Odyssey of the Mind

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Odyssey of the Mind?
2. What are the benefits?
3. Who may participate?
4. How are teams formed?
5. Who may coach?
6. What is the role of a coach? What is the time commitment?
7. What is the teacher’s role?
8. Is there training for coaches?
9. What are the Odyssey of the Mind problems?
10. How are the teams scored at the tournaments?
11. When and where are the state and world competitions?
12. What are the costs?

1. Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) is the largest worldwide creative problem-solving competition for children from Kindergarten through college.  The program begins anew with each school year, when five “problems” are delivered to the mailboxes of eagerly waiting, creatively juiced kids after a membership package has been purchased from the National website: www.OdysseyOfTheMind.com. OotM’s mission is to foster the development of creative thinking and problem-solving skills.  Importantly, OotM teaches that great minds don’t necessarily think alike – and often march to different drummers; that there are no right answers; that creative solutions come from teamwork, cooperation and risk-taking.

2.  Benefits include:

• Develop creative thinking abilities and divergent problem-solving skills.   
• Increase student ability to apply known principles and facts to "hands-on" situations;
• Improve communication skills.
• Learn to plan, organize and set long-range goals. 
• Learn how to use a creative problem solving process while being encouraged to take risks.
• Develop and utilize skills of all team members; gain sensitivity and experience with group dynamics.
• Develop and use local resources.
• Develop and use research skills.
• Exercise and use the higher order thinking and critical thinking skills, especially analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
• Have fun and make lifelong friends while learning all of these very important skills

Learning to take risks allows the students to become more self-confident and independent thus making successes and defeats easier to place in perspective.  Experiences with OotM problems prepare students to solve real-life problems using specific skills and behaviors.

3. Teams of children with 5 to 7 members from kindergarten through college-age participate.  All receive the same problems; however, their solutions vary – not simply because of age grouping but mostly due to the innovation and imagination of the creators. Primary, grades K,1, and 2 receive a separate problems written for their age level.

4. There are many ways for teams to form.  Often teams are formed in their classrooms; teachers can assist in assembling teams.  Also, problems can be posted and students sign up for the problem they find most interesting, thus creating teams who want to solve the same problem, not necessarily classmates or friends.   While most members are individual schools, home schoolers and community-based programs also participate. 

5. Each team must have a coach, who may be a parent, teacher, teacher aid, administrator or other interested adult (18 or older). Two coaches working together with a team is often a great way to split up the tasks required.

6. Coaches facilitate the team’s needs (meeting place, transportation, review of program rules, etc), but the students come up with all of the ideas and do all the work!  The coach keeps the team on task, encourages them to be creative and work as a team, but does not provide assistance to the solution of the problem.  More detailed guidance will be sent as part of the membership package Additionally you may read this year’s Program Guide at www.odysseyofthemind.com.  As a coach, you will be honored and entertained while keeping your team on track and have a front row seat to the amazing creative process students follow to create a solution to their specific problem!  Teams tend to meet a couple of hours once every 1 or 2 weeks in the fall, then may increase the time or frequency as the tournament nears.

7. Teachers are sometimes coaches, co-coaches, campus coordinators, or simply “cheerleaders” of the program.  They may donate classroom time, or just the classroom, for team meetings.

8. Training for coaches occurs in most regions, usually 2 times each season. Usually in October and November.

9. All participating teams (except Primary K,1,2) are given the choice of the same five long term problems to solve though these problems change from year to year.  Part of the long term problem includes style which enhances the solution through costumes, props scenery, drama, etc. The problems usually include a “vehicle” problem, a mechanical problem, a “classics” problem involving art, literature and/or history, a balsa wood structure problem and a strictly dramatic problem. The primary problem is usually a humorous, performance based problem.  Primary students are allowed to present their solution at a Regional tournament but do not advance to our State tournament.

The team of seven members selects from the five given problems and after working for several months on the solution, presents it at the local regional tournament.  At this time, the students will compete against other teams solving the same problem in their age division. The teams are also given spontaneous problems to solve the day of the state and world tournaments.   These problems also foster creativity and teamwork.  Their solution involves brainstorming, teamwork, fast on your feet thinking, and sometimes risk taking.  Though teams may practice for this segment, they never “know what they are going to get” for a spontaneous problem at the tournaments.  It is always a surprise! 

10. Long Term Portion

The long-term portion of an OotM problem is always open-ended yet with specific design specifications and monetary limitations.  It affords the student with the opportunity to brainstorm, research, plan, create and evaluate.  This portion of the problem is solved during a two to four month period prior to the presentation at the tournament.  It is worth 200 out of the total 350 points. 

Style Portion

The style portion of an OotM problem encourages students to develop unique presentations for their long-term solutions.  Style is designed as a creative addition or elaboration to the presentation of the problem’s solution.  Examples include art work, costumes, props, songs, acting, dancing, scenery and elaborate membership signs.  It is worth 50 out of the total 350 points. 

Spontaneous Portion

Spontaneous problems are based on the concept of fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration in thinking.  Quantity of responses are sometimes important and unusual ideas are encouraged. 
Spontaneous problems are given to teams on the day of the tournament to challenge the teams’ ability to “think on their feet”.  Some require verbal responses to a given question, some require hands-on solutions and some combine both. It is worth 100 out of the total 350 points. 

11. Regional and State tournaments are held in the spring of each year, and the Odyssey of the Mind year culminates with World Finals, where the best of the best match wits, imaginations and personalities to become world champions. Redwood Region Tournament is scheduled for February 27th at Santa Rosa High School.

State information can be found at www.calomer.org.

12.  The costs for this program are very minimal – the program is staffed and run by volunteers.  International memberships are $135 (a membership is typically an individual school).  Each school can then have 1 team per problem per division. Divisions are Primary, I, II, III and IV corresponding to grades k-2, 3-5, 6-8 9-12 and college. California State fee is $65 per membership.  Each Region has a regional tournament fee which varies by region, and is per TEAM (not per membership).  The Redwood Region fee is $45. Other costs include materials for solving the problem. Each problem has a maximum dollar value of what can be included at time of competition (between $125 and $150) per team.  Again, this is described in detail in the membership packet and Program Guide.

The Skinny

$135 International Membership fee (per membership/school)

$65 California State Membership fee (per membership/school)

$45 Redwood Region Fee (per team)

Problem Budgets: Max of $125 - $150. (This is the amount the team ends up spending on materials, etc.)