is that the kids come through. They arrive at solutions adults would never have thought of. They build things in ways adults would never have imagined. They have ideas adults never would have considered. The process is a joy to watch. They are disorganized, goofy and often don’t manage their time wisely. But just when you (the coach) have despaired that they will ever get it together, they do.
On the day of the competition, they are spectacular. Even if their set falls down or their vehicle blows up, they emerge as champions. And in those moments, you love each and every one of them as if they were your own. Better yet, they come away with a sense of enjoyment, teamwork and accomplishment that is unmatched by any academic project they will ever do.
Many people think Odyssey is just for the really smart kids, but every kid is a “really smart kid” in one way or another.
If your son is flunking English but takes apart the toaster to see how it works, he is Odyssey material. If your daughter can’t figure out the multiplication tables to save her life, but makes all her dolls’ clothing, she is perfect for Odyssey, too. In fact, just about any kid who is curious, has a sense of humor and likes to show off a bit is right for the program.
You can learn more about Odyssey of the Mind by visitingwww.odysseyofthemind.com. Next fall, I hope you’ll think about attending the Odyssey of the Mind information night at your child’s school, or respond to the notice in the school newsletter or flyer.
If you’ve every believed your child was truly special, this program will give you the chance to see how absolutely right you are.
Kris DiGiovanni is a teacher in Tampa.

From tbo.com & The Tampa Tribune:

Program Builds Kids Mental Muscles, Character

By Kris DiGiovanni

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 22, 2008

Updated: 05/22/2008 01:11 am

I’d like to tell you about some ordinary kids who do extraordinary things. Yours might even be one of them.

Every year about this time you can see thousands of them demonstrating their incredible abilities at regional Odyssey of the Mind competitions around the Bay area.

This year, hundreds of groups of up to seven kids in elementary, middle and high schools are solving one of five problems in their own unique and highly creative ways. Some are demonstrating their theory of how dinosaurs became extinct. Others are designing and building a vehicle that performs specific tasks. Still others are creating structures made of balsa wood that balance heavy weights on golf balls.

Many teams have been working since September, or even earlier on their particular problems. By now they have developed and honed their ideas into original props, costumes, structures and storylines. They have used their innate creativity and imagination to produce wonders of construction, drama and innovation. And the neatest thing about their finished products is that they have done every bit of it by themselves.

As a past coach and current co-coach of the Odyssey teams, I can tell you that the rules are very strict about helping the kids. The ideas and the work all have to be the kids’ own. Other than demonstrating a technique, such as how to use a sewing machine or a saw, coaches’ input is pretty much limited to asking two questions, “Are you done yet?” and “Is that the best you can do?”

But the amazing part is that the kids come through. They arrive at solutions adults would never have thought of. They build things in ways adults would never have imagined. They have ideas adults never would have considered. The process is a joy to watch. They are disorganized, goofy and often don’t manage their time wisely. But just when you (the coach) have despaired that they will ever get it together, they do.

On the day of the competition, they are spectacular. Even if their set falls down or their vehicle blows up, they emerge as champions. And in those moments, you love each and every one of them as if they were your own. Better yet, they come away with a sense of enjoyment, teamwork and accomplishment that is unmatched by any academic project they will ever do.

Many people think Odyssey is just for the really smart kids, but every kid is a “really smart kid” in one way or another.

If your son is flunking English but takes apart the toaster to see how it works, he is Odyssey material. If your daughter can’t figure out the multiplication tables to save her life, but makes all her dolls’ clothing, she is perfect for Odyssey, too. In fact, just about any kid who is curious, has a sense of humor and likes to show off a bit is right for the program.

You can learn more about Odyssey of the Mind by visitingwww.odysseyofthemind.com. Next fall, I hope you’ll think about attending the Odyssey of the Mind information night at your child’s school, or respond to the notice in the school newsletter or flyer.

If you’ve every believed your child was truly special, this program will give you the chance to see how absolutely right you are.

Kris DiGiovanni is a teacher in Tampa.

Creative Links

// July 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // About Odyssey

FLOMA Regional Websites
Other Odyssey of the Mind Links
Creative Thinking Links

FAQ

// July 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // About Odyssey

What does Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) say about Odyssey of the Mind?

Click here:  Odyssey of the Mind


How do I start an Odyssey of the Mind program in my school?

