Odyssey of the Mind Voume 25 Spring 2003 Number 3 Refections of a First-Time Coach How Odyssey of the Mind Heped to Put My Life In Perspective As I entered into my first coaching experience with Odyssey of the Mind, I often asked mysef what I coud possiby have been thinking... I had a team that consisted of: Three chidren with parents who spoke no Engish (Chinese, Vietnamese and Spanish) One chid with severe ADHD One chid who broke down in tears during EVERY practice Two chidren who were so painfuy shy I did not hear their voices for one month Two chidren in the strugges of a bitter divorce One chid who had a parent diagnosed with a ife-threatening iness two days before a competition Pus, my team fought non-stop for eight weeks. I did not know what I coud possiby accompish with these kids. We, the day of the competition, they pued it a together and took 7th out of 14 teams. (They woud have scored higher if it had not been for my misinterpreting part of the probem. Of course, that made me fee even worse!) I eft the competition feeing pretty bue but thankfu that it was over. I aways heard the itte voice in the back of my head saying, It s the process, not the outcome. It is hard for a coach to keep that in perspective. On the surface, I did not notice very much in the way of greatness during the process, and the outcome seemed disappointing. But, as I met with the kids at schoo on Monday and I ooked back over the past three months I reaized that the foowing had happened: The kids whose parents did not speak Engish (and had not ived in the country very ong) were picked up by the coaches and were transported to the performance to watch their kids we broke down a ot of cutura barriers trying to communicate with each other. The chid with ADHD earned to interact with a team. The chid who cried at every practice gained confidence and performed beautifuy. The painfuy shy kids were running around the competition aughing and interacting with other chidren. The parents going through the bitter divorces were at the competition enjoying their chidren s performance as a famiy. The chid who had an i parent spent the day with us and was thankfu it took his mind off troubes at home. The best part of the whoe experience: On Monday morning, one of my shy kids asked, Is this the end of Odyssey of the Mind? Am I reay going to go the rest of the year without seeing you? I reaized then that Odyssey of the Mind had made a huge impact. It was not the scores, it was not the performance, it was the process of getting there. It was the POSITIVE changes that I saw in a the kids. It put my ife in perspective. Theresa Lundy Sherwood Park Ee, MI New Book Avaiabe Creative Interaction Creative Competitions, Inc. has pubished a new book of practice probems. Creative Interaction features 10 ong-term probems and 27 spontaneous probems, some used in past competitions and some that are new. The book features an opening chapter written by Dr. Sam on ways that teachers can provide opportunities for students to interact creativey. (See Order Form on page 5.)
Spring 2003 Odyssey of the Mind Newsetter Page 2 Eary Women Inventors in America A ship in port is safe, but that is not what ships are for. Sai out to sea and do new things. -- Grace Hopper, inventor of the computer anguage COBOL, the first user-friendy business software program. Sybia Masters: First American Woman Inventor In eary Coonia America, women had troube adjusting to ife because of the rugged undeveoped and. This ed some to devise ways to improve their surviva. In 1712, Sybia Masters created a new way to make hominy mea from corn. Her mi used hammers instead of grinding whees. Four years ater, she patented a fabric made from pametto and straw to make hats. Mary Kies: First American Femae Patent Hoder The Patent Act of 1790 opened the door for any mae or femae to patent an invention in America. In 1809, Mary Kies became the first woman to independenty receive a U.S. patent for her method of weaving straw with sik. Marjorie Joyner: 1st African-American Femae Patent Hoder Marjorie Joyner s strong beief in pride ed to an invention Odyssey of the Mind Famiy Abum Dr. Michae King, senior project scientist for NASA s Earth Observing System at Goddard Space Fight Center, was eected to the Nationa Academy of Engineering. Dr. King was an important presence at the 2002 Word Finas, where he presented trophies to the award winners in the NASA-sponsored probem, OMER s Earthy Adventures. Dr. King was cited for advancing our understanding of the effects of aerosos and couds on Earth's radiation and for eading programs to improve cimate prediction. Congratuations to Joy Kurtz, Internationa Spontaneous Probem Captain, for being named Pennsyvania Midde Schoo Principa of the Year! Rowan University senior Erin O Key is our intern for the spring semester. She is heping out with pubic reations for the 2003 Word Finas. Visit our Photo Gaery at www.odysseyofthemind.com to see images from this year s Association Finas! that heped women fee better about themseves. It bothered Marjorie, a cosmetoogist in Chicago, that the day after having their hair done, most women ooked ike "an accident going somepace to happen." Her dome-shaped device appied eectrica current to hair, aowing a hairdo to stay set for days. In 1926, she received a patent for her invention. Beuah Henry: Proific Inventor of the 1920's Beuah Henry is responsibe for 110 inventions and 49 patents in the fieds of business, chidcare and the home. She patented her first invention, a vacuum ice freezer, at age 25. Other inventions incude a bobbiness sewing machine, continuousy attached enveopes for mass maiings, and a form of "photocopying" that made four copies of a document without using carbon paper. Her biggest success was an umbrea with changeabe snap-on covers. She was tod it woud never catch on, but sod the rights for $50,000 -- quite a arge sum for her day. Mary Anderson: Inventor of the Windshied Wiper Aabama bee Mary Anderson took a trip to New York City in 1903, and was amazed that the motorman of the streetcar she was touring in kept getting out to wipe off the snow and ice that coected on the windshied. Mary made a quick drawing in her sketchbook. The foowing year, she patented a device that aowed drivers to manipuate a ever from the inside to activate a swinging arm that mechanicay swept off ice and snow. Whie she never sod her invention, it caught on and by 1913 windshied wipers became standard equipment on American cars. Information from www.inventorsmuseum.com. In Memory... We re sad to report the passing of Odyssey of the Mind vounteer Mimi Bernard, MI. Mimi got invoved in 1988 as a coach in Kentucky. After moving to Michigan, she served as Regiona Director and Probem Captain there. For the past three years she was the Buddy Team Coordinator for Word Finas. Mimi has touched many peope with her kindness, and Mimi Bernard with Dr. Sam Mickus at the 2000 Word Finas. she wi be missed by many of us in the Odyssey of the Mind famiy, especiay the internationa teams she worked so cosey with and the WF Internationa Crew. Bi Jones, a ong-time friend and supporter, passed away earier this year. Bi s internationa traves brought teams from many different countries into the program. Through his empoyment at Chevron Corporation, he was responsibe for a series of exhibitions and Emmy Award-winning TV programs produced by journaist Bi Moyers about creativity. Mr. Jones was integra in securing Chevron schoarships for program participants. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marina.
Spring 2003 Odyssey of the Mind Newsetter Page 3 2003-2004 Long-Term Probem Synopses ENVIROVER The team's probem is to buid and drive a human-powered Envirover vehice that wi coect trash and deiver it to a Factory, where it wi be used to manufacture a product of the team s design. The team wi present an origina prototype of the product then use the trash to produce five repicas of the product. The team wi aso create and present a humorous saes pitch for its product. STRATEGY SPHERE Divisions: I, II, III & IV Cost imit: $135 This technica probem requires teams to design and buid two devices that wi mechanicay prope bas through a circuar rim. The ocation of the devices wi determine the vaue of the points scored when the ba passes through the rim. Teams wi aso design a way to retrieve bas once they are aunched. The propeing of the bas wi be integrated into a theme about how change in the Earth s geosphere affects the Earth s atmosphere. This probem is sponsored by NASA. Divisions: II, III & IV Cost imit: $135 Cassics... FANTASTIC ART In this probem, teams wi create and present a performance that incudes works of art that come aive when no one can see them and return to their origina state when others are around. The team wi make four works of art: two wi be repicas of works by artists on a ist, and two wi be origina works created by the team. The performance must incude at east one scene where the works of art come to ife and interact with each other. The performance wi aso incude a character that is not part of the works of art. Divisions: I, II, III & IV Cost imit: $125 BALANCING ACT This probem cas for the team to design, buid and test an asymmetrica structure made of basa wood and gue. The structure wi be wider at its top than at its base. The structure wi be tested by baancing and supporting as much weight as possibe. The team wi aso create a container to protect its structure and transport it a maximum distance of 15 feet. The container and structure may not be touched whie they are traveing. Divisions: I, II, III & IV Cost imit: $135 FEATURED CREATURE The probem is to create and present an origina performance about mythoogica animas. The team wi show a mythoogica creature chosen from a ist, making the audience aware of its characteristics and/or powers. The team wi aso create its own "mythoogica" anima and present a story that incudes that anima and its characteristics and/or powers. The performance wi incude a stage set that changes. Divisions: I, II & III Cost imit: $125 R EWIND W ITH H UMOR The team wi create a performance that tes a story in reverse from the end to the beginning. The story wi have a beginning, a midde, and an end, but the team wi present it in reverse. Therefore, the performance wi start out with the ending of the story, then show the midde, and end with the beginning. The team wi te at east three jokes during its performance. Primary: Grades K-2 Cost imit: $50 Probem descriptions are tentative as of Apri 21, 2003. Finaized versions of the probems wi be avaiabe by August 1. Pease check www.odysseyofthemind.com for updates. A probems copyright Creative Competitions, Inc. 2003
Spring 2003 Odyssey of the Mind Newsetter Page 4 COACHES & OFFICIALS PROBLEM Tug o Car A. The Probem Your probem is to design and buid a vehice that wi participate in a tug-of-war with another vehice. The vehices wi each be connected to opposite ends of a cord, then trave in opposite directions unti a fag on the cord crosses a taped ine. B. Limitations 1. The vehice must be origina, however, it may incude commerciay produced parts. 2. The vehice must have whees. The whees must be designed to prevent damage to the foor. Ony the vehice s whees may touch the foor. 3. The vehice must weigh ess than 10 pounds (4.5 kg) and fit competey within the boundaries of an 18 x 24 Start Area when time begins. 4. You may provide your own surface for your vehice. Your surface must rest on the foor and it may not be designed to prevent your vehice from being pued backwards. 5. The vehice must carry its power suppy and propusion system. Ony the surface may enhance the vehice s abiity to trave. 6. The cord wi be 10-feet ong and have an S hook on each end to connect it to the vehices. Ony the hook may touch your vehice whie it is being tested. You may not ater the cord or hook. 7. A fag wi be connected to the center of the cord and wi be at the mid-point between the taped ines when time begins. 8. Your vehice and surface, if used, must be competey within the boundaries of the Start Area when time begins. Diagram of Competition Site C. The Competition 1. You wi be assigned a number when you register at the competition site. Numbers wi be used to pair competitors. 2. When your number is announced you must bring your vehice and your surface, if used, to the Start Area. You wi be instructed where to set up. 3. When a vehices are in pace a judge wi say, Ready, set, then bow a whiste. You are to start and/or reease your vehice at the sound of the whiste. 4. For each pair of competitors, the vehice that pus the fag across its ine first wi advance to the next round. If neither vehice pus the fag across its ine before the end of a 3-minute period, the vehice that advances wi be determined by the ocation of the fag at that time. 5. Mutipe pairs of competitors wi compete simutaneousy. After a the vehices compete in a first round, the winners wi advance to the next round. D. Scoring 1. The vehice that wins in the fina round wi be the 1stpace winner. 2. The vehice that oses in the fina round wi be the 2ndpace winner. 3. The vehices that ose in the semifinas wi compete to determine the 3rd-pace winner. E. Awards 1. Trophies wi be awarded for 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-pace in both divisions (Coaches and Officias). 2. A trophy wi be awarded to the person with most outstanding STYLE. Every contestant is eigibe even those who pace 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
ODYSSEY OF THE MIND 2003-2004 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Questions? Emai info@odysseyofthemind.com or ca 856.456.7776. For new memberships or renewas, compete this form and return it with a check, purchase order, or credit card information (see beow). Check one: Divisions I, II and III: Individua schoo: Must register in the schoo name. May enter one team per probem per division in competition. Two or more schoos: Must share the same principa. Use schoo district name on appication. May enter one team per probem per division in competition. Home-schooed students: A students on the team must be home-schooed. May enter one team per probem. Community Group: May not be an organization estabished soey for the purpose of participating in Odyssey of the Mind. May enter one team per probem in competition. Pease submit by-aws if this is a new membership. Division IV: A team members must be high schoo graduates and registered for at east one cass at a coege or university. May enter one team per probem. Proceeds directy to Word Finas, but may compete at the Association eve. Membership name Membership number (for renewa, if known) Grades covered by membership Schoo district County Contact person (may be a coach) Maiing address (for newsetter deivery and correspondence) City State/Province Zip Country Daytime phone FAX Emai *Each individua membership costs $135, but you wi receive discounts if you purchase more than one membership. For each membership purchased, you get five competitive ong-term probems, one primary probem, one copy of the Program Guide, Odyssey of the Mind and NASA curricuum activities, one newsetter subscription, and more! Individua 2003-2004 Odyssey of the Mind membership @ $135... Additiona membership(s) for the same schoo or community group @ $100... 6-10 memberships for the same schoo district (registered at the same time) @ $120... 11 or more memberships from the same schoo district (registered at the same time) @ $100... ODYSSEY OF THE MIND SUPPORT MATERIALS **Creative Interaction @ $19 Discusses the importance of interaction between students... **Appying Your Creativity @ $18 Discusses different types of human creativity... **Creativity + Teamwork = Soutions! @ $18 Incudes tips on buiding effective teams... **Odysseymania! @ $17 Incudes a chapter on humor and creativity... **Make Learning Fun @ $17 Provides a history of the program... Spontaneous Probem Competitions @ $7.50 (32 pages of spontaneous tips and practice probems)... Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide @ $7.50 (one is incuded with membership)... Coaches Training Video @ $20 Tips and techniques for coaches... packs of Basa Wood (premium grade AAA 36" x 1/8" x 1/8") @ $20 per 100 pieces... Shipping & handing is $3.50 for the first item, $1 for each additiona item. Contact CCI for shipping costs outside of the U.S. *There are no shipping & handing charges for membership packets. **These books are a coection of ong-term and spontaneous probems from past competition years. Payment Method: U.S. Mai: Send this competed form aong with a check, money order or purchase order, payabe to CCI, or with your credit card info to: CCI, 1325 Route 130 S, Suite F, Goucester City, NJ 08030 FAX: Send this form aong with a copy of your purchase order, or incude your credit card information and fax to 856.456.7008. On-ine: If paying by credit card, go to www.odysseyofthemind.com to access this form. VISA MasterCard American Express Discover Acct. no. Exp. Signature of cardhoder Subtota S & H TOTAL SHIPPING ADDRESS (For UPS Deivery) Is this a residence? yes no Name Address City State/Prov Zip Country
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE Odyssey of the Mind PAID Permit 58 Bemawr, NJ c/o Creative Competitions, Inc. 1325 Rte 130 S Suite F Goucester City, NJ 08030 www.odysseyofthemind.com Hey Gang, Check out next year s ong-term probems! Your Friend, OMER The Odyssey of the Mind Newsetter is pubished by Creative Competitions, Inc. Editor: Caro Ann DeSimine; Assistant, Kristy Kaminsky. Out& About in the Odyssey Internationa Community Dr. Sam and Caroe Mickus traveed to Gdynia, Poand, in March to attend the Poish Odyssey of the Mind Nationa Tournament. They aso visited with the German Association. In January, Rita Seeman (MI), Internationa Probem Captain for Probem 3, conducted a Judges Training Workshop in Shanghai, China. Mr. Weixen Chen, China s Association Director, hosted the two-day training. The fifty judges who attended, some traveing from as far away as Beijing, were very enthusiastic and dedicated to their roes as judges. The Association s Board of Directors and the judges were extremey hospitabe to Rita and her daughter Christine, a former Odyssey participant. Adam Rusiowski (Poand) represented CCI on a trip to Uzbekistan to hep Feruza Rashidova organize the Odyssey of the Mind Association there. They hed a conference to introduce the program to educators in Uzbekistan and in the neighboring countries of Kirgistan and Tadjikstan. Adam presented workshops for coaches and judges there. Adam aso represented CCI in Apri at the European Festiva in Korman, Sovakia. Program Director Sammy Mickus presented at the Texas Association for Gifted Chidren Conference, where he spoke about integrating creative probem soving into reguar schoo curricuum. Dr. Sam Mickus (.) was a specia guest at the Poish Finas in March. With him is Adam Rusiowski, Poand s AD and CCI Internationa Representative. Rita Seeman reviews program rues with Association Director Mr. Weixen Chen (eft), transator Mr. Shengze Cai (2nd from eft), and two unidentified judges at the Judges Training Workshop in Shanghai. Odyssey of the Mind, the Odyssey of the Mind ogo, and OMER are federay registered trademarks of Creative Competitions, Inc.