All About

dyssey of the Mind


Kentucky Odyssey of the mind, Inc.
Joan Coates, Association Director
P.O. Box 1163, Union, Kentucky 41091
Phone 859-384-3821  
Cell  (859) 630.7684     kyodyssey@fuse.net
National  www.odysseyofthemind.com    State  http://kycreative.mis.net

Challenging students in grades K-12 and College through creative problem solving in a team environment

 

 

Left to Right,
 Dr. Sam Micklus, Linda Barlow, Stephanie Smith, Carole Micklus

 

Kentucky Odyssey of the Mind, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of representatives from each of the Odyssey of the Mind regions within the State, a Representative from the Kentucky Dept. of Education and an appointed Association Director.

Eastern Region:        Jimmy Cornn, Billie Ferguson, Mary Hammons, , Deborah Ishmael, Teresa Martin

Central Region:         Sally Andress, Greg Beers, Bob Kieser Donna McClamrock Denise Savage,

Western Region:       Tammy Diuguid, Ann Metcalf, Joy Navin, Beth Rice, Michael Taylor

Dept. of Education Representative:  

Trustee:  Linda Barlow

Association Director: Joan Coates

Odyssey of the Mind is in the air, In my heart and everywhere. My team and I, we'll reach together to find a solution now and forever.
We are Odyssey of the Mind!

 

 

 

WE LEARN BY DOING

WHO RUNS IT

THE KYOM COACH

HOW ODYSSEY WORKS

MEMBERSHIPS

HOW TO GET STARTED

THIS CAN HAPPEN

 


"WE LEARN BY DOING"


Odyssey of the Mind (Odyssey)
applies this concept by teaching students
creative problem-solving skills in a team
environment. Students from
kindergarten through college learn
principles that can be applied directly to
their future workplace. Corporations
and school systems across the United
States have recognized this learning
experience and support Odyssey.
The Odyssey of the Mind school
program allows students to solve
problems in a variety of areas, from
building mechanical devices including
spring-driven vehicles to problems
giving their own interpretation of
literary classics. Through solving
problems, students learn life-long skills
such as working with others as a team,
evaluating ideas, making decisions and
creating solutions while developing self -
confidence from their experiences.

 



HOW ODYSSEY WORKS


Odyssey teams consist of up to seven
students who work under the ---)
supervision of coaches to solve long-
tenn problems. Teams work together
during the school year and then, if they
wish, present their solution in a
Regional Tournament. A team of
trained judges evaluates their solution
against a set of criteria. Teams also are
judged on their style or enhancement of -"'
their solution and on a spontaneous
problem given to them the day of the
tournament. Teams prepare for the
spontaneous problem by developing
quick brainstorming techniques. New
long-term problems are designed each \-
year and allow for competition in four
divisions, which are based on the age of
the students. Primary students do not
compete but they may present their
long-term solution. Teams advance to
the state tournament and World Finals.
In Kentucky , team selection varies by
school districts. Many districts offer
Odyssey to all students while in other
districts it is used as part of the gifted
and talented program. Parents can also
organize a school Odyssey of the Mind
program, or organize it through another
established organization.
 

MEMBERSHIP

One membership entitles your school
to enter a team in every problem and
division where you qualify. You may..
also conduct a school event to open
participation to every student. Some
members choose to enter more than one
team in the same problem and division,
in those instances the school must
purchase additional, discounted

 


WE WILL HELP YOU

KY Odyssey of the Mind conducts
awareness as well as training sessions
throughout the state. Parents, teachers
and students are welcome to the
awareness meetings. Training sessions
focus on the role of team coach(es).
Additional information is available from
the regional representative of the KY
Odyssey of the Mind Board. Board
members are also available for
telephone consultation. The website
(link from National website) provides
contact information for representatives
in your region.

THE ODYSSEY OF THE MIND COACH

Parents, teachers, friends, community
members, etc. can serve as coaches.
You do not have to be an educator to be
a successful coach. As mentioned
earlier, help is available. Coaches help
develop the creative problem solving
abilities of the team members so they
are better equipped to solve their
Odyssey of the Mind problem and more
practical problems in their future. Each
team must generate its own solution and
all aspects of that solution (script, props,
scenery, etc.). Outside assistance by
coaches, parents, or anyone not on the
team is strictly prohibited. The coach
answers questions from the students
with a question so that divergent,
creative thinking may flourish. The
coach answers "what, where, how,
when' questions with "WHAT DO YOU
THINK?" The coach is a "facilitator"
rather than a "doer". This is critical to the success of the Odyssey experience for team members.


 

Some of the key subjects that can be addressed in an Odyssey experience are as follows:

Basic Communication -listening, researching, visualizing, speaking, visual arts, using electronic technology.

Science Principles-scientific method, using models, how systems interact.

Mathematics-data concepts, measurements

Social Studies-teams with cultural diversity, interpersonal relationships.

Arts-analysis of artistic forms, making scenery.

Self-Sufficiency-builds self-esteem, adaptability , flexibility , independent learning.

Responsible Group Membership- teamwork, completing a project.

Thinking and Problem Solving-creative and critical thinking.

Integration of Knowledge-bringing together multiple views.


memberships. Each team must observe the cost limits of its chosen problem.
Time given by coaches, parents and
teachers is an investment in the future of our children. There is a registration fee for Regional Tournaments. The last day for purchasing an Odyssey membership in Kentucky in order to participate in regional tournaments is January 31.
 
 

 

 

WHO RUNS IT?

KY Odyssey of the Mind is a non-
profit organization that has been
providing creative problem solving
opportunities to Kentucky children since 1982.
Our Association Director and
dedicated Board of Trustees work year round to administer Odyssey of the Mind so all Kentucky Children have the opportunity to benefit from this rewarding program. Similar non-profit organizations exist in each state and in countries across the world. Together, we help bring Odyssey of the Mind from your doorstep to an international gateway.  Odyssey of the Mind associations are licensed by Creative Competitions, the organization that develops divergent activities used in the program.



TO GET STARTED
The Odyssey Creativity Season begins
in the fall when coaches form teams of
no more than 7 students. They are given
5 problems to chose from.
Interested parents and teachers should
talk with a regional Odyssey
representative. A National Odyssey of
the Mind membership needs to be
obtained so the complete description of
the long-term problems along with the
Odyssey of the Mind Guidebook can be
shared with potential team members.
Membership does not obligate a school
to enter tournaments. Qualified
personnel should conduct awareness and
coach's training sessions. Then let the
creative journey begin!


THIS CAN HAPPEN
Imagine yourself in the position of an
interviewer for an average company in America. The candidate you are
interviewing tells you that s/he has
 been preparing for a position in the
 workplace since kindergarten. You as the interviewer would be excited
at the possibility of any potential
employee having that much training.
You might be curious as to what type of training you can get beginning that
young in life. The candidate talks about project management of a long-term problem, interpersonal communication in a team environment, solving the
problem within a budget, the marketing of the solution with "style," and brainstorming techniques for solving spontaneous problems. You think all this sounds not only unlikely but also impossible. Odyssey of the Mind is a program that gives this conversation credibility!
Odyssey of the Mind is truly an
International Extravaganza. The annual  Odyssey of the Mind World Finals is an event to behold. It embodies the international spirit of creativity ..

 National  Website: click Odyssey World.


 

 

 

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