Contact (in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hardee, DeSoto, Manatee or Polk Counties) Laurie Filardo, Buccaneer Bay Regional Director, to arrange an “Awareness Session” to a group of persons who would be interested in beginning a program at the school. Awareness sessions are approximately 2 hours of information, including some hands-on activities, to get your group prepared for the commitment to conduct the program. (There’s more to it than “buying” the membership and getting kids together!) Your group is investing money and needs to be aware of all that will flow from that investment.

If you live outside of our region, go to www.floridaodyssey.org (the Florida state website).  You can find the contact information for your local region there.

Next, go to www.odysseyofthemind.com, the official website of the Odyssey of the Mind Program. You can register for a membership on-line.


Contact Information for Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind:

Laurie Filardo @ 18219 Dorman Rd., Lithia, FL 33547 OR

Email your name, school name, your mailing address and phone number to laurie.filardo@bucbay.com.


Standard Disclaimer Odyssey of the Mind online sources of information:

These pages are produced by and are the responsibility of the Buccaneer Bay Region of Florida Odyssey of the Mind Association. Since these pages are not reviewed by Creative Competitions, Inc., which administers the Odyssey of the Mind program, nor by Florida Odyssey of the Mind Association, they are not responsible for their contents.

These pages should not be viewed as authoritative for any information that is not specific to Buccaneer Bay regional activities. Information about the Odyssey of the Mind Program, its problems, problem definitions, problem clarifications, terms of participation and other program-specific information is available only from Creative Competitions, Inc. Its home page can be accessed at www.odysseyofthemind.com.

All competition rules in the Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide apply on the Internet. Be particularly aware of the rules concerning outside assistance and problem clarifications.

Proper Tournament Etiquette Is As Important As The Way Teams Solve the Problems

(borrowed from http://www.azodyssey.org/etiquette.htm)

It is always an exciting time for us as parents and judges to see the wonderful and creative solutions our children have worked hours upon.  More often than not, the balsa wood structure competition is held in a gymnasium. We all know how sound carries and, let’s be honest, it’s very hard to hear what our children are saying during their long term performance. I ask my judges to get close to, but not in the way of, the children, so they don’t miss any of the style that is to be judged.

The reason for this article is to provide some helpful reminders to all of us in the Odyssey family from competitors to judges but most importantly to parents and guests. Please note that this year there will be no tolerance of any rude or disrespectful behavior from spectators during any of the tournaments. The way an adult behaves is as important as the way our students compete. Infractions could carry as much as 100 points in outside assistance or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for your child’s team.
Here are some basic guidelines based on observed behavior of parents and coaches at past competitions. Such infractions will not be tolerated this year or in the future include:
  1. Absolutely NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE–this includes fixing hair, makeup, costumes, fixing props, gluing or taping something together, etc.
  2. Be polite to the Judges. They are volunteering their free time to watch and score your child. An adult’s rude behavior to a judge can seriously penalize a child’s team.
  3. DO NOT tear, untie, or step over any boundary tape that is visible. It’s there for a reason, RESPECT IT! In the Structure problem, yellow caution tape is used.
  4. The Judges score is final. If the coach feels it’s unfair, there are proper procedures to follow.
  5. When the doors to a competition site are closed during a performance, DO NOT OPEN THEM! The doors are distracting and your child’s performance is more important than the sound of clanging metal doors being opened and closed.
  6. Coaches only, are to pick up the scores from the Head Judge. Parents, guests, and competitors are not to ask for or question the scores from anyone other than the Head Judge. It is also not proper to discuss your scores with anyone other than team members outside the competition area (i.e. cafeteria, during awards, etc.)
  7. Parents can help move props to the Staging Area. Once the performance is finished, parents are then encouraged to help the team remove props from the competition area.
  8. Be mindful of not singing and reciting the long term solutions–coaches and parents frequently and unconsciously have done this in the past. This can be misconstrued as Outside Assistance.
  9. Adult Assistant for the Structure Problem for handling the heavy weights must wait for a team member to designate which weight is to be placed on the crusher board. Once the weight is placed upon the weights the adult must move his/her hands and step away.
  10. Equipment furnished by the tournament such as weights for structure will not be altered to benefit one team once competition has begun. All requests for additional weights must be in written form and given to the Regional Director before the Tournament date.
Coaches please emphasize these guidelines to your parents. Also, from Regional competition to State competition, changes may occur. Keep tabs on the Arizona Odyssey and Odyssey of the Mind web sites so you won’t be caught offguard.

Odyssey of the Mind: A Creative Experience

// July 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // About Odyssey