What is Odyssey of the Mind?
Odyssey of the Mind is a non-profit, international creative problem-solving program
for students, Kindergarten through College! The philosophy behind the
Odyssey of the Mind program is that creativity can be learned. Problems
cover many disciplines such as classics, performance, vehicle, structure,
and technical. All solutions are done entirely by team members and outside
assistance is not allowed! Students learn lifelong skills such as teamwork,
project management and divergent thinking. Students learn to examine problems
and identify the real challenge without limiting the possible solutions
and their potential success. In Odyssey of the Mind there are no wrong
answers!
History of Odyssey of the Mind
The Odyssey of the Mind has its roots in the Industrial Design classes of Dr. Sam
Micklus, Odyssey of the Mind founder. As a professor at Rowan University in New
Jersey (formerly Glassboro State College) Dr. Micklus challenged his students
to create vehicles without wheels, mechanical pie throwers and flotation
devices that would take them across a course on a lake. He evaluated them
not on the success of their solutions, but on the ingenuity applied and
the risk involved in trying something new and different. Students had
fun. Word spread and the students' activities attracted attention from
the local media. Soon, people on the outside wanted a part of the action.
This public interest led to the development of a creative problem-solving
competition for school children. The Odyssey of the Mind was on its way.
Word of the challenges spread to local schools which then began to participate
and grow into the Odyssey of the Mind Program today.Since then, Dr. Micklus's
life has been happily consumed with developing problems for other people
to solve. His rewards are in the joy and pride of the millions of participants
who rise to the challenge of solving those problems.
Wisconsin Odyssey of
the Mind held its first state competition in 1982 at the University
of Wisconsin Green Bay with 84 team competing! Currently Wisconsin
Odyssey of the Mind has teams throughout the state primarily in the Southeast,
Mid-state, and East.
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Odyssey of the Mind Mission
Getting Started
A member can be a school, a home schooling organization,
a community group or club such as Scouts, or a college or university. Each school
or group must purchase a
membership.
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Participation
Students of all ages are eligible to participate. Teams may have
up to seven members. The team's
division is determined by the team member
in the highest grade.
Competition
Team members work together to create a solution to one of
the six problems that are released each year. There are three elements to
the competition: long term, style, and spontaneous.
Top scoring teams in each competition will
advance to represent Wisconsin Odyssey of the Mind at the annual World
Finals!
Training
Trainings are provided for both coaches and judges each year.
Wisconsin Odyssey of the Mind provides
trainings in various locations around the state.
Coaches: Coaches trainings will cover coaching techniques,
program rules and regulations,
and competition rules and procedures. Scheduled coaches
trainings are on the
calendar.
Judges: All teams must provide one judge for the competition. Most
judges will need to attend a training
session. Go to the
Judges and Volunteers area
to sign up. Judges training dates are on the
calendar.
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Membership
The national membership fee of $135 allows one team per problem per division
and an unlimited number of primary teams.
There are discounts for purchases of more than one membership for the
same school or community group.
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Other Involvment
Wisconsin Odyssey of the Mind is administered 100% by volunteers. This program
cannot function without volunteer help and support and we are always looking for
people to volunteer. Become a competition judge or volunteer to help in
various ways on the day of the competition. Go to the
Judges and Volunteers area
to sign up.
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Alumni
Alumni can get involved in many ways. Past participants are great judges and coaches.
Wisconsin has an active Odyssey of the Mind alumni organization. Contact
for details.
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