LIMESTONE, Maine — On May 21, students from all over the world will converge on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, where, along with their fellow Destination Imagination (DI) teammates, they will engage in a competition of problem-solving.
Destination Imagination is a non-profit, volunteer-led, cause-driven organization with the purpose of inspiring and equipping students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. Annually, DI offers seven new standards-based challenges in STEM, improv, visual arts, service learning, and early learning. Each challenge is open-ended and enables student teams to learn and experience the creative process from imagination to innovation.
These academic tournaments take place around the world where teams have the opportunity to present their solutions to trained appraisers. Students have fun and gain confidence in their ability to solve any challenge. In working to solve the challenges, teams learn 21st century skills like creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, citizenship and courage, allowing them to build on their unique strengths.
“Destination Imagination in Limestone has a long history that goes back to 1986, when the program was under the name of its forerunner, Odyssey of the Mind (OM). The creative competition DI is an off shoot of OM,” said Alva King, a volunteer leader for Limestone’s DI team. “The competition will pit problem-solvers from most of the 50 states of the United States against teams from countries like Canada, Korea, Japan, Paraguay and even China. Each team will represent their state or country and will work to solve one of the six available problems. There are four levels of competition: elementary, middle school, high school and college. Two teams were selected from Limestone Community School to join about 15 other teams to represent the state of Maine in Tennessee.”
Teams choose one of seven Challenges. After weeks spent creating and developing their solutions, they go to a local tournament. Top-scoring teams advance to their state or country tournament, also known as an Affiliate Tournament. The top-tier teams from each Affiliate Tournament have the opportunity to participate in Global Finals, which according to DI is “the world’s largest celebration of creativity.”
Up to seven members can be on a team, and students from kindergarten through university level participate. Each team needs an adult team manager. Team managers help students stay on track but do not directly help the team develop its solution to the DI Challenge. Team managers are often faculty members or parents.
“Our problem is called ‘Going to Extremes’,” said King. “Each global team is busily trying to earn approximately $8,000 the trip will cost per team, including the seven team members and one coach.”
DI teaches the creative process by allowing teams to solve challenges together as a team. A big part of the DI program is the Interference policy: in short, kids have to imagine, create and develop solutions on their own. Parents, team managers, family and friends can’t suggest ideas or force teams in certain directions. Outsiders can only facilitate the acquisition of skills and knowledge.
There are seven new challenges to choose from each year. Each is developed by a team of educators and industry experts who target a particular area of the curriculum and its related standards of content and performance. The areas of focus include: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Structural and Service Learning. There is also a non-competitive early learning challenge that allows participants to develop social and problem-solving skills.
Each season takes place from September through May. Depending on the challenge, teams typically spend two to four months developing and practicing their solutions. The team’s solutions are assessed at regional, state or country tournaments.
According to the DI website, teams in the DI program learn higher order thinking and improve in creative thinking, critical thinking and collaborative problem solving. Participants experience the creative process, develop new friendships and learn to work together.
LCS has planned a “Community Celebration Night” with students of MSSM and the Limestone Recreation Department to help raise the money necessary for the Knoxville trip. King informed everyone to “mark your calendars for Friday, May 16th at 6:30 p.m. for the event at the LCS Auditorium.” She mentioned highlights of the event will include improv demonstrations, videos from the 2013 Global teams, and presentations by 2014 LCS teams. There will also be a bake sale and a picture opportunity taking place as fundraisers at the event.
The May 16 event is free to the public, however, donations will be collected at the door for those who wish to contribute.